Kansas City Chiefs: Getting to know the Panthers before Week 9

It’s Week 9 of the NFL season, and the Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to host the Carolina Panthers in what will be the Chiefs’ first game this year against teams from the NFC South.

Entering Week 9, the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers are on very different trajectories for this oddball season. The Chiefs, after losing to the Raiders 40-32 in Week 5, and won three straight games to improve to 7-1. The Panthers, meanwhile, have lost three straight since their last victory, and now sit in third place in the NFC South at 3-5.

To get to know Carolina better, I reached out over email to Dean Jones, the site expert at Cat Crave, FanSided’s site dedicated solely to the Panthers. Make sure to check out Cat Crave for more articles on the Panthers before Sunday’s game.

Here’s our Q-&-A.

Eight games into the Matt Rhule Era, how do you feel about the Carolina Panthers organization?

Dean: It’s been a mixed bag, in truth. There have been some really encouraging signs and plenty of disappointing stuff to work on but considering what was expected of this group coming into the season, you could make the argument that they are ahead of schedule.

The Panthers have been competitive for the most part on a tough schedule and that is something they can take forward into a brutal run of games before their by[e] week. There are clear deficiencies that need to be sorted out during the offseason, but Matt Rhule has left little doubt he is the man for the job.

The Panthers have lost three straight, but get back running back Christian McCaffrey this weekend. How will his return change the offensive gameplan?

Dean: I think their soft zone scheme is something that has helped and hindered in equal measure.

This Panthers defense has given up only nine touchdown passes this season, which ranks 2nd best in the NFL. Who’s been key to that success?

Dean: The Panthers aren’t giving up a lot in the way of touchdowns, but it has allowed some of the more experienced quarterbacks to pick them apart.

The addition of Rasul Douglas has been a big help. How he didn’t make the Eagles’ 53-man roster is anyone’s guess and although Donte Jackson has struggled with a toe injury, his production has been strong when he’s been on the field.

How’s Teddy Bridgewater looking these days?

Dean: It’s not been the easiest of situations for Bridgewater to come into, but he’s coped well under the microscope. He’s been accurate distributing the football and commanded the line of scrimmage superbly. But the quarterback has had some trouble coming through in the clutch.
If he’d have been able to do this, then the Panthers’ 3-5 record might look a little different.