Pros
- The Panthers have run the 3rd-most plays in the NFL this year, averaging a whopping 63.8 plays per game.
- The leading projections forecast Chuba Hubbard to accumulate 16.4 rush attempts in this week’s game, on balance, putting him in the 87th percentile among running backs.
- While Chuba Hubbard has garnered 42.8% of his offense’s run game usage in games he has played this year, the model projects him to be a more integral piece of Carolina’s ground game in this contest at 59.6%.
- The Carolina O-line grades out as the 10th-best in football last year in run-blocking.
- Chuba Hubbard ranks as one of the best RBs in the league at generating extra ground yardage, averaging a stellar 3.11 yards-after-contact this year while ranking in the 78th percentile.
Cons
- The predictive model expects the Carolina Panthers offensive approach to tilt 6.5% more towards passing than it did last year (in a neutral context) with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown now calling the plays.
- A throwing game script is indicated by the Panthers being a -3-point underdog in this week’s contest.
- The leading projections forecast the Panthers to call the 8th-fewest total plays among all teams this week with 62.7 plays, given their underlying strategic approach and game dynamics.
- The Chicago Bears defense owns the best efficiency against opposing run games this year, yielding just 3.49 adjusted yards-per-carry (YPC).
Projection
THE BLITZ
71
Rushing Yards