Sir Purr
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- Mar 16, 2019
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James Bradberry vs. Mike Evans
James Bradberry very much rose to the occasion in the opener. Now it’s time to see how he handles a dominant No. 1 receiver in NFC South rival Mike Evans.
For much of the game Bradberry will be expected to match up against the two-time Pro Bowler, one of the league’s very best wide receivers. Evans ranked third in the league in receiving yards last year (1,524), as well as third in receiving yards per game (95.3) and yards per reception (17.7). The Buccaneers are a pass-happy team that led the league in passing yards per game last season, so expect another busy night for Bradberry as the Bucs try to air it out against the Panthers.
After posting a sack and an interception against the Rams, Bradberry will look to build on his Week 1 momentum. But of course, that all depends on which version of Bradberry shows up on Thursday night.
FWIW, here's a look at Evans' numbers against Bradberry and the Panthers over the years:
2018 Week 13: 1 catch (10 targets) for 16 yards
2018 Week 9: 4 catches (6 targets) for 48 yards
2017 Week 16: 5 catches (10 targets) for 60 yards
2017 Week 8: 6 catches (8 targets) for 107 yards
2016 Week 17: 6 catches (12 targets) for 89 yards and 1 TD
2016 Week 5: 5 catches (11 targets) for 65 yards and 1 TD
Can the offensive line handle Ndamukong Suh?
For the second straight game, the Panthers offensive line will be dealing with an absolute unit up front. Aaron Donald last week, now it’s on to Ndamukong Suh.
While the 10th-year defensive end may not be the sack monster he once was, he’s still a force to be reckoned with on the D-line. After posting 4.5 sacks and 59 tackles last season with the Rams, Suh signed with the Bucs in the offseason as the team’s replacement for McCoy.
The Panthers offensive line was solid last week against the Rams, as McCaffrey rushed for 128 yards, but Newton was sacked three times for a loss of 28 yards. If the offensive line can keep Suh in check and combine a good push in the ground game with giving Newton enough time in the pocket, the offense shouldn’t have trouble moving the ball down the field.
Who wins the turnover battle?
This one may seem obvious, but it’s especially relevant against the Bucs and quarterback Jameis Winston.
Winston has been known to be a bit careless with the ball. Since being drafted in 2015, he leads the league with 61 total interceptions – nine of which have come against the Panthers. After throwing three picks last week against the 49ers, the Panthers defense should have a shot at getting some takeaways. If the defense can capitalize on a few of Winston’s errant throws and give the offense an extra possession or two, things will be looking good for the Panthers.
On the other hand, the Panthers struggled to hold onto the ball last week against the Rams, with two costly fumbles and a late-game interception. Despite the turnovers, the Panthers were still able to stay in the game until the last minute.
In the last 10 match ups with the Bucs, whichever team wins the turnover battle wins the game, too, so don’t be surprised if it all comes down to a few takeaways.