The Carolina Panthers are 12-0 and riding a streak that the organization has never experienced. Each win they continue to find a way to win; such as last week’s game. With four games left the Panthers continue to do a good job focusing on one game at a time. This week they are welcoming in the Atlanta Falcons. Even though the NFC South is locked up for Carolina’s favor, this is a big game for the Panthers against their division rival.
Also on Spin Zone: NFL MVP Watch After Week 13
According to the ESPN Matchup Predictor the Panthers have a 77.1 percent chance to win compared to the 22.8 percent that is slated to the Falcons. These numbers are based on the ESPN Power Index, but they are determined by what happens on the field. There are a number of key points that the Panthers must address in order to pull out this win in Charlotte.
More from Carolina Panthers
- A silver lining to the Carolina Panthers rough preseason?
- 2023 NFL Season: NFC South shaping up to be an exciting division
- 5 NFL teams who missed playoffs in 2022 but will make it in 2023
- 2023 NFL Season: Way too early picks for division winners
- Fantasy Football: Undervalued, sleeper RBs to target in drafts in 2023
At 6-6 the Falcons have been the epitome of “average” throughout the year. The team is ranked near the middle of the league in both rushing and passing defense while offensively they are averaging 386.7 yards per game. The team allows 21.4 points per game while scoring 23.3 of their own. From a statistical point of view, this team hasn’t excelled or overly struggled in any specific areas of the game.
However, since starting out the year 5-0, the team has underperformed to 1-6, which includes two losses to the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of the key trends in this situation is the fact that the Falcons have struggled to stop their opponents defensively. When forced to play catchup or perform well in a high scoring game, their offense falters. This is a point of reference that the Panthers must leverage on Sunday.
Carolina has shown their ability to consistently end drives in the end zone. Whether these drives start with a short field due to their defense or they lean on their rushing attack for a long drive; this 2015 roster has done a fantastic job getting six points instead of being forced to settle for three. Expect the Panthers to force the Falcons into playing their style of game which involves sustained drives to see if Atlanta can answer each time.
The Panthers continue to lean on their running game, which is the third best in the league. Both of these recent losses to the Bucs have shown that the Falcons defense struggles to keep running teams in check. Carolina’s core of backs led by Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton continue to terrorize teams all year. Expect this to be the main weapon used against the Falcons on Sunday for the Panthers to keep their streak alive.
Next: Are The Panthers The Worst Undefeated Team Ever?
The Atlanta Falcons may be .500 but they are still playing for a chance to reach the postseason. Every game from this point out should be considered a “trap game” for the Panthers as they seek to remain undefeated. Sticking to their run game and forcing the Falcons into a high-scoring affair are the two weapons of choice for the organization from Charlotte this Sunday.