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Carolina Panthers Schedule: 5 Bold Predictions For Week 6 Of 2016 NFL Season Against New Orleans Saints

By Jason Fletcher
Published on: 08:24 PST, Oct 11, 2016

Following a 2015 season that saw the Carolina Panthers go 15-1 during the regular season, run roughshod through the NFC Playoffs and reach Super Bowl 50, the overwhelming majority of experts the Panthers winning their fourth straight NFC South title during the 2016 season, at the very least. After a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football that dropped Carolina’s record to 1-4, a division title looks nearly impossible.

The Panthers entered their showdown with the Buccaneers needing a win to stay within two games of the division-leading Atlanta Falcons who delivered an impressive 23-16 road victory over the previously undefeated Denver Broncos on Sunday. A loss technically pushes the team three games behind the Falcons in the NFC South, but Atlanta also has the tiebreaker via their 48-33 win during Week 4 which makes it essentially a four-game difference.

On the opening drive of the game, the Buccaneers ran 15 plays for 58 yards the included 10 carries by third-string running back Jacquizz Rodgers that resulted in 35 yards rushing. Tampa Bay was able to take 8:32 seconds off the clock before kicking a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Following a three-and-out on the Panthers’ first offensive possession, the Buccaneers then ran out the first quarter with a six-play 23-yard drive that took 4:47 off the clock.

Even though the score was only 3-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Carolina Panthers’ offense only had the ball for three plays and 1:49 seconds. Not only does that hinder the offense’s ability to score, but it also tires out the defense having to be on the field for so long.

The Panthers did respond much better in the second quarter as they ran 17 offensive plays for 129 yards, but they missed a field goal right before the half and only possessed the ball for 6:25 which still gave the Buccaneers a 21:46 to 8:14 edge in time of possession in the first half. Also, Tampa Bay was able to add another field goal in the second quarter which gave the team a 6-0 edge at the half.

After the break, Carolina took its opening drive of the second half and punched it in the end zone via a Cameron Artis-Payne 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. The extra point gave the Panthers a 7-6 lead despite their poor play in the first half. After a three-and-out by the Tampa offense, Artis-Payne scored another touchdown to give the Panthers a 14-6 lead as it finally looked as if they were ready to take over the game.

Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers responded on the ensuing drive as quarterback Jameis Winston hit wide receiver Mike Evans for a 26-yard touchdown pass that was followed by a successful two-point conversion that tied the game at 14.

The game would remain tied until the final drive of the game when Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo hit a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired to send the Carolina Panthers to a 1-4 record.

The Panthers now have the daunting task of trying to regroup on a short week as the schedule takes them to New Orleans to face a Saints team that got a gritty road win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 4 and is fresh off their bye. If Carolina loses and drops to 1-5, there’s very little chance that the defending NFC Champions will even sniff the playoffs in 2016.

Let’s roll out some bold predictions for this must-win game for Carolina.

5. Drew Brees Will Throw For 400 Yards And 4 Touchdowns

Although the Panthers’ defense was able to hold Jameis Winston to 219 yards passing on Monday night, it was more due to the Buccaneers’ run-heavy gameplan as opposed to anything the defense did. In Week 4, this same defense gave up 503 passing yards to Matt Ryan and 300 receiving yards to Julio Jones. With a struggling pass rush and inexperienced secondary, expect Drew Brees to have a field day against the Panthers.

4. Jonathan Stewart Returns And Rushes For 100 Yards

Stewart hasn’t played since Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers due to a hamstring injury. He was able to do some work on the field before the game Monday night and looked almost back to normal. With another week of rehab, Stewart should be back on the field against the Saints which will be huge for the Panthers’ offense which should have a run-heavy gameplan to keep Brees off the field.

3. New Orleans Will Sack Cam Newton/Derek Anderson 5 Times

Through four games, the Saints have only recorded seven total sacks, but they have yet to face an offensive line as poor as the Panthers’. It’s unclear if Michael Oher will be ready to return from a concussion that’s kept him out the last two games and that would leave Carolina with Mike Remmers and Daryl Williams starting again. That could lead to a long day especially if Cam Newton returns.

2. Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman Will Be Forced To Make Changes

Despite the talent on Carolina’s roster, the entire team is underperforming, not just one unit. Those struggles led Gettleman to release starting corner Bene Benwikere after he got torched by Julio Jones in Week 4. The message obviously wasn’t received by the Panthers as many of the same problems showed up Monday night which should lead to more changes if the team doesn’t leave New Orleans with a win.

1. Saints Win High-Scoring Affair

The Saints haven’t had much more success than the Panthers as they only sit at 1-3, but the team seems to be improving on a weekly basis as opposed to the Panthers who have gotten worse every time they’ve stepped on the field. New Orleans’ defense certainly isn’t very good which should allow Carolina to score some points, but there’s just no way I see the Carolina Panthers leaving New Orleans victorious.

[Featured Image by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images]

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