The Carolina Panthers are back at home on Sunday to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. The winner will keep their win-streak intact and start the second month of the season on the right foot. The loser’s playoff hopes will take a serious hit.
Here are four key matchups we will be following in this game.
Luke Kuechly vs. Leonard Fournette
These two teams share a lot of similarities, including having a run-first identity on offense. That means the first priority for the Panthers defense is to slow down Fournette, who has 88 touches so far this season – over four times more than any other Jacksonville player. Fournette has been efficient as a runner, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and over 100 yards per game on the ground. Kuechly leads Carolina in tackles with 44 total. He’ll have to prevent Fournette from breaking off huge plays like the one he did a couple Thursday nights ago against the Titans.
Panthers offensive line vs. Calais Campbell
Also much like the Panthers, the Jaguars have an intense pass rush, led by Campbell. He leads them in sacks this season with three and has totaled 84.5 in his 12-year career. Campbell can line up all over the place, but he does the most damage on the inside. That could be a problem for Carolina because center Matt Paradis hasn’t played well and right guard Trai Turner is likely going to miss another week with his ankle injury.
James Bradberry vs. DJ Chark
Jacksonville’s passing game is still a work in progress – but one thing that’s clear is Chark is their best receiver. While he’s tied with Dede Westbrook in targets (26), he’s been far more productive. He has a team-high 321 receiving yards and three touchdowns compared to just 145 yards and one score for Westbrook. Bradberry has done some marvelous work shutting down the other team’s top receivers this year. If he can contain Chark, it will be another feather in his cap towards a big extension in the offseason.
Ron Rivera vs. John DeFilippo
While the Jaguars like to run the ball, this game may ultimately be decided by how well Gardner Minshew does against a monstrous Carolina pass defense. DeFilippo has done an excellent job of setting his rookie QB up for success. Rivera could have his hands full trying to scheme against an offense that’s better than most people think. They’re only averaging 21 points per game but are ranked No. 13 in offensive DVOA.
