How will Sunday’s catfight between the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars pan out?
Here are four battles within in the fight that’ll help decide who comes out on top:
Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu vs. Jaguars OLB Josh Allen
While folks have spent a lot of time talking about the Josh Allen in Buffalo, the one in Jacksonville is preparing to put the finishing touches on a career campaign.
2019’s seventh overall pick currently ranks sixth in the NFL in sacks (13.5) and fifth in pressures (82). Allen will be a tall task for Ekwonu—who is not only questionable for the outing with a foot injury, but has also allowed the 16th-most pressures (38) amongst all offensive tackles.
Panthers WR DJ Chark vs. Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell
Chark is swimming back into familiar waters fresh off his best performance of the season. The Christmas Eve loss to the Green Bay Packers saw the former Pro Bowler reel in six balls for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
He’ll see Campbell, who’s been cleared to go, on the outside.
Panthers CB Jaycee Horn vs. Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley
The Panthers are hoping they get clearance for their top corner, who is listed as questionable with a toe injury. After going down as a non-participant on both Wednesday and Thursday, Horn practiced in a limited capacity on Friday.
They’ll need him against Ridley, who scored two end-zone visits of his own last week.
Jaguars TE Evan Engram vs. Panthers S Jeremy Chinn
Like his teammate in Allen, Engram has had a very productive and very overlooked campaign. The 29-year-old has already shattered previous single-season franchise marks at the tight end position, as he currently sits on 98 catches and 824 receiving yards.
Containing Engram would have been the primary job of Carolina’s top slot defender in Troy Hill, who is out due to a concussion. So it’ll likely be Chinn, who has played in just 55 defensive snaps over the last four weeks, getting much of the assignment.
