Carolina Panthers: How They Can Defeat The Philadelphia Eagles

ByRaphael Garcia|

For only the second time in team history, the Carolina Panthers are 5-0. The come from behind win over the Seattle Seahawks was the exact type of “staple” win that the Panthers needed to gain respect and momentum this season. However, the feeling of victory is fleeting, and the Panthers players, leaders and fans have to look to this week and the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Who is the best UDFA in NFL history?

The Eagles bring a 3-3 record into Charlotte. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has this game at a near toss-up, as the Eagles have a 51.9 percent chance of winning as compared to just 47.7 for the Panthers. There are key points of execution that the Panthers will have to complete if they are going to push their record to 6-0.

More from Carolina Panthers

Defense is the first point on importance for the Panthers coming into this game. Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford has looked on and off at multiple points this year. Other than his stellar performance against the Washington Redskins, Bradford has been average at best.

Carolina can jump all over this opportunity to have a big game defensively. The Panthers’ pass defense is one of the top-ranked in the league. The team has snatched away 8 interceptions, four by Josh Norman alone; the third highest team total in the league at this time. Even though they are middle of the pack in giving up 241 yards per game, the team has not allowed for many single-player big performances against them at this time.

It will be interesting to see how the Panthers apply pressure in this game. Their front four has been mildly successful getting pressure without bringing extra players. They have 13 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss at this point in the year, which is an are that Philadelphia has struggled. The Panthers can capitalize on this weakness to keep Bradford in a bad position throughout the game.

Philadelphia’s defense has been its highlight throughout the year. They are allowing only 18.3 points per game, but opposing teams are putting up 354.8 total yards per outing. The Panthers are putting up an impressive 27 points per game, but they still are not recognized as a high-powered offense.

Oct 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

As always, the run game will dictate how the Panthers will perform on Sunday. The combination of Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton is critical in controlling the clock. Carolina is using a lot of play-action to set up their passing attack. Without an effective running game, their entire offense has stalled at times. Fans and Eagles players should expect a heavy dose of Stewart, Newton and Mike Tolbert early in this game.

From a passing standpoint, the Panthers’ passing game is a compelling aspect to this game. The Eagles have been decimated by teams that have an impact receiver with one supporting player on the other side of the field. For example, Julio Jones and Roddy White carved up the Eagles secondary. The question is whether or not the Panthers have a 1-2 punch that will show up on Sunday.

Greg Olsen is coming off of a huge game against the Seahawks. He will most likely get majority of the targets on Sunday as he has been able to work the entirety of the field. If Ted Ginn, Jr. and Devin Funchess, both who made big catches last week, show up and play well the Eagles will have a hard time corralling all of these players at once.

The Carolina Panthers are slowly gaining recognition and momentum as one of the best teams in the league. If they can push their run to start the season 6-0, everyone will be forced to recognize the strength of the unit in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Next: The greatest teams in NFL history

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Carolina Panthers