Can the Carolina Panthers Justify the Hype?

However, he still seems to struggle with change-of-pace downs and gaining short yardage when running up the middle. Carolina has been stopped in third-and-one and fourth-and-one situations when Hubbard has been forced to run straight up the middle.

His initial complement was Jonathan Brooks, but with Brooks sidelined again with injuries, most, if not all, of the workload has fallen on Hubbard. With Brooks out and AJ Dillon getting little game time, the Panthers recently elevated running back Anthony Tyus III from the practice squad to the active roster.

It’s still unclear whether Tyus starts on Sunday, but if he gets the nod, how will Dave Canales and company integrate him into the offense?

The Line Must Hold

This will sneakily be another test for Bryce Young and first-year play-caller Brad Idzik. Can the offense control the pace and efficiently put points on the board to keep Daniels on the back foot?

A key factor will be whether the Panthers’ offensive line fixes mistakes and makes key adjustments.

After missing an extended period with a blood clot in his lungs, Taylor Moton is back and seems to be picking up right where he left off. He’s returned to right tackle, where rookie Monroe Freeling filled in through the start of the season.

Freeling hasn’t necessarily struggled, but it definitely looked like he was learning on the go.

Now, with him recovering from a knee injury, the question is: Does Carolina move him back to his more familiar position at left tackle, or rest him longer and let him learn from the sidelines before returning to the right side?

While the Panthers still figure out player placement, another O-line question is whether they can reduce penalties that stall drives.

So far this season, the Panthers have been flagged most often for false starts and offensive holding penalties. The offensive line is plagued by pre-snap issues and miscues like ineligible men downfield. This has been apparent since Week 1. From a fan’s perspective, the instinct is always to blame the ref first. “How could they call that?” “There was nothing there! What are you, blind?”

But it all boils down to discipline, especially from some of these veteran players. Do the Panthers have the personnel to overcome it?

Pressure Makes the Difference

Generating a pass rush will once again be a focal point for Carolina, but the Panthers may have to do it without Jaelan Phillips. After aggravating his hamstring injury against Philadelphia, Phillips missed Wednesday’s practice, and head coach Dave Canales said he does not expect the outside linebacker to play Sunday.

With one of Carolina’s primary pass rushers likely sidelined, who will step up to generate pressure? And can Devin Lloyd lead his fellow linebackers in neutralizing the Buccaneers’ running game?

Whether it’s Mayfield or Daniels under center, can rookie cornerback Will Lee III, who has been showing flashes lately, continue developing against sophomore standout Emeka Egbuka, who finished second to Carolina’s own Tetairoa McMillan in Rookie of the Year voting last season?

Last week, the Panthers expected an easy win, but it turned into an ugly grind-out where they seemingly escaped with the win rather than claiming it.

This week, Carolina must correct those mistakes and deliver a more decisive victory to extend its winning streak to three games.

Final prediction: Panthers 27, Buccaneers 17.