Who Would Panthers Rather Face?
The Carolina Panthers will face the winner of today’s game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. This set up begs the question as to who Carolina would rather face off against in the Divisional Playoffs.
Make no mistake, regardless of what the Panthers figure heads say in interviews, everyone on the team will be watching that game closely and pulling for one team over another. Â Here is an analysis of the potential match ups for the Panthers.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are favored in the odds to beat the Packers with a -3 points spread. The game is also expected to be a high-scoring affair, with the over/under set at 46 points. The 49ers typically fair well in games where the scores go into the 20s, so this is the team that the odds are in favor of facing off against the Panthers.
The 49ers, Colin Kaepernick in particular, have a reputation as being a dual-threat team. However, they are ranked 30th in passing yard in the league, but so this reputation is a bit unwarranted. Â The 49ers may not have shown it too much this year, but they like to think of themselves as a dual threat team but have only proven their rushing as they are third in the league in total rushing yards.
The 49ers are truly a one dimensional run team, despite their reputation. Â However, their defense is among the best, if not the best, in the NFL.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers may lack defensive prowess but they have improved over the season. Â Also, the Packers offense has a reputation as being one-dimensional, but they are truly a solid all around offense. Â Aaron Rodgers’ passing ability is well documented. However, they also rank seventh in the league in rushing yards. In fact, in all major offensive stats they rank in the top ten.
This is not a team the Panthers defense wants to square off against.
Who Would Panthers Rather Face?
The Panthers defeated the 49ers in the regular season. That would normally give the Panthers an advantage, however, that game was decided by one point.
They have not encountered the Packers this season, so they may be a bit of an unknown to the Panthers.
If I am a Panther I am pulling for the 49ers. They are a one-dimensional offense that the Panthers already defeated early in the season, so Carolina has already shown their hand to the Panthers, so to speak.
