The Carolina Panthers continue to build success based on the strength of the offensive line.
The Carolina Panthers are coming out of a well-timed bye week. After building momentum with three-straight victories, this break comes at a time in which they can heal and plot out the rest of the 2017 campaign. In the last two games, the Panthers found a way to get back to two key aspects of play that has made them a force in recent years: running the ball and protecting Cam Newton. The improvement of the offensive line is the story coming out of this bye week.
With six games left in the season, Newton has been sacked 23 times. Throughout his career he’s been sacked at least 33 times; with last season being one in which many questioned the dangerous hits he was taking. The offensive line was struggling to protect Newton in 2017, but that has changed in these three straight wins.
The team was averaging 2.3 sacks an outing but in the last three games the Panthers have allowed Newton to be sacked only once. That has translated right into Newton’s success as a passer. In this stretch he’s completed 52 of 91 passes for a 57 percent completion rate. Even better, he’s thrown five touchdowns to just one interception.
Before that he had thrown nine touchdowns to 10 interceptions, showing that he was struggling in the face of the constant defensive pressure. As with many quarterbacks in the NFL, keeping him off the ground translates into success for the Carolina Panthers.
Another note about the improvement of the Panthers offensive line is in the rushing attack. In the last two games the Panthers earned 201 and 294 yards rushing. Before this the Panthers struggled, even though they had reached more than 100 yards in five of the previous eight games.
The Panthers have long been known for their ability to push the ball down the field, but they’ve lacked that ability in 2017. Such great production in the last two games makes it seem like the Panthers are poised to return to the form that helped them reach frequent success in the NFC South and beyond.
Coming into the next game, Ryan Kalil is the main question mark around the offensive line. He’s missed three straight games due to neck issues and is listed as questionable. In the past seasons the Panthers were forced to move players around due to mounting injuries across the front line. That hasn’t been the case in these last three games and the cohesion has helped the Panthers find success to this point in the year.
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On Nov. 26 in Week 12, the Panthers are set to face off against the New York Jets. The Jets are struggling to get to the quarterback and keeping opposing rushers in check. Expect for Carolina to continue to pressure defenses and control the line of scrimmage. It’s vital that they continue this trend as they head into key games to decide the NFC South in the coming weeks.