Panthers Face Their Biggest Challenge Yet
The Carolina Panthers have been rolling. The Panthers are on a three-game win streak and are above .500 since the beginning of the Bryce Young era. Coming into Week Eight, the Panthers find themselves facing off against their biggest challenge yet, the Buffalo Bills. To make matters worse, the Panthers are down starting quarterback Bryce Young. Andy Dalton steps into his place to lead the team.
The Panthers have played three of the worst defenses on their way to their hot streak. The Dolphins and the Jets are arguably two of the worst teams in the league. Their most impressive win of the season so far came against the Dallas Cowboys in Week Six. The Panthers came back in a shootout, with their defense coming up clutch in the fourth quarter. The defense has been huge this year, solidifying its status as a top-10 unit. Currently, the Panthers' defense ranks seventh in the league, allowing only 295 yards per game. The best particular stat is that the Panthers’ defense is allowing only 92 rushing yards per gam—one of their most significant issues coming into the season. The rush defense will be an essential component against the Bills, as they rank first in the league for rushing yards per game with 151. The Bills' offense is explosive and is capable of huge plays at any given time. The main driver of their offense is their run game. James Cook has been electric this year, currently ranked fourth for total rushing yards with 537, and he is averaging five yards per carry. To complement their superstar running back, the current reigning MVP is Josh Allen. Allen is second in rushing yards for all quarterbacks with 254. Allen’s ability to run, along with Cook's, is where the offense truly shines.
While Allen is dangerous as a runner, he also has one of the best arms in the game. Allen is also one of the most efficient passers this season, with a 68% completion rate and 11 touchdowns. The Panthers are no slouches against the pass either. Jaycee Horn leads the secondary and has been lockdown this season. Horn has only been targeted 28 times this season, in comparison to Mike Jackson, who has been targeted 40 times. Of those 28, Horn has only allowed 16 completions. To cap off his All-Pro campaign, Horn has three interceptions. Allen will be the Panthers' most significant issue, especially given their 31st-ranked quarterback pressure percentage. The problem is worse with Allen being in the bottom 10 in both pressures against and pressure percentage. Allen is well protected and averaging 2.9 seconds to throw. The Panthers have to penetrate the pocket if they want to shut down the Bills' offense. In the Bills' two losses this season, Allen was pressured 10 or more times. Taking away Cook’s ability to run will also be an essential key to their victory.
The Panthers' run game has been electric behind free-agent signing Rico Dowdle. After having a relatively minor role behind starter Chuba Hubbard to start the season, Dowdle has shot up to third in the NFL for rushing yards after two weeks as the starter. With Hubbard back from injury, the Panthers have transitioned into a 1A, 1B running back room. Hubbard is also no slouch coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2024. The run game will be essential for the Panthers, and the matchup couldn’t be better. The Bills rank 31st against the run, giving up 156 rushing yards per game. Conversely, the Bills rank second against the pass, allowing only 167 receiving yards per game. The Panthers should lean heavily on the run game with Young out. Dalton has been a serviceable backup, but his age is beginning to show, and he can’t sling the ball like he used to. Week Eight should be another huge rushing week for the Panthers. Even though the receiving room is beginning to warm up, this week won’t be their week.
The Panthers are hitting, arguably, the most challenging part of their season. With the Bills next week and the Packers next week. Injuries continue to pile up, with some key players still out —primarily starting guard Robert Hunt — and the most recent injury. The Panthers don’t have their bye week until Week 14.
