In the Monday Night Game of Week 10, the Carolina Panthers (6-3) receive the Miami Dolphins (4-4) in primetime. Both teams were struggling with problems this year, but while the Panthers last won twice, the Dolphins lost their last two games. Are these trends continuing? In the Coin Toss, mySPOX user DavidSilva21x3 and SPOX editor Marcus Blumberg will discuss the subject. The game will be shown live on Tuesday night from 2.30 a. m. on DAZN!
Carolina Panthers (6-3) – Miamii Dolphins (4-4) (Tue, 2.30 am live on DAZN)
mySPOX-User DavidSilva21x3: Monday Night Football is called Primetime Football. You’d think a stage made for an extroverted star like Cam Newton. But that’s not exactly what it was since the lost Super Bowl. 2-5 are now in prime time games, again this year they lost against admittedly strong Eagles on a Thursday.
With the Dolphins, however, a much more thankful opponent is now waiting for Carolina, who is still standing out on paper with 4-4, but a look at some statistics reveals that the Dolphins are one of those teams that will benefit from the fact that there are few outstanding teams this year. But there are a lot of middle-class teams that are also beatable for the Phins if everything doesn’t go smoothly.
The Panthers can also be classified in this category. But what sets Carolina apart from Miami is the one dominant unit that makes her competitive in every game and can win games. Of course, we’re talking about Front 7, which is currently one of the best in the league and is largely responsible for allowing the fewest yards per game (274.1).
With 29 sacks, the Panthers rank second in this statistic only behind the outstanding Jaguars (35), which is partly due to the much more aggressive play-calling of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks compared to the previous season – after Week 5 they have a lightning percentage of 38, which means 5th place in the league.
This rate has even increased somewhat in the further course of the year. This is possible because the secondary around key player James Bradberry is much more stable, so that we are once again strongly reminded of 2015. Against the all but strong offensive line of the Dolphins (30th place after DVOA) one must and will dominate here again and force the so far very toothless offense of the Dolphins to mistakes.
What is true for the offensive line of the Dolphins is also true for the Panthers, whose O-Line with rank 29 is similarly bad after DVOA and gives the Run Game, which is essential for the Panthers, little chance. The performance last week against the Falcons gives us hope here, when the season’s best performance was delivered with over 200 yards on the ground. In addition, the line’s play-calling and Newton’s play-calling helped with more pre-snap motion, fakes and misdirections.
If they can confirm this achievement, I don’t see any chance for the Dolphins to win this game. In general, the Panthers are: If they score at least 20 points themselves, they give themselves the chance to beat every opponent in this league. If she doesn’t get herself into trouble early in the game with avoidable turnovers, as in defeats against the Eagles, Saints and Bears.
Marcus Blumberg (SPOX): The Miami Dolphins have lost their last two games in the NFL, but overall the trend is still upward. If head coach Adam Gase is to be believed, then there is reason to hope, because his team has shown good beginnings at times.
“I feel like we’re close. We need to find a way to play a complete game. We have to find this balance,”said Gases in the run-up to the Monday Night Games in Charlotte/North Carolina.
Certainly, the statistics by the bank are worse than those of the Panthers. But the difference between the two teams is not that big. On average, the Panthers score just four points more than Miami and defensively the Dolphins don’t even score five points more.
In general, the Dolphins have been very close lately – three of their last four games were decided with three points difference – two of them in their favour! In addition, the gap in five games Miami’s Miami this year was six or less points. This team should normally be up to the end.
As far as the positive tendencies, which addressed gases, something can be found above all in the running game. Kenyan Drake’s increased snap number gives the backfield more explosiveness, so that Jay Ajayi’s departure should be compensated for in the long run.
And quarterback Jay Cutler, who came back from a rib injury last week, is also in better shape than many people might think: in his last eight quarters he threw seven touchdown passes!
Defensively, the Dolphins have a newcomer, because Safety T. J. McDonald will make his Dolphin debut after his substance abuse ban. He had missed the first eight games of the season.
“I expect him to play and be ready,”Gases commented on his new husband in the Secondary:”We knew what we were getting involved with the lockdown. We had expected it would be available at about the time of the season.”
But who he won’t meet is Tight End Greg Olsen, who’s on the Injured Reserve list and therefore canceled out. This, in turn, is a bitter weakening for Cam Newton, who had already lost his best wide receiver with Kelvin Benjamin, and now his favorite pass option as a whole. It will be exciting to see how the Panthers compensate for this.
While one can look forward to another primetime game in Carolina and look forward to a 9-6 record in Monday Night Games, Miami is the Monday night expert par excellence at the Bank of America Stadium: a total of 83. The Dolphins will be competing for the 15th time on Monday evening, and no other team was in action more often at this prestigious event. However, the balance sheet at 41-41 is only balanced.
However, there is a good omen from the point of view of the team from Florida: The Dolphins are one of only two current NFL-teams, against which Carolina has never won at home – the other is the Tennessee Titans. So the Dolphins are something of a stain on the Panthers’ vest.