Opponent Profile: Ravens Look To Take Down Cam Newton And The Carolina Panthers
By Samuel Njoku
Ravens WR Steve Smith is all too familiar with Baltimore's next opponent as the Carolina Panthers make their way into M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday. With all the drama expected of their reunion, here's a look at the competition Baltimore will have to deal with.
Panthers on Offense
The Panthers offense begins and ends with Cam Newton. The problem is the rest of the league is fully aware of that — including the Ravens. Newton is one of the few quarterbacks in the NFL that can get it done through the air and on the ground. The Ravens are familiar with that style of play with Ben Roethlisberger residing in their division. Newton will likely try to get something going on the ground because with the departure of Steve Smith, Carolina doesn't have very many weapons to work with.
On Sunday night, Pittsburgh showed everyone that the Panthers offensive line has holes that can be exploited. The Ravens will try to send pressure and make Newton as uncomfortable as possible. With Baltimore struggling to manufacture consistent pressure this season, it'll be interesting to see which unit will excel in that matchup. The Panthers running game is also in question with both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both dealing with injuries that may keep them from playing on Sunday.
Panthers on Defense
The Panthers were beginning to make a name for themselves as one of the best run defenses in the NFL. But last Sunday against the Steelers, Carolina looked anything but stout as they would give up huge chunks of yards on the ground. Both LeGarrette Blound and Le'Veon Bell tallied over 100 yards rushing on the night. With rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro looking to build upon his performance against the Browns, it may be a ground and pound style of attack for the Ravens offense on Sunday against this questionable defense.
If the Ravens can get something going on the ground, expect Flacco to capitalize with play action passes that can often frustrate opposing defenses.
Panthers Coaching
Ron Rivera is currently in his 4th year as head coach for the Carolina Panthers. He has a regular season record of 27-24 and a 0-1 record in the postseason. This is the first time Rivera will coach against the Baltimore Ravens in his career. The Panthers currently own a 3-1 record over the Ravens with Baltimore winning the last meeting 37-13 in 2010.
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Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.