The Carolina Panthers have been one of the NFL's most inconsistent teams. Even with major struggles recently, a win against the Philadelphia Eagles would help them remain in the NFC South race.
‘Monday Night Football,’ Panthers vs. Eagles 2014: Mark Sanchez takes the reins for Philadelphia
The Panthers travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles on Monday night.
It's been more than a month since the Panthers last won a game. They tied the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 5 followed by three straight losses in which Carolina was outscored 79-36. Few parts of the team have performed particularly well during that stretch, with holes appearing across the offensive line, defensive line, and secondary.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have overcome a plethora of injuries to overtake division rival Dallas for the NFC East lead. The Eagles parted ways with DeSean Jackson, but Jeremy Maclin has stepped up as a leading receiver. Tight end Zach Ertz has also performed well, making several big plays in the passing game while supplying above-average blocking. However, starting quarterback Nick Foles suffered a broken collarbone last week and will sit out for at least a few weeks. Mark Sanchez will take over under center until that time.
The Panthers enter the week 3-5-1, second in the NFC South. The Eagles come in at 6-2, best in the NFC East.
Breaking Madden
Digits
It has not been a stellar year statistically for Cam Newton. In seven starts, Newton has thrown just eight touchdowns while turning the ball over eight times. One of the reasons Newton has struggled is his offensive line, which has struggled to give him time to throw. The offensive line may also be responsible for the poor play of Carolina's running backs. The group is led by Jonathan Stewart, who has gained only 263 yards thus far in 2014. DeAngelo Williams has similarly struggled, averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
One of the best stories of the NFL season has been the resurrection of Maclin's career. Entering Week 10, he ranks fifth in the league in receiving yards with 790. Even more impressive, Maclin averages 17.6 yards per catch and leads the team with 13 plays of 20 or more yards. The season hasn't gone quite as well for star running back LeSean McCoy. After racking up 1,607 rushing yards at a 5.1 clip a year ago, McCoy is on pace for 1,244 yards and less than 4 yards per carry. He'll need to perform better if the Eagles hope to challenge for a top seed and a bye in the playoffs.
The Panthers and Eagles have played each other eight times. Philadelphia holds a slight edge in the series, winning five times. However, Carolina won the last tilt, 30-22.
Who to watch
Kelvin Benjamin - In a draft class filled with talented receivers, Carolina's Kelvin Benjamin has stood out. A skyscraper of a human being, Benjamin leads all rookies with 589 receiving yards and has already become the top target for quarterback Cam Newton. He will challenge the Eagles secondary all night, particularly if starting safety Nate Allen is unavailable to supply help over the top.
Mark Sanchez - While he’s known mostly for the unfortunate “butt fumble” play, Sanchez was once considered an elite quarterback prospect. His career didn’t pan out as expected in New York, but that had as much to do with the lack of quality offensive coaching than his own inabilities. Working with Chip Kelly, one of the league’s premier offensive minds, could lead to an impressive second act for Sanchez.
How to watch
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
Online streaming: WatchESPN, Verizon NFL Mobile
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The venue
Lincoln Financial Field is a 10-year-old outdoor facility that hosts home games for the Eagles and the Temple Owls football team. The field is also used for the annual Army-Navy football game and the Philadelphia Union’s exhibition games. For football games the seating capacity 69,176. Since opening, the building has been enhanced with two new HD video boards, WiFi, and other amenities.
Odds
The Eagles are 6-point favorites according to OddsShark.
Preliminary Judgment
The experts are nearly unanimous in their picks for this game. All but one of SB Nation’s seven-man panel have the Eagles winning. Over at CBS Sports, it’s a clean sweep for Philly.
Further reading
For more on the Panthers, check out Cat Scratch Reader. For additional coverage of the Eagles, head on over to Bleeding Green Nation.
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