Thanks to an invasive Pittsburgh Steelers defense, Week 15 brought the Carolina Panthers their first 2022 loss under Sam Darnold. The pressured quarterback was able to keep enough composure to be a mild bright spot for the team, but not enough of one to push his offense over the top.
That will need to change this weekend if Carolina wants to maintain their shot at an NFC South crown.
On Saturday, the Panthers welcome in the hot Detroit Lions—winners in six of their last seven games. And while they still boast one of the most vulnerable defenses in the league—having allowed the second-most total yards per game (398.5) to this point—the feel and fundamentals of the unit has improved of late.
Nonetheless, at least as far as Darnold is concerned, it remains a beatable bunch for the Panthers offense. They just have to find the right tempo and strategy to do just that.
Detroit, additionally, carries one of the top offenses in the entire league—as they’ve averaged over 30 points a game during this successful seven-game stretch. If the Panthers want to keep up with the Lions, they will need to open up the offense and trust their young signal caller a lot more than they have the last few weeks.
Darnold must be trusted to make correct decisions more often and push the ball deep. Whether that will turn out well for the team, could go either way given his history—but if you continue to be conservative, it’ll limit your capabilities to score.
While the running game has been key to unlocking Carolina’s revival, this will be the game that Darnold must be pushed to unlock the rest of this offense. The offensive line and weapons surrounding him are good enough to get it done—and if he can push the boundaries of his career averages, Carolina can keep their playoff hopes alive.
Projection: 33-for-50, 320 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
