Carolina Panthers: Should they begin to sit key players?

The Carolina Panthers are 13-0 and enjoying wild success that dates back to the 2014 campaign.

As the season winds down with fewer games to be played, one must wonder just how much value is earned in keeping the record intact versus keeping players healthy. The Panthers have already clinched the division and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, so how much value is left in winning every game from here on out?

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To close out the year the Panthers are set to face three 6-7 teams: New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Much has been made about the Panthers “favorable” scheduling, even though they continue to either blow out their opponents or pull out close games. When they were up big against the Falcons last week, Coach Ron Rivera and company made the decision to allow Derek Anderson and some others get some time on the field, rather than leaving Cam Newton and core players in the line of danger. At this point in the season, this is a smart strategy to take.

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In the past, teams that have put together undefeated streaks often decide to sit players towards the end of the year in order to preserve their health. In a sport in which a tragic injury can happen at a moment’s notice, this is an effective move to save these players for the more important games in the postseason. However, trends have shown that these teams do not perform well when put up against a unit that never took the time to sit star players.

Coming back to Carolina, there has already been a trend to help protect some players in these late games. Both Newton and Jonathan Stewart are the main weapons in the Panthers’ running attack, which has been one of the big catalysts that helped this team, hit the 13-0 mark. In the last few games both men have seen their workloads slightly decrease in each outing. This is important because it keeps them from taking on additional damage that would come with “needless” carries.

The goal of each season is to win an NFL Championship. Going undefeated is a mark that has only occurred once and teams would certainly love to add their name to that historical mark. However, look back to the 2007 New England Patriots that went 16-0 just to lose in the Super Bowl. Is that season considered a success?

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To many, that answer will be a resounding “no.” With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how the Panthers manage the on the field time of key players in these last three games of the season. Keeping these players in-tune and active will help their performance in the post season. Carolina should be more concerned about keeping these players active and playing while paying attention to key in-game situations to determine whether or not some should sit down for games that are blowouts or beyond reach.