The Offense Must Get Off to a Hot Start
Getting back to the offensive side of the ball, it will also be important for the Panthers to score early and often against the Bengals. While they have only allowed three points in the first quarter this year, they have also only scored three points in the first quarter.
That just isn’t going to cut it if the Panthers truly hope to contend for a playoff spot and make a deep run when they get there. Carolina needs to get off to a hot start and put Cincinnati in a hole early because the Panthers’ offensive style lends itself much more to playing with a lead than playing from behind.
The Panthers did manage a 54-yard field goal from Graham Gano on the opening drive against Atlanta, but they need to start getting early TDs rather than settling for three points. This is an offense that has the potential to be among the league’s best, but it’s all about executing from the get-go rather than waiting until the fourth quarter to really get things going.
If the Panthers can find the end zone in the first quarter, it will take a lot of pressure off the entire team. And that’s something Carolina would certainly benefit from against a Cincinnati squad that’s looking to move to 3-0.