It's not difficult to figure out where the Carolina Panthers are most vulnerable these days—on both sides of the trenches.
First, the offensive line is getting battered in pass protection. Not only did the unit go into Week 7 having allowed the highest rate of pressures per dropback, but they came out relinquishing another five sacks of quarterback Bryce Young.
Also, their defensive line simply can't seem to stop the run. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dialed up their trio of running backs for 45 rushes, 246 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 43-13 win at Bank of America Stadium.
So the formula for beating the Panthers seems simple—get to Young and run the ball down their throat. However, not every team is well-suited for that kind of game plan.
This week's opponent is one of them. The Green Bay Packers have the league's worst rushing attack, which may lead to aerial exhibition from quarterback Jordan Love.
If that's the case, CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco expects Love to light up Carolina's defense on Thursday night. Prisco writes:
These two are both coming off losses. The Carolina loss featured the Bucs running over them for 258 rushing yards. It's been a problem all year. But the Packers don't run it very well, so something has to give. Carolina gave Jordan Love fits last year, but that will change here. Carolina gives up 27.7 points per game. Love lights them up and Josh Jacobs gets the run game going. Pick: Packers 31, Panthers 24
That's going to be easier said than done, though. Despite missing Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson for a good chunk of the season, Carolina's defense has been tough to throw against. The Panthers are only allowing 195.7 passing yards per game this season, with only five teams are giving up fewer.
Getting pressure on Love will be necessary to throw him off his game—and he tends to go on tilt when that happens. So far this year, he's completing less than 60 percent of his passes and has already thrown five interceptions.
The Panthers defense certainly had his number in last year's meeting in Green Bay. Love threw for 273 passing yards, but also finished with zero touchdowns and one pick in a 16-13 loss for the Packers.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL analyst predicts Jordan Love will 'light up' Panthers defense on TNF
