Panthers host 49ers: Four things to watch
The Panthers’ home opener will bring the San Francisco 49ers to Bank of America Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. It is an important game for the Panthers who will need a win to get to 1-1. If these four things go favorably for the Panthers they should end the day with a victory.
Confidence and Momentum:
The Panthers are a 14 point favorite and have an at home winning streak of 13. The 49ers are ranked at the bottom of the NFL in about every category. The 49ers are traveling across the country for a game that starts at 10 am their time, on only five days rest. The Panthers had a heart breaking loss to the Broncos and are hungry not to start the season 0-2.
Panthers’ win, right? The smart money is on the Panthers but the reason we love the NFL is that anything can happen. If the 49ers have a good start and win the time of possession battle keeping Cam Newton off the field that will keep the crowd out of the game. The pressure would then be on the Panthers who already have equaled their loss total of last year. The momentum would sway to the 49ers and perhaps they could surprise the Panthers’ Nation.
Carlos Hyde:
The running back is the 49ers’ best offensive weapon. If head coach Chip Kelly can get his uptempo offense in a rhythm while running the ball it could be hard on the Carolina defense. After Wednesday’s practice Panthers’ coach Ron Rivera mentioned how important it is for the defense to stop Hyde. In the press conference coach Rivera mentioned that Hyde was a great player with tremendous vision. He added what he thought was the key to stopping Hyde:
“The BIGGEST thing that we have to do is be solid and sound in our gap RESPONSIBILITIES”
It’s important for the defense to stop Hyde from having a big game.
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Graham Gano:
Gano had a chance to win the game against the Broncos but pulled the attempt a little left. Gano will hopefully bounce back and play with confidence. After practice on Wednesday when Rivera was asked about it, he said he checked in with the kicker after the game. He stated the Gano “rushed the kick a little bit”, but remains confident in their kicker. Gano said that he had a good practice and feels good going into the matchup. It will be important for Gano to make his attempts to ensure a Panthers’ victory.
Cam Newton’s Head:
After the controversy surrounding the brutal hits that Newton faced against the Broncos it would be hard to imagine Newton getting hit without flags flying. The refs will be looking to protect the MVP which might mean sending him to the sideline if he takes a brutal hit. If the offensive line can protect Newton he will play like an MVP and lead Carolina to victory.
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