The Panthers really wanted the Falcons to beat the Saints last Monday Night so they wouldn’t need this game.  The Panthers lost 31-10 just three weeks ago to the Falcons in Carolina.  The Falcons lost last week to break a 8-game winning streak.  They are likely to be in a foul mood when this game begins as they need a win for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Panthers have the ball:  The Panthers don’t have the weapons to get into any kind of scoring war with the Falcons.  Their only chance in this game is to run the ball early and often in an attempt to control the ball and the clock.  Jonathan Stewart will probably get the ball as many times as he can handle against a Falcons’ D that is allowing 103.8 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  The Falcons are also giving up 231.4 passing yards per game but Jimmy Clausen just isn’t good enough to make them pay for that. 

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Panthers are likely going to try to go all out to stop Michael Turner and force the Falcons to throw the ball.  The Falcons didn’t look too good throwing the ball against the Saints and the Panthers have a solid, playmaking secondary.  The Panthers will need to get pressure in Matt Ryan’s face while double covering Roddy White and force him to try to beat the Panthers throwing the ball to someone else.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 30, PANTHERS 13

31-year old WR Steve Smith still has it, but the Panthers’ had the worst QB situation in the NFL this season without a doubt.  They were playing musical chairs with a untalented bunch of throwers and the offense and the passing game in particular….never got into a groove.  Panthers’ QBs have completed only 46 of 102 (45.1%) of their passes to Steve Smith so far this year.  Smith has played in 14 games for the Panthers so far this year and he has caught 46 passes for 554 yards (12.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Those are terrible numbers especially when you consider that Smith played in 74 games the previous five years in which he caught 416 passes for 6,134 yards (14.8 avg) with 40 TD grabs!  Smith has now played in 135 games in his first 10 years with the Panthers and he has caught 620 passes for 8,884 yards (14.3 avg) with 52 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 48 times for 304 yards (6.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his career to date.  I firmly believe that Smith has a lot left in the gas tank and if the Panthers’ get improved play out of the QBs in 2011, I look for Smith to return to the very productive player he has been in the past.

The Panthers never had a chance in this game as the Steelers completed dominated them on both sides of the football.  Jimmy Clausen was putrid once again in this game as he completed 10 of 23 passes for 72 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT.  Jonathan Stewart was one of the few Panthers who brought it tonight with 71 yards rushing on 18 carries (3.9 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 9 yards.  Mike Goodson only rushed for 3 yards on 4 carries (0.8 ypc) but he also caught 2 passes for 23 yards (11.5 avg).  Steve Smith led the way in the passing game for the Panthers tonight with 3 grabs for 17 yards (5.7 avg).  The Panthers finished up with 74 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 10 of 23 passes for 45 yards as they only had possession of the ball for 24:36.

The defense was no match for the Steelers either tonight.  CB Richard Marshall (9 tackles), LB Nic Harris (8 tackles and a fumble recovery) and DE Charles Johnson (4 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks and 3 QB hits) led the way for the Panthers on D in this game.  DT Derek Landri pitched in with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit.  The Steelers finished up with 115 yards rushing on 33 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 32 passes for 293 yards.  The Panthers are now a woeful 2-13 on the year.

The Carolina Panthers have a 1-game winning streak coming into this game with the Steelers tonight.  But, they are 0-6 on the road this year.  The Steelers are only 4-3 at home this year but they need the game so I expect them to come out focused and motivated in this game.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Panthers have  the ball:  The Panthers are going to test the Steelers’ manhood by pounding Jonathan Stewart right at them.  He will have to fight for every yard as the Steelers are only giving up 63.4 yards rushing per game and 3.0 yards per carry.  The Panthers will also have to throw the ball a little bit to keep the Steelers’ defense somewhat honest and they are giving up 228.4 yards passing per game so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Panthers might make a few plays as long as Jimmy Clausen has time to throw the ball. 

When the Steelers have the ball:  I don’t think the Steelers are going to get cute in this game either.  I think they are going to want to pound the ball on the ground with Rashard Mendenhall against a Panthers’ D that is allowing 126.2 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry.  Ben Roethlisberger will likely have more time to throw the ball than usual due to the lackluster pass rush of the Panthers but if he’s not careful, he could throw some picks as the secondary is pretty solid.  The Panthers will have to double Mike Wallace and take their chances with the other WRs of the Steelers.

PREDICTION:  STEELERS 23, PANTHERS 10

23-year old RB Jonathan Stewart was banged up early this year for the Panthers.  In his first 8 games of his season,  Stewart carried the ball 69 times for 208 yards (3.0 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 5 passes for 85 yards (17.0 avg) with a TD reception.  Stewart then got a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation to heal his wounds.  He has been on fire ever since he has returned.  In his last four games, Stewart has carried the ball 78 times for 460 yards (5.9 ypc) with a TD run.  Stewart also has caught 2 passes for 9 yards in his last four games.  The amazing thing about Stewart’s success is that no one is scared of Jimmy Clausen, so he’s doing a lot of damage against 8 man fronts making this current streak of his even more amazing.

The Panthers were up 19-3 heading into the 4th quarter before having to hold off the surging Cardinals for a nice home win.  Jimmy Clausen was effective in this game as a game manager type as he completed 13 of 19 passes for 141 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 14 yards (2.8 ypc) in this game.  Jonathan Stewart was a beast on the ground for the Panthers in this game with 137 yards rushing on 27 carries (5.1 ypc).  Mike Goodson pitched in with 21 yards rushing on 10 carries (2.1 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 27 yards (13.5 avg).  Jeff King only caught 1 pass but he made it really count as it went for a 16 yard TD.  The Panthers finished up with 177 yards rushing on 45 carries (3.9 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 19 passes for 126 yards as the Panthers had possession of the ball for 36:56.

CB Captain Munnerlyn (7 tackles and 1 pass defensed) and LB Jon Beason (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed) led the way for the Panthers’ D in this game.  Safety Sherrod Martin (interception) and DE Tyler Brayton (fumble recovery) also made big plays for the Panthers in this game.  The Cardinals finished up with 43 yards rushing on 17 carries (2.5 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 33 passes for 175 yards.  The Panthers are now 2-12 on the season after this very nice home win.

The Panthers have lost 7 games in a row now, with only one loss (at Cleveland) being by less than 10 points!  The Cardinals broke a 7-game losing streak last weekend by pounding the Broncos 43-13!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Panthers have the ball:  The Panthers aren’t going to play around in this game as they are going to come out running the football.  Jonathan Stewart & Mike Goodson should be in line for big games as the Cardinals’ D has given up 143.3 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry.  If the Panthers are effective running the ball, Jimmy Clausen might be able to take some deep shots down the field off play-action.  Don’t hold your breath though as Clausen has been awful this year.

When the Cardinals have the ball:  The Cardinals are also starting a rookie QB so I look for them to also keep the ball on the ground.  Tim Hightower will be taking aim at a Panthers’ D that is allowing 132.6 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  Skelton is going to take some shots down the field to Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston in this game against a Panthers’ D that is allowing 205.5 yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  CARDINALS 17, PANTHERS 10

The Panthers have placed 29-year old LG Travelle Wharton on the Injured Reserve List due to turf toe.  Wharton played in 9 games (all starts) for the Panthers this year.  Wharton has now played in 83 games (all starts) in his first seven years with the Panthers.  24-year old Mackenzy Bernadeau will continue to start at LG the rest of the year and he is doing a good job.  He has played in 13 games (9 starts) so far this year and he has played in 29 games (16 starts) in his first three years for the Panthers.

The Panthers have lost 24-year old linebacker Jason Williams for the rest of the year due to a torn ACL.  Williams played in 4 games for the Panthers this year and he had 16 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.  Williams has now played in 14 games in his first two years in the NFL and he has 22 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.  This is a blow to the Panthers’ defense as they liked what they saw out of him after picking him up from the Cowboys on waivers.

The Panthers have lost 23-year old DE Everette Brown for the rest of the year due to a wrist injury.  Brown played in 13 games for the Panthers this year and he had 25 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.  Brown has now played in 28 games in his first two years with the Panthers and he has 47 tackles, 3 passes defensed, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 interception.  The Panthers are going to miss Brown a little bit.