Panthers should have no trouble with this one, although something I've noticed over the past few years is they seem to play down to their opponent from time to time.
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When Sean Avery was a child, he made his mother finish his vegetables.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Brooklyn @ May 20th ) [snapback]2006104[/snapback]</div>
I come to this board all the time. But its been the WORST possible scenerio for the Jets this season and it starts to get depressing to talk about.
So here is my take on the game:
The Panthers will run up the score early.
A Jets starter will be injured for the year.
The Jets will try to mount a 4th quarter comeback that will fall short.
This is the same story for nearly all of our games this year.
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My message is universal: It doesn't matter who you are, or how you got in the room, you're all in the room. Now what are you going to do with this opportunity?
Coach Mangini
Game-day details
Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET, Bank of America Stadium
Weather forecast from AccuWeather.com:
Partly sunny. High: 72. Low: 54.
Why To Watch
The Panthers are emerging as a Super Bowl contender. The Jets, meanwhile, continue to prove they're not. On the upside, it looks like the Jets may have found a quarterback to provide the offense a much-needed spark.
Carolina has reeled off five consecutive wins, and MVP candidate Steve Smith has registered six 100-yard receiving days and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Jake Delhomme has effectively guided the Panthers' ball-control offense. DeShaun Foster is the team's top receiver out of the backfield, and Stephen Davis is the workhorse back and red-zone threat with 11 touchdowns. On defense, end Julius Peppers wreaks havoc in backfields every week and leads a unit that ranks among the best in the NFL.
The Jets have been killed by injuries and turnovers. Fourth-stringer Brooks Bollinger will start at quarterback this week. After Vinny Testaverde got hurt last week, Bollinger threw two second-half touchdown passes to scare San Diego. Jets running back Curtis Martin, as well as fullbacks Jerald Sowell and B.J. Askew, is playing hurt. Wide receiver Laveranues Coles is banged up, and slot receiver Wayne Chrebet has called it a career after suffering a season-ending concussion last week.
Still, the Jets have playmakers on defense in end John Abraham and middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. The defense must create scoring opportunities and improve against the run if the Jets are to be competitive down the stretch.
Jets Keys For Success
1. Slide protection toward Peppers. The Panthers sustained a big blow when All-Pro defensive tackle Kris Jenkins blew out a knee in Week 1. Now, opponents can focus on neutralizing Peppers. Expect the Jets to slide pass protection toward Peppers, forcing the Panthers to gamble by blitzing linebackers and defensive backs to supplement the pass rush.
2. Throw downfield. Playing behind a patchwork line, Martin has been unable to carry the offense. More opponents bring an eighth man into the box, forcing turnovers and short drives to keep the Jets from getting on track. Bollinger should use downfield passes on early downs to challenge the Panthers' aggressive secondary to get that extra defender out of the box.
3. Blitz on early downs. Carolina ranks No. 3 in the NFL on third down, sustaining drives 45.3 percent of the time. The Jets' defense should blitz on first and second down to force third-and-long situations. Look for Abraham and Vilma to use their speed and athleticism to make plays at or near the line of scrimmage.
Panthers Keys For Success
1. Pound the ball. The Panthers have been patient with Davis, who since returning from knee surgery this year, no longer has great quickness to burst through the line of scrimmage. He still is a physical inside runner, though. The Jets' run defense ranks 30th in the NFL, so count on the Panthers use a ball-control game plan. Carolina will rotate Davis, Foster and third-stringer Nick Goings to allow Davis to be fresh for important red-zone carries.
2. Use spread formations. The Panthers like to stretch the field horizontally and put Smith into motion to create mismatches. Last week, Tampa Bay rolled coverage toward Smith, and the Panthers had eight catches of 12-plus yards, including four by receivers other than Smith. The Jets should double-team Smith and rely on upfield pressure to take away Delhomme's throwing lanes.
3. Blitz up the middle. Bollinger (6-1, 205) lacks the height to see over linemen. And there have been communication breakdowns between Pete Kendall -- the left guard forced to start at center because of Kevin Mawae's injuries -- and the guards. Rather than sit in coverage early in the game, the Panthers will blitz up the middle. These inside blitzes will stuff the running lanes and/or flush Bollinger towards elite ends Abraham and Shaun Ellis.
Injuries at a glance
Jets injuries
11/10/05 Vinny Testaverde QB Achilles Questionable for Week 10
11/9/05 Laveranues Coles WR Ribs Probable for Week 10
11/6/05 Chris Baker TE Broken ankle Out for season
11/1/05 Eric Barton LB Triceps On IR, out for season
11/1/05 Chad Pennington QB Shoulder surgery Out for season, on IR
11/1/05 Jay Fiedler QB Shoulder Could return Week 11 or 12
10/17/05 Kevin Mawae C Triceps Out for season
10/10/05 Derrick Blaylock RB Foot surgery Out till at least Week 12
Panthers injuries
11/10/05 Kris Mangum TE Knee Doubtful for Week 10
9/29/05 Ken Lucas CB Shoulder Questionable for Week 4
9/29/05 Kris Jenkins DT ACL tear Out for 2005 season
The Bottom Line
The Panthers, with their playmakers mostly healthy this season, have taken a step forward on offense; they are winning close games against good teams and crushing the weaker foes as they should.
Coach John Fox's team cannot afford a letdown against the disoriented Jets. The Panthers have the runners to pound the ball, an elite playmaker and a reliable kicker.
Jets @ Carolina
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