Veterans Propel Panthers to NFC South Lead, Remain Key to Playoff Push

No Cam Newton. No problem. 

Even without the team's franchise quarterback, the Carolina Panthers were able to claim the division lead in the NFC South—pending the results of Monday Night Football—with a 19-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of American Stadium. 

In Newton's absence, multiple veterans stepped up to fill the void and lead the team to its fifth win of the season.

At 5-8-1, the Panthers will have to await the result of the Saints-Bears contest Monday to see if they hold their playoff destiny in their hands. A loss by New Orleans will give the Panthers a half-game lead going into next weekend's contest with the Cleveland Browns. A win by the Saints will place the Panthers a half-game behind New Orleans with two more games to play. 

But Sunday's performance was a positive sign for a team that had to overcome a near-devastating situation earlier in the week. 

Newton was injured in a car accident Tuesday on his way to practice and suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back. While the young quarterback was discharged from the hospital a day later and returned to Panthers facilities, the entire situation could have rattled the team, particularly with the backup quarterback being forced into the lineup on short notice. 

Derek Anderson is a consummate professional, though, and he's proved that he is capable of leading his team to victory twice this season. Granted, both wins came against the 2-12 Buccaneers. 

Anderson wasn't stellar in either contest, but he was good enough. 

Date	Completions	Attempts	Comp. %	Yards	TD	INT
9/7/14	24	34	70.6	230	2	0
12/14/14	25	40	62.5	277	1	0
Overall	49	74	66.2	507	3	0

The 10th-year signal-caller provides stability behind center with Newton out of the lineup. 

Anderson possesses a strong arm to make difficult throws on key downs. He made a couple key third-down conversions. The quarterback finished 5-of-10 passing on third down with those five completions turning into first downs. The traditional pocket passer also converted a key third down by running for a first down with 10 minutes, one second remaining in the fourth quarter that led to the game-deciding field goal. 

The three-yard scamper came as a surprise due to Anderson's lack of mobility. 

Newton's ability to scramble is often seen as a positive. It definitely can be, particularly behind a porous offensive line. There is, however, some validity to a statuesque quarterback standing tall and allowing his offensive line to know exactly where he is in the pocket at all times. It can provide consistency for a lineman with his blocking angles. 

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Anderson was sacked three times, but he was only sacked once in the previous contest. Four sacks in two games is an improvement for the offensive line. Newton was sacked, on average, three times per game during his 12 starts. 

The area Anderson struggled in both contests, which made it difficult for the Panthers, was an inability to convert when the team was in scoring position. Anderson has a big arm and threatens a defense with his ability to stretch the field vertically. When the field is condensed, his erratic accuracy usually plays a factor.

Carolina was in the red zone three times Sunday. Only one trip was converted into a touchdown.

The quarterback admitted, via the team's Twitter feed, that his performance wasn't as good as he had hoped, but the end result was all that mattered: 

Anderson is exactly the veteran presence the team needs behind Newton. He is just good enough to win games. After all, he is 2-0 this season, while Newton is 3-8-1. But his lack of dynamism behind center makes him a short-term solution at the game's most important position. 

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera wouldn't commit to his backup for another week. Newton's status will be determined during the week, according to the Charlotte Observer's Joe Person. But Anderson provided the presence the Panthers desperately needed to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Even if Carolina is forced to start Anderson next weekend, the team has total confidence in him, according to Person: 

The biggest beneficiary of Anderson's play was tight end Greg Olsen, who tied a career high with 10 receptions for 110 yards. 

In his two starts, Olsen has clearly been Anderson's favorite target. The eighth-year tight end caught 18 passes in those contests. 

Rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin receives most of the attention, but Olsen is Carolina's top target and one of the best tight ends in the league. He currently leads the team with 81 receptions for 960 yards. The Miami product's production over the last two weeks is as good as any tight end not named Rob Gronkowski. 

Olsen is only one yard behind Gronkowski's two-game output for receiving yardage. The Panthers' public relations department illustrated Olsen's exceptional play in recent weeks: 

"

Last two games for #Panthers TE Greg Olsen: 20 catches, 182 yards and a TD. Leads team in 2014 w/ 81 catches for 960 yards

— Panthers PR Dept. (@PanthersPR) December 14, 2014"

Whether it's Anderson or Newton behind center, Olsen provides a security blanket for the Panthers offense. While Benjamin can make the spectacular catch and gives Carolina an advantage on the outside, the Panthers tight end continues to be the steady presence who can be relied upon even in tense situations.

Of defense, eighth-year defensive end Charles Johnson has risen to the occasion.

Nearly three months ago, Johnson was disgusted with his performance and made this public proclamation: 

Since Johnson's mea culpa, the Georgia product registered at least half a sack in seven of the next 11 games. But his performance has been far more important than simply providing sacks. 

Johnson is filling the massive void left by fellow defensive end Greg Hardy when he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list due to an ongoing court case. 

The Panthers defense is predicated on winning up front without having to provide the defensive line with extra help from the linebackers or a safety. Johnson has been the lone disruptive force along the Panthers defensive front over the second half of the season. 

In fact, Johnson was the best defensive player on the field Sunday against the Buccaneers. His forced fumble against Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown helped set up the Panthers' only touchdown of the game. 

Not only did the veteran edge-rusher provide a critical turnover, but he applied constant pressure on McCown throughout the contest. Johnson was consistently found in the Buccaneers backfield, per the team's official site:

"

#Panthers have 3 tackles for loss today...all 3 by Charles Johnson

— Panthers PR Dept. (@PanthersPR) December 14, 2014"

With Johnson's impressive play, it allowed young players like rookie Kony Ealy and fourth-year pass-rusher Mario Addison to develop. Both of the younger defensive ends were found in the Buccaneers backfield multiple times Sunday. This will be especially important during the last two weeks as the Panthers attempt to apply pressure against Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel and Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan. 

Whether or not Anderson starts next week, these three veterans have proven to be the guiding force for the Panthers this season. 

Newton, Benjamin and linebacker Luke Kuechly tend to steal the headlines, but the play of the previously mentioned veterans is the true barometer for the Panthers season and whether or not they'll claim an NFC South crown for the second consecutive season. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFC South for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.