Carolina Panthers: Pass defense vital in Week 8 matchup vs. Ravens

The upcoming game between the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens will play out as a defensive struggle from start to finish.

The Carolina Panthers are welcoming in the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Week 8 in what will be a game of defensive posturing. The Ravens tout one of the best defensive units in the league this season and the Panthers are struggling on both sides of the ball.

It will be interesting to see how the Panthers overcome the Ravens defensive scheme while getting away from the inabilities that have limited their play. This is a game that the Panthers can take but that victory hinges on the defense’s ability to contain the Ravens for four quarters of play.

On paper, the numbers are what they are. The Ravens are allowing only 14.4 points and 304 total yards per game. Carolina’s offense has outperformed both of those parameters, but the question begging to be answered is whether their defense can limit what the Ravens have to offer.

Whether or not Joe Flacco is considered an “elite” quarterback is a conversation that will continue for ages, but this year he’s doing more than enough to effectively lead the Ravens. They average 299 yards through the air and 11 passing touchdowns to date.

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This is one of the biggest concerns for the Panthers, as their secondary is made up of majority young talent and Eric Reid is still making the transition into his new position. Limiting the Ravens through the air is the first step in winning this game and there are a few steps the Panthers must take to reach that goal.

Flacco has been sacked 12 times this season but hasn’t played under much duress as he’s well protected by the front line. Even though Carolina boasts a star-studded defensive front, that unit hasn’t caused as much havoc on the field as expected.

If this unit can get pressure on Flacco, that will go a long way in disrupting their ability to move the offense down the field. Carolina hasn’t brought a lot of additional pressure to opposing offensive lines at this point in the year, but there seems to be an opportunity for adjustment heading into this game.

With strong pressure from the front four, this opens the ability to add assistance in the secondary. The Panthers have a strong linebackers unit that plays well in coverage, but the question lies deeper in the secondary at the cornerback level. Donte Jackson and James Bradberry are serviceable cornerbacks but haven’t played well enough to stop the hemorrhaging of passing yards that the Panthers are experiencing to date.

The Ravens do not have any big-name wide receivers on the roster, but that hasn’t stopped the unit from over performing this season. Jackson and Bradberry’s play on Sunday is going to go a long way in determining if Carolina can do enough to get a victory in Charlotte.

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At 4-2, the Carolina Panthers are teetering on the fence as we approach the mi-season of 2018. As crucial NFC South play approaches; this unit needs every win and every bit of momentum it can secure. The Ravens present an interesting challenge on both sides of the ball, but the Panthers have the firepower offensively and defensively to keep up if they can get off to a fast start on Sunday.

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