Early Downs › Week 16

Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 16 preview

• The Carolina Panthers (3-3) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) on Sun, Dec 27 · 1:00 PM ET.
• The Panthers offense ranks 12th in EPA per play (+0.05); the Steelers defense ranks 7th (−0.04 allowed). Biggest Panthers edges: explosive play rate, explosive pass rate. The Steelers defense holds the edge in opportunity rate, stuff rate, havoc rate.
• The Steelers offense ranks 20th in EPA per play (−0.03); the Panthers defense ranks 20th (+0.02 allowed). Biggest Steelers edges: EPA per designed run, line yards per carry, opportunity rate. The Panthers defense holds the edge in explosive pass rate, yards per dropback, EPA per dropback.
• Blitz watch: the Panthers blitz on 37% of dropbacks (8th most), and the Steelers struggle against it (−0.30 EPA per dropback, 32nd).
• Pace: projected for about 132 total snaps, 3 more than a typical game.