Carolina Panthers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Complete Week 4 Preview for Carolina
Week 4 for the Carolina Panthers (2-1) comes after a blowout loss and features an injury riddled Carolina team and a much anticipated showdown Steve Smith. As September comes to a close, Carolina will be in a position to finish the first month of the season at 3-1 and with a strong hold of first place within the NFC South or finish 2-2 and still be in contention. Either way, the first quarter of this season will be the most successful under Ron Rivera's watch.
Of course, some areas of interest need to be addressed.
The most concerning issue has to be the injuries suffered by the backfield. Each running back, including Mike Tolbert, has endured his own kind of setback three weeks into the season. Who will be playing on Sunday remains to be seen, but early indications have suggested that the Carolina backfield won't be nearly as limited as initially thought.
Additionally, there are concerns about the offensive line and its performance. The Panthers have not received a lot of help in the running game up front, and it showed last week as the team only ran the ball 10 times.
An argument can be made that the limited personnel at running back played a role in the ineffectiveness of the Carolina rushing attack, but this is a running team, and the line was outmatched in both run blocking and pass protection. With the latter in mind, a better performance is needed because Cam Newton cannot afford to take the kind of punishment he did last week against Pittsburgh.
So, what does this week have in store for the Panthers? Many fans will say a lot and point to Steve Smith going up against his former team for the first time since being released.
The Baltimore Ravens have typically fielded a good, hard-hitting team. Their tenacity seems to bode well for Smith's character, and the game between the two teams should feature a lot of physicality on both sides of the ball.
Carolina Panthers Week 3 Recap
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Ugly. That is the only way to describe last week's game for the Carolina Panthers, as they dropped a prime-time game to the Pittsburgh Steelers 37-19.
The running game was horrid, and the defense was atrocious. While the Carolina rushing attack struggled to find its legs, the much vaunted defense allowed two running backs (Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount) to each run for more than 100 yards. To say the least, Ron Rivera was not happy with his team's performance.
That same performance, along with the offensive line's inability to adequately protect Cam Newton, prompted the four-year coach to pull his starter after witnessing the barrage of hits he took over the first 55 minutes of the game.
There were some positives, as both Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen once again carried the offense.
Benjamin had his best game as a pro by catching eight passes for 115 yards and a score. Olsen had another productive week of solid contributions with five receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Philly Brown excelled in place of the injured Jerricho Cotchery and hauled in seven passes for 66 yards. However, his performance on offense was overshadowed by a critical error on a punt return in the fourth quarter. He may not be the most viable option for returning kicks and punts, but he proved his worth on offense.
This game was not the brand of football the Panthers are accustomed to playing under Rivera, and their deficiencies were exposed in a blowout.
News and Notes
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The Carolina Panthers were embarrassed on the ground when they let the Pittsburgh Steelers run wild on them Sunday night. That game served as a message to the team that there are flaws in the defense and adjustments have to be made to prevent a repeat performance.
In an interview with Max Henson of Panthers.com, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott noted that the defense needs to be more physical and play to its abilities. On the other side of the ball, the running game ranks 29th in the league with a paltry 72.3 yards per game being gained on the ground. More has to be done on the offensive line and by the Carolina backfield, which has been dealing with some health issues.
DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker and Mike Tolbert have all dealt with injuries so far this season. Of the three, Williams could be the only one back on the field Sunday.
Tolbert is out after being placed on the injured reserve/designated for return list earlier this week. He suffered a hairline fracture to his left knee last week. Stewart is also dealing with a knee issue as he sprained his right one in that same game against Pittsburgh.
Assuming that Williams is able to go, he could be spelled by Darrin Reaves and receive blocking up front from Richie Brockel, who can play both tight end and fullback. The injuries here will be an issue, but if Williams plays, making do without Stewart won't be nearly as much of an issue as playing without Tolbert. Of course, the offensive line needs to do its part and win the battle in the trenches.
Smitty Versus His Former Team
Steve Smith had been a member of the Carolina Panthers since being drafted in the third round of the 2001 NFL draft. Seeing him lining up against his former teammates in another uniform may take some time and perhaps spark more debate about whether or not the front office made the right decision to release him.
It will be an interesting matchup, to say the least. Both sides are very familiar with each other, and both will no doubt use that knowledge as part of the game plan for Sunday. It's a shame this contest couldn't take place in Charlotte. The silver lining that can be taken from this is Smith's desire to retire as a Panther after his NFL career concludes.
As noted earlier in the preview, Philly Brown had a costly fumble late in last week's game that really sucked any momentum the Carolina Panthers had at home right out of the stadium. However, his performance on offense cannot be overlooked. He played well as a substitute for Jerricho Cotchery and was among Cam Newton's main targets.
He may not pan out as a return specialist, but he proved he can be an asset as a receiver. Right now, the only thing he can do is learn from his mistakes.
Injury Report
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| Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
| Jerricho Cotchery, WR | Thigh | Probable |
| Thomas Davis, OLB | Hip | Questionable |
| Charles Godfrey, CB | Ankle | Probable |
| Roman Harper, SS | Knee | Probable |
| Jonathan Stewart, RB | Knee | Questionable |
| Fozzy Whittaker, RB | Thigh | Doubtful |
| DeAngelo Williams, RB | Back | Probable |
| Garry Williams, OT | Thigh | Doubtful |
Source: Panthers.com
Update as of September 26th at 11 p.m.
There is a chance that Thomas Davis could play this week. He had a good showing in practice this week and could be on the field against the Ravens. Ron Rivera told the team's website that they will evaluate Davis further on Saturday.
DeAngelo Williams appears to be ready for Sunday's game and has pulled out the goggles to get ready for the "blood and guts" that former teammate Steve Smith mentioned there would be earlier this year. Having Williams back on the field will do wonders for a running game that has started off slowly this season, but it will still be limited with Jonathan Stewart unlikely to play and Mike Tolbert out.
End of Update
Of the nine players listed on the injury report, only Jerricho Cotchery and DeAngelo Williams fully participated in Wednesday's practice. Having Williams back for Sunday's game will be a huge boost for the Carolina offense, as Mike Tolbert will be out and the status of Jonathan Stewart appears to be doubtful—at least, that is the word from ESPN.com's Carolina beat writer, David Newton.
Another player who could be questionable for Sunday's game is linebacker Thomas Davis. An aggravated hip injury could limit or keep him out action Sunday. If he can't go, Chase Blackburn and A.J. Klein will line up alongside Luke Kuechly.
Thursday offered some encouraging signs as every player except Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker and Garry Williams participated in practice to some degree.
More information will be made available about each player's status for Sunday and how it could affect the Carolina game plan.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Steve Smith vs. Everybody
This game will be more than just the Panthers playing the Ravens. It will be about Steve Smith wanting to prove a point to his former team.
He hasn't said anything to the contrary or even talked trash about his old teammates, but any Carolina fan will tell you that Smith will be playing with a very big chip on his shoulder Sunday. It was a shock to many fans to see the Panthers let him go, and not long after, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
His deal hasn't been disappointing, as Smith is among the league's top 10 in targets and receiving yards after three weeks of play. He has gone up against many of the Carolina defensive backs when he was a Panther. But that was practice. Sunday, it will be for real. Oh yeah, let's not forget that Roman Harper is now a member of the Panthers, and things usually get chippy when those two lock horns.
Smith would love nothing better than to show up his old team and let them know just how much he still has left in the tank. He won't say it, but his actions on the field will speak volumes this upcoming Sunday.
Carolina Running Backs vs. Baltimore Rush Defense
It was mentioned earlier that the Carolina running game is bad. The team is averaging 72.3 yards per game going into Week 4's contest with Baltimore. Things won't be much better, as the Ravens are only allowing 89.7 yards rushing to their opponents.
It's still unclear who will be suiting up in the Panthers backfield at running back (although preliminary signs point to DeAngelo Williams returning), but the offensive line needs to win the battle in the trenches if Carolina is to find success on the ground.
The Ravens have a reputation for being a very defensive-minded team, and shutting down an opponent's rushing attack is something they usually excel at doing. If the running game has a repeat of last week's performance, it will be a long day for the Panthers.
Cam Newton vs. Baltimore's Front Seven
Give Cam Newton time, and he can be among the league's best quarterbacks. However, if the protection is not there, bad things can happen. Such was the case last week when he was hit six times (three of which were recorded as sacks) and was pulled early to prevent him from suffering a serious injury.
The Ravens may not have the same defensive makeup from years past that included Ray Lewis, but they still have a defense that is capable of getting to the quarterback. Given the nature of the Carolina running game, Newton may have to shoulder the burden alone, but he will need his receivers to catch everything thrown their way and his linemen to do a better job than they did last week. Which brings us to....
Panthers' X-Factor of the Week: Carolina's Offensive Line
It's simple: If the guys up front can't win the battle in the trenches, the Panthers will not win. It's amazing the Panthers were able to score 19 points last week despite running the ball only 10 times. It's unlikely that will happen again. Ryan Kalil and company need to open up running lanes for the backs, protect Newton and play at a level that will allow him to do the things that make the Carolina offense a viable threat against anyone.
More importantly, the line cannot afford to let the quarterback take the same kind of punishment he did against Pittsburgh. After all, he is still on the mend from ankle surgery and a hairline fracture to his rib. The wrong kind of hit could spell disaster. If the offensive line doesn't find a way to get it together soon, changes could be on the horizon.
Prediction
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This game will garner a lot of interest from the Carolina faithful who will want to see how Steve Smith plays against his former team. It would not be surprising to see him have a career day on Sunday. If he and Joe Flacco can do what Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger did against the Panthers last week, it could be another long game for the Panthers.
Analytically speaking, each side knows the other's strengths and weaknesses. That is usually the case when a player is with a team for a number of years. Whoever can make the better adjustment stands to have the best chance at success.
Smith will be fiery and competitive. He will play mind games with the Carolina defensive backs. The key will be to play disciplined, shut him down and make him a non-factor.
Even if that does happen, the Panthers will have to compensate for their depleted backfield and lack of physicality up front. The defense could rebound, because it is still a good unit, regardless of the missing personnel. However, the issues on offense may not be fully resolved in one week.
Three of four games between these two teams have been decided by nine points or less, with the Panthers winning those three meetings. The last game between these two was a blowout in 2010. It won't be that kind of game, but the Panthers will fall short because of their questionable areas.
Prediction: Baltimore 23, Carolina 13
Player information and team stats provided via Panthers.com, NFL.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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