Countdown to Kickoff: Panthers vs Buccaneers, Week 7 2022
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will keep their excursion of the NFC South in Week Seven as they take at the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The competition contest is a must-win for the Buccaneers after losing 3 in their remaining 4 video games. With wins in opposition to the Saints and Falcons already, the Bucs will try to cement their area atop the pecking order, because the three-three Falcons take at the Bengals in Week Seven. Tampa Bay is tied with Atlanta for the department lead withinside the South, upping the stakes on Sunday. In the hunt for any other title, the Bucs want a whole recreation in all levels to construct self assurance stepping into the second one stretch of the 2022 slate. Meanwhile, the Panthers are in a rebuild phase. Carolina fired Head Coach Matt Rhule on October 10, with resulting trades of each Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey to garner draft capital – a microcosm of that aforementioned theme. The Panthers are off to a 1-five begin this season, with desire of revitalization. After every week of preparation, right here is what Sunday`s conflict comes down to:
four Stats that Matter
The Panthers rank remaining withinside the league in each factors scored and overall yards. Other than McCaffrey, who’s now with the San Francisco 49ers following a trade, Carolina has been anemic on offense. Relying on a quick passing recreation and perimeter based-assault to mitigate pressure, the primary deep shot downfield in Week Six for the Panthers got here withinside the 1/3 quarter.
Carolina has allowed 19 sacks via the primary six weeks of the season. The Panthers invested closely of their offensive line in the course of the offseason, taking address Ikem Ekwonu with the sixth-ordinary pick, and bringing in shield Austin Corbett and middle Bradley Bozeman (misplaced beginning warfare to Pat Elfein) to strengthen the the front, however the unit has didn’t obtain good enough safety for the myriad of gamers who’ve stood below middle.
In the crimson quarter, the Buccaneers have transformed simply 50 percentage in their tries into touchdowns. Tampa Bay has been capable of pass the ball downfield; however, they’ve now no longer been capable of coins in with seven. Instead, the Bucs had been pressured to accept area goals. This week for Tampa Bay, the crimson quarter woes had been a focus with one emphasis: execution.
The Bucs rank remaining withinside the league in rushing. Granted, this statistic is frequently misleading. When gambling from behind, the Bucs had been pressured to emerge as one-dimensional. When dealing with a two-excessive shell, like they did in opposition to the Steelers in Week Six – which invitations the run and forces the entirety underneath – the Bucs couldn’t advantage considerable yardage at the floor to supplement the passing recreation.
three Lineup Notes
On Thursday, the Panthers despatched McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers in alternate for second, 1/3 and fourth-spherical alternatives in subsequent year’s draft, plus a 5th rounder in 2024. McCaffrey has been the focus of the Panthers’ offense and has mounted himself as one of the great dual-risk backs withinside the NFL. He now joins Kyle Shanahan’s device and could thrive of their method tailor-made to producing yards after catch. Additionally, the Panthers traded extensive receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday in alternate for 2 draft alternatives, a sixth-rounder in 2024 and a seventh-rounder in 2025.
The Panthers have had a revolving door at quarterback in 2022, thank you commonly to injuries. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold – the primary and 1/3-ordinary alternatives withinside the 2018 NFL Draft – commenced education camp struggling with for the below-middle duties. Mayfield received the beginning process and every week later, Darnold suffered an ankle harm withinside the very last preseason recreation and changed into positioned on injured reserve. Mayfield commenced the primary 5 video games of the season however sustained a excessive ankle sprain in Week Five, sidelining him for numerous video games. That thrust P.J. Walker into action. He commenced in opposition to the Rams and could get the beginning gig on Sunday vs. the Buccaneers. On Friday’s very last harm report, protective address Matt Ioannidis (neck/concussion protocol) and Baker Mayfield (ankle) have been indexed as doubtful. A plethora of gamers have been indexed as questionable for Carolina consisting of Sean Chandler (hamstring), Pat Elfein (hip), CJ Henderson (concussion), Jaycee Horn (ribs), Donte Jackson (ankle), Frankie Luvu (shoulder), Taylor Moton (knee) and Laviska Shenault Jr. (hamstring).
For the Buccaneers, tight stop Cameron Brate, protective lineman Akiem Hicks, extensive receiver Julio Jones and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting are dominated out. Despite being indexed as questionable with an elbow harm, protection Mike Edwards is probable to go back in opposition to the Panthers. Todd Bowles showed on Friday that he is “on course to play.” Edwards suffered the harm on the stop of the Bucs’ Week Five win over Atlanta. If Edwards is to be had to fit up this week, the Bucs can use Keanu Neal in sup programs to update the contributions of Logan Ryan (injured reserve).
2 Challenges Presented with the aid of using the Panthers
The Panthers can be ranked withinside the backside of the league in maximum statistical protective categories, consisting of overall defense (21st), rush defense (26th), and sacks (28th); however, it’s miles great now no longer to overlook they’ve Brian Burns off the edge. Through six video games, Burns has accounted for almost 1/2 of of the team’s 9 sacks (four.0), with dominance at the road of scrimmage. He wins off the ball and has one of the quickest get-off instances withinside the NFL. Burns can flip the nook with uncommon bend and possesses devastating freeze-dip and spin movements in his arsenal that overwhelms tackles. Due to his relentless pursuit and recreation-wrecking speed, the Buccaneers will should be disciplined up the front to try to restriction Burns. He is the Panthers’ tone-setter, registering regular well timed performs for Carolina. In a one-on-one with Burns, Bucs’ proper address Tristan Wirfs will should be essentially sound and live rectangular to mitigate Burns’ cappotential to out-leverage with counters.
Following the departure of Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson, the Panthers’ offense can be with out the supermegacelebrity firepower that lovers are accustomed to; however, DJ Moore has the
