CHARLOTTE (BLACK & BLUE KICKOFF LIVE) — Week 5, at home against the Dolphins, could be a great spot for the Panthers to get the offense in a groove.
Through four games, the Panthers are in the bottom 10 in passing yards and yards per catch. That’s not a coincidence for a team that has had to bench its starting quarterback in the middle of their Week 4 blowout against the Patriots. Bryce Young is running out of time to prove to the front office that he can be the team’s QB1 for the future.
The Dolphins prove to be a favorable spot for Bryce Young and the passing attack because they allow the highest completion percentage (77.6%) and second-highest yards per passing attempt (8.8) to opposing teams.
Both teams will be without key offensive playmakers. Carolina won’t have its leading rusher Chuba Hubbard, and Miami lost all-pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill for the rest of the season to a leg injury he suffered in Week 4.
Aside from the other wide receivers on the depth chart, Miami likes to throw to its running backs out of the backfield. Devon Achane has 19 catches so far this season, second-most among running backs. For the Panthers, they’ll lean on Rico Dowdle and Trevor Etienne, both in their first season in Carolina, to handle the rushing load.
Matchup notes
🏈 This is the ninth meeting all-time between the Dolphins and Panthers. Dolphins have won six of the eight games.
🏈 The Dolphins have won the last two games, both in Miami, both by at least 20 points.
🏈 Betting odds (according to FanDuel): Panthers +1.5 (-115) and +100 moneyline; over/under at 44.5 (+100).
Sunday’s game from Bank of America Stadium starts at 1 p.m. on Queen City News.
