Get to know Panthers’ Week 12 opponent: Broncos’ Russell Wilson struggling mightily
The Carolina Panthers will look to bounce back from their latest road loss when they host the Denver Broncos at 1 p.m. Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers are undefeated at home (2-0) under interim head coach Steve Wilks. But the team has struggled on the road (0-4), losing its Week 11 matchup to the Baltimore Ravens, 13-3, this past weekend.
Luckily for the Panthers (3-8), Carolina will host a struggling Broncos squad in Week 12. The Broncos (3-7) have lost two consecutive games, and head coach Nathaniel Hackett gave up offensive play-calling responsibilities last week.
If the Panthers can clamp down on Denver quarterback Russell Wilson like they did last week against Lamar Jackson, Carolina should be able to earn another home victory — with competent quarterback play — on their turf.
Here are five things to know about the Broncos ahead of their Week 12 matchup against the Panthers:
Wilson is struggling to make the most of a change of scenery
Through his first nine games with the Broncos, Wilson has thrown just seven passing touchdowns.
To make matters worse, he already has five interceptions during that same span. Last season — in his final campaign with the Seattle Seahawks — Wilson had just six interceptions in 14 games.
As it stands now, his 83.3 passer rating would easily be the worst mark of his career.
Also, Wilson, known for his dual-threat ability, isn’t really taking advantage of his mobility, either. Entering Week 12, Wilson has gained just 129 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He’s averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
The Panthers have produced at least one interception in three of the past four games. If Wilson puts the ball in harm’s way, cornerback Jaycee Horn or safety Jeremy Chinn could take advantage.
The Panthers also held Jackson, a significantly more mobile quarterback than Wilson, to just 31 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in Week 11. Jackson averaged just 2.8 yards per carry.
Panthers can put pressure on Wilson
While Wilson has struggled, he isn’t the only player to blame on offense. Through 10 games, the Broncos’ offensive line has given up 34 sacks. In the Broncos’ Week 11 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Wilson was hit 10 times and sacked three times.
Through the past three weeks, Wilson has been hit 20 times and sacked seven times. The Broncos have averaged just 15.7 points per game during that stretch.
The Broncos have produced 20 or more points twice this season.
The Panthers haven’t been particularly consistent with their pass rush, but against the Ravens, the defense was able to hit and sack Jackson enough to create problems for the Baltimore passing attack. If the defense can keep that momentum going, sacks and turnovers will be there for the taking.
Denver’s running game isn’t much of a concern
Like Wilson, the Broncos’ backfield isn’t playing particularly well heading into Week 12. In fact, the team cut leading rusher Melvin Gordon on Monday following a costly fumble against the Raiders last week.
Gordon, Javonte Williams and Latavius Murray combined for 731 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry prior to Gordon’s release. Gordon, who led the team with 318 rushing yards, averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. Williams has been on injured reserve since Week 5 with a knee injury.
The Broncos recently traded for running back Chase Edmonds and signed Marlon Mack to their 53-man roster.
The Broncos are the 26th-ranked running offense in the league. The offense’s collective 3.9 yards-per-carry average is tied for fourth-worst in the NFL. Denver is also the only team in the league without a run of 20 or more yards on the season.
If the Panthers can stop the run, the Broncos will become one dimensional, Wilson will make mistakes and Denver won’t sustain long drives.
But, the Broncos’ defense is pretty strong
While the Broncos aren’t scoring in bunches on offense, their defense is still thriving. Through 10 games, the Broncos are only allowing 17.1 points per game. The unit has only allowed 20 or more points in two games, and has surrendered 16 points or fewer in four games.
The defense has collected 26 sacks and six interceptions this season. The group has also created nine forced fumbles.
The unit ranks fourth in passing defense and is only allowing a passing first-down percentage of 25.5%, which ranks first in the NFL.
Veteran linebacker Alex Singleton leads the team with 82 total tackles. Safety Caden Sterns leads the group with two interceptions.
This matchup will be a tough challenge for the Panthers’ passing attack, which has struggled mightily all season. But that could lead to another impressive performance for running back D’Onta Foreman.
The Broncos feature the 13th-ranked run defense in the NFL. But the group is still allowing 4.7 yards per carry, which is the eighth-worst mark in the league. There will be opportunities for Foreman to bust out big runs.
History is on Denver’s side against Carolina
The Broncos and Panthers have met seven times in meaningful games, including Super Bowl 50. In those matchups, the Panthers are 1-6 against the Broncos.
Denver has won four consecutive matchups against Carolina. The Panthers haven’t defeated the Broncos since Dec. 14, 2008.
In their last matchup, the Broncos defeated the Panthers, 32-27, at Bank of America Stadium.
The Broncos defeated the Panthers, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
This story was originally published November 22, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
