Can Cam Newton and Carolina hold off Russell Wilson and the Rain in Seattle?
With the rain ominously lurking over the Pacific Northwest, Cam Newton and the undefeated Carolina Panthers have a tough task ahead of them on Sunday when they put their unbeaten record to the test against a tenacious Seattle Seahawks side.
Cam Newton. Photo courtesy of USA Today.According to NFLWeather.com, temperatures will be in the lower-60s with little to no wind. However, come kickoff on Sunday a light rain is expected, off and on, inside CenturyLink Field.
The Panthers already survived one rain game this season with a 37-23 victory over NFC South division rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Newton only passed for 124 yards and Jonathan Stewart only rushed for 50 but the Panthers stingy defense rose to the occasion, forcing five turnovers.
Defensively, Carolina is incredibly stout when the weather gets ugly. Since 2012, according to the NFLWeather.com Historical Analytics, the team is 3-1 in the rain and surrenders on average only 15.5 points per game.
If the Panthers (4-0) have any intention of continuing their unbeaten run, they’ll need major production from Newton who historically underperforms in the rain. Prior to the win over TB, Cam has thrown at least one pick in each of his three previous weather-impacted games and posted a pathetic 34.75 QBR.
But that all changed in week four at the Buccaneers where Newton successfully avoided turning the ball over and the Panthers put a heavy emphasis on the run. Only once since 2012 has Carolina handed the ball off 20 or more times in the rain but the rushing attack was very much the focal point against Tampa. Cam lead the charge with 12 carries for 51 yards while Stewart added 10 touches for 50 and Cameron Artis-Payne even added on eight for 25. Collectively, the team finished the afternoon with 33 touches for 133 yards.
Unlike the visitors, the Super Bowl runners-up have yet to play in poor conditions this season but they’re virtually impossible to beat when the CenturyLink Field artificial turf gets slick. At home in the rain since 2012, Seattle (2-3) is a flawless 7-0. While defensively, the Legion of Boom regularly holds the opposition to less than a measly 14 ppg, it’s the offense that really shines in poor weather with an impressive 35 ppg average.
Offensively in the rain, the ‘Hawks passing game is completely unpredictable. Twice in seven damp outings has Russell Wilson dropped back 30 or more times. Conversely, in three of seven rain games he dropped back less than 19 times. Wilson does have a solid TD-to-INT ratio of 12:5.
On the other hand, the ground game is a given. If Marshawn Lynch is fully healthy, he will get 20+ touches. During Seattle’s active 7-game winning streak in the rain, the offense averages over 39 carries and only once has the offensive game plan called for handing off the pigskin less than 30 times. If Lynch can’t go, Thomas Rawls will carry the load with Fred Jackson occasionally sprinkled in.
Storming into CenturyLink and leaving with a “W” is a tall order for any visiting team to tackle. But if Carolina can score early and often, then maybe, just maybe, Cam and company can drown out the rowdy crowd in the rain and march on to a 5-0 record.
With the rain ominously lurking over the Pacific Northwest, Cam Newton and the undefeated Carolina Panthers have a tough task ahead of them on Sunday when they put their unbeaten record to the test against a tenacious Seattle Seahawks side.
Cam Newton. Photo courtesy of USA Today.According to NFLWeather.com, temperatures will be in the lower-60s with little to no wind. However, come kickoff on Sunday a light rain is expected, off and on, inside CenturyLink Field.
The Panthers already survived one rain game this season with a 37-23 victory over NFC South division rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Newton only passed for 124 yards and Jonathan Stewart only rushed for 50 but the Panthers stingy defense rose to the occasion, forcing five turnovers.
Defensively, Carolina is incredibly stout when the weather gets ugly. Since 2012, according to the NFLWeather.com Historical Analytics, the team is 3-1 in the rain and surrenders on average only 15.5 points per game.
If the Panthers (4-0) have any intention of continuing their unbeaten run, they’ll need major production from Newton who historically underperforms in the rain. Prior to the win over TB, Cam has thrown at least one pick in each of his three previous weather-impacted games and posted a pathetic 34.75 QBR.
But that all changed in week four at the Buccaneers where Newton successfully avoided turning the ball over and the Panthers put a heavy emphasis on the run. Only once since 2012 has Carolina handed the ball off 20 or more times in the rain but the rushing attack was very much the focal point against Tampa. Cam lead the charge with 12 carries for 51 yards while Stewart added 10 touches for 50 and Cameron Artis-Payne even added on eight for 25. Collectively, the team finished the afternoon with 33 touches for 133 yards.
Unlike the visitors, the Super Bowl runners-up have yet to play in poor conditions this season but they’re virtually impossible to beat when the CenturyLink Field artificial turf gets slick. At home in the rain since 2012, Seattle (2-3) is a flawless 7-0. While defensively, the Legion of Boom regularly holds the opposition to less than a measly 14 ppg, it’s the offense that really shines in poor weather with an impressive 35 ppg average.
Offensively in the rain, the ‘Hawks passing game is completely unpredictable. Twice in seven damp outings has Russell Wilson dropped back 30 or more times. Conversely, in three of seven rain games he dropped back less than 19 times. Wilson does have a solid TD-to-INT ratio of 12:5.
On the other hand, the ground game is a given. If Marshawn Lynch is fully healthy, he will get 20+ touches. During Seattle’s active 7-game winning streak in the rain, the offense averages over 39 carries and only once has the offensive game plan called for handing off the pigskin less than 30 times. If Lynch can’t go, Thomas Rawls will carry the load with Fred Jackson occasionally sprinkled in.
Storming into CenturyLink and leaving with a “W” is a tall order for any visiting team to tackle. But if Carolina can score early and often, then maybe, just maybe, Cam and company can drown out the rowdy crowd in the rain and march on to a 5-0 record.
