Carolina vs. Tampa Bay: Panthers' Week 1 Game Preview
After eight months of waiting, Carolina Panthers football returns for the 2014 season!
Carolina will begin its quest of defending its NFC South title with a matchup against the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Getting a win to start the season will be important for the Panthers, especially since the team has a history of slow starts under Ron Rivera and that getting an early division win will be huge moving forward.
The Panthers will field a revamped offensive line and a brand new receiving unit. Both have opened up questions about the team's ability to repeat as division champs, but the organization is confident in what it has built over the offseason.
Rookies Kelvin Benjamin and Kony Ealy could do a lot of good things this year. The former is emerging as a top receiving target after a solid performance during the preseason. Players like Brenton Bersin and Fozzy Whittaker will strive to continue their preseason success and carry it over into the regular season when given the opportunity.
As for the matchup with Tampa Bay, the Panthers will aim to continue their reign of dominance over their rival, as they outmatched and outplayed the Buccaneers last year. This gives the Panthers a golden opportunity to start the year off with a win—something the team has yet to do during Rivera's tenure.
Carolina's quest for reclaiming the division crown and a postseason berth begins Sunday. The following game preview will break down everything about Week 1.
Carolina Preseason Recap
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The Carolina Panthers didn't look all that impressive on offense, but what the team lacked offensively was made up for on defense. With the exception of the New England game, the Panthers held opponents to 20 points or less. Their preseason was capped by a shutout win over the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish 2-2.
Despite the combined 63 points in the preseason (average of 15.6 per game), there were some bright spots on offense. Joe Webb proved he can be a valuable backup and earned a spot as the team's third-string quarterback. Brenton Bersin put together an impressive camp and preseason to finally land on the 53-man roster. Unknown running back Fozzy Whittaker was able to secure the third running back slot after a strong performance.
Cam Newton played in just two games and had to sit out the final one because of the hairline fracture he suffered to his rib in the third preseason game. More on that in the injury report. As for the other key player on the team, Luke Kuechly enjoyed a solid August and is ready for the season to begin. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin played surprisingly well and asserted himself as a legitimate target for the 2014 campaign.
While a preseason does not usually determine a team's regular-season success, it did offer a glimpse at what kind of team the Panthers will be this fall. If Carolina can address some of the vulnerable areas that were exposed this past August, it can be a viable force in both the division and the conference.
News and Notes
2 of 5The Panthers named six players (three offense, three defense) as team captains for this season. The offense will be represented by Cam Newton, Ryan Kalil and Greg Olsen. Defensively, the captains will be Luke Kuechly, Charles Johnson and Thomas Davis. Of the six, Olsen will be a captain for the first time. Each captain is a proven leader and has demonstrated to be very valuable to the franchise.
A few days after being released by the New York Jets, Stephen Hill was invited to Carolina for a workout and later signed a deal with the team. The Panthers had worked him out prior to the 2012 NFL draft, and his second visit to Charlotte impressed Carolina officials. While he is signed to the practice squad, he does offer Carolina another target with good size (6'4", 215 pounds) and can use his speed to stretch the field. It's unknown how long he will remain on the practice squad, but if he continues to do good things in practice, his wait to land on the game-day roster shouldn't be a long one.
Cam Newton missed Wednesday's practice but is optimistic he will start Sunday afternoon. The Carolina Panthers have been cautious with their quarterback and want to ensure he stays healthy for Week 1. He's listed as day-to-day, and if his progression comes along in practice leading up to game day, he should be under center. As of now, his health should be more a concern for fantasy owners who have him on their team. The ribs, coupled with the recovering ankle, could limit his Week 1 production.
Unless Carolina fans have been living under a rock for the last few months, it is a well-known fact that backup defensive end Frank Alexander will miss the first four games of the season due to a suspension. Alexander violated the league's substance abuse policy and as a result will have to sit out the team's first four games. He will be eligible to return on September 29 after Carolina's Week 4 game at Baltimore.
Winless on Opening Day
As mentioned earlier in the preview, the Carolina Panthers have not won an opening-week game with Ron Rivera as head coach. The Panthers could stop this trend in its tracks as they will not only go up against a team they swept last season but one that is still rebuilding as well. However, Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith is one of the more decorated and successful coaches in the league, and the Buccaneers should pose a challenge on Sunday.
Rookies Will be Tested Early and Often
The success of the Carolina Panthers in 2014 could come down to the production of their rookie class. The team's first two selections, Kelvin Benjamin and Kony Ealy, will impact the game in different ways as well on different sides of the ball.
For Benjamin, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the pro game. Based on his preseason, he appears to be headed in the right direction.
Ealy will most likely see more snaps as he is rotated in and out of the defensive line with Alexander missing time from his suspension. The young man offers a lot of upside and could be a possible replacement for Greg Hardy, should the Panthers not re-sign him in free agency.
Trai Turner should prove to be a valued member of the offensive line as he will be counted on to open up running lanes for the running backs. He was dealing with some health issues this past month, but he should be ready to go Sunday. (Also, it is worth checking out the video regarding the impact this year's rookie class will have on the team.)
As part of the league's ongoing process of policing the game of football and taking away the fun (depending on who you ask), it will now be illegal to wear black face paint in the manner that defensive end Greg Hardy has done in the past. While it won't take away from the game itself, it will disappoint dedicated Carolina fans who have embraced Hardy's alter ego as part of the team's lore.
Injury Report
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| Player/Position | Injury Type | Status |
| Cam Newton, QB | Ribs | Questionable |
Source: Panthers.com
Update from Sunday, September 7th
As game time creeps closer and closer, it would appear the Carolina Panthers will be without Cam Newton for Week 1. According to the most recent update regarding Newton's rib injury, the fourth-year starter will most likely sit and miss his first game as a professional football player.
This is not the end of the world and having him sit is more of a precautionary measure with the season in its infancy. Still, his absence will alter the game plan for this week as Derek Anderson is more of a game manager at quarterback than playmaker.
--End of Update--
As noted earlier in the preview, Cam Newton is optimistic about playing on Sunday. That is good news for Carolina fans who don't want to see their star quarterback on the injury report. Fortunately, he is the only Carolina player on the list so far. However, he is day-to-day, so that can be seen as a good thing.
According to David Newton of ESPN.com, the Carolina Panthers will not change the game plan on account of Newton's ribs, and the young quarterback will not change his style. It may be in the long-term interest of the team to limit the number of times Newton scrambles and possibly opt for a run-first approach for its offense.
However, it will probably come down to a game-time decision on whether or not Newton will start Sunday. While both he and Ron Rivera feel confident about his chances of being on the field, the decision about playing or not cannot be rushed.
With capable running backs lining up behind him, there is no reason for Newton to have to rush for yards unless he is being flushed from the pocket. If that is the case, it is up to the offensive line to protect him better.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Carolina Secondary vs. Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be rebuilding, but they do have the makings of a solid one-two punch within the receiving unit. Vincent Jackson has been a solid receiver, but Carolina has kept from having a big game (eight receptions for 129 yards in two games last year). Mike Evans was the second receiver selected in last May's draft and has been considered the reason for Johnny Manziel's success at Texas A&M.
Both receivers should not be underestimated, and the Panthers secondary will need to keep both men in check and out of the end zone. The makeup of the Carolina secondary is similar to that of last year (strong veteran presence with young talent), and if last year's unit was able to limit the production of Jackson and company, it's a possibility the same can be done on Sunday.
Carolina Defensive Line vs. Doug Martin
Doug Martin is considered a top-10 fantasy running back (10th best running back, according to NFL.com), and if he stays healthy, he could live up to that billing. He didn't play against Carolina last year and only rushed for 456 yards through six games. He does have big-game potential as shown in his game against New Orleans last year when he rushed for 144 yards.
The Carolina defense was strong last year and made running against it a tall order for opponents. The defensive front looked shaky at times during the preseason but showed many glimpses of being the same line from last year. That will prove to be the key to the game, as shutting down Martin will force the Bucs to pass often. That will lead to Josh McCown having to find a way to get rid of the ball early in the face of one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the league.
Ron Rivera vs. Lovie Smith
Lovie Smith is 2-0 against Ron Rivera in head-to-head meetings. While Smith may have bested Riverboat Ron thus far, it must be noted that Rivera is a different coach since their last game versus each other and both contests were close scoring affairs. Each coach has a plethora of talent working for him, and while it may be advantageous for the Panthers going up against a team that is re-establishing itself under a new regime, one can never dismiss Smith.
At least there won't be a Devin Hester around to burn Carolina on special teams.
Panthers' X-Factor: Cam Newton
Despite the rebuilt offensive line and wide receiver corps, the Panthers will field the best quarterback on the field Sunday at Tampa Bay. While McCown has been around the league for a while, much of it has been spent as a backup. Newton has spent his entire career as a starter and has improved each season, despite the dwindling passing yards. No other player on the Carolina roster is as electric as Newton, and he is a sight to behold when making big plays.
The only real concern here is the health of his ribs and how much contact he endures this week. If Newton is given time to survey the field, he is dangerous. If he can find a seam to pick up some yards with his legs, he's even more of a threat.
Prediction
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These two teams are very familiar with each other and have a lot of mutual respect. Winning the first game is not only important in terms of setting the tone for the season, but because of how big a victory will be for both teams in division play.
Tampa Bay has a new general manager, new coach and new uniforms this year. Carolina fields a new-look offensive line and receiving unit but will return its strengths from last year—namely the defense.
Considering the issues the Panthers had with scoring in the preseason and still trying to work out all the kinks, the offense may not be as potent as it would like to be. However, the stout defense will do enough to keep Tampa Bay off the board (or at least out of the end zone). That alone could be the difference in what should be a tightly contested game.
Regardless of the outcome, if Cam Newton is not hindered by his injury, it will be a positive sign for the coaching staff moving forward. Staying healthy is important and even more so during the early stages of the season.
Tampa Bay will be looking to exact revenge for last year's embarrassing matchups with Carolina but will fall short because of the Panthers' suffocating defense.
Prediction: Panthers 20, Buccaneers 13
Team and player information obtained from Panthers.com, NFL.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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