The 5-6 Carolina Panthers stumble into Miami after a disappointing 27-21 loss in week 11 to The Washington Football Team. The Panthers have an opportunity to put that loss behind them and bounce back with a week 12 win against the Miami Dolphins and push their record to .500 on the season. Here are some ways that Carolina can come through with the win.
Establish The Run
Granted, Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady have been criticized for being overly committed to the run and relying on Christian McCaffrey too much, however, there are situations where it makes sense to establish the run. This game is an example. Miami’s rush defense isn’t the strongest in the league. Running CMC and facilitating Cam Newton in the red zone, and elsewhere on the field, will have the Dolphins’ rush defense on their heels all game.
Prioritize Rush Defense
Miami’s offensive line is about as porous as Carolina’s. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa makes the line look more competent and capable than what they are with his quick throws. However, they don’t have the rushers to attack the Panthers’ defensive line consistently. With that being said, the Panthers should blitz early and blitz often to set the secondary up for some picks.
Take Some Risks Downfield
While the Panthers should establish the run early and often, there are still some opportunities for them to take some shots down the field. Miami’s secondary has allowed 12 plays of 40-plus yards, and 57 plays for 20-plus yards. Their corners Xavien Howard and Byron Jones have allowed a cumulative completion percentage of 63.2 percent at 12 yards per catch. The downfield opportunities will be there as the game progress.
The Panthers and Dolphins kick-off at 1pm on Fox.