10 lessons Packers can learn from Panthers-49ers clash
2. Packers’ pass protection faces stiff test
The Panthers weren’t able to generate significant pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo during the Week 7 contest, but they do lead the league in sacks with 34. Mario Addison and rookie Brian Burns headline the pass rush for them.
The good news is that the Panthers’ pressure numbers are more ordinary than their sack totals.
The #Panthers are converting sacks at what looks like an unsustainable rate.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) November 6, 2019
They're 3rd in adjusted sack rate which is good
But they're 24th in pressure rate, 25th in adjusted line yard (helpful OL measure) and 17th in pass rush win rate.
The 49ers, meanwhile, pestered Kyle Allen all game with a relentless pass rush. They’re led, of course, by Nick Bosa, already one of the best pass rushers in the league.
David Bakhtiari hasn’t looked right all year, and even Bryan Bulaga had some struggles last week against Melvin Ingram and Nick’s brother Joey. And, Billy Turner hasn’t been reliable. This group will need to withstand a dangerous Panthers rush this week, then get fully healthy during the bye so that they stand a chance in San Francisco.
3. Starting fast is crucial
The two points above lead us to a simple, perhaps self-evident truth: both these teams are designed to play with a lead. They each want to rely on their run game to control the ball and the tempo, and use their pass rushes to harass quarterbacks in obvious passing situations. This is part of why, once the 49ers got up 14-3 against the Panthers, the game was all but wrapped up.
In less-than-ideal elements against Carolina and coming off a loss, the Packers will be desperate to jump out to a similar early lead. Doing so can help encourage the Panthers to put the ball in the hands of Allen rather than McCaffrey.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are second only to the Patriots in average time spent leading this season, according to Football Outsiders. Matt LaFleur will need his scripted plays out of the bye to help the Packers build an early lead and put his former colleague Kyle Shanahan in unfamiliar territory this year.