Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, players to watch vs. Steelers in Week 10

A commanding position in the hunt for playoff football beckons for the Carolina Panthers in their Thursday Night Football clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ron Rivera’s Carolina Panthers aren’t scheduled to face another team with a winning record after the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2-1) until Week 15, when they face the New Orleans Saints. The 6-2 Panthers enter the matchup looking to extend a three-game winning streak having responded superbly to last month’s defeat to the Washington Redskins.

Carolina are confronted not only by an explosive and increasingly-balanced Steelers offense, but also an improving defensive unit.

We take a look at the key men for the visitors at Heinz Field on Thursday night.

Cam Newton

The Steelers must contain the threat of Carolina’s ever-teasing and ever-elusive quarterback if they wish to vindicate praise of their progression on defense. Pittsburgh signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger was recently asked if he had any advice for his oppos number ahead of the contest,

“I don’t need to give him advice, he’s Superman,” he replied, per Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network.

Newton is ranked 21st with 1,893 passing yards for 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions so far this season. It’s his figures on the ground, however, that the Steelers will be more preoccupied with foiling on Thursday night. The 29-year old has manoeuvred his 250-pound, 6-5 frame for a quarterback-high 342 rushing yards and four touchdowns off 73 carries. Whether it be designated runs or improvised scrambles, he lurks as a nightmare matchup.

His influence will also be determined by the level of protection ahead of him against a Steelers defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards in the league.