Biggest storylines for Week 15

The Panthers and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo have a clear plan right now—keep running until you can’t run anymore. And since Sam Darnold is under center, can you blame them?

As of now, you can’t—because it’s worked!

Darnold ended his first start in Week 12 having thrown just 19 passes for 164 yards with the ground game picking up the onus for 185 yards on 46 attempts. The results were quite similar in Week 14, as Darnold collected 120 yards on 24 chucks while the rushing attack tallied 223 yards on another 46 tries.

But will that formula be sustainable against the Steelers defense, which has allowed the ninth-fewest yards per carry (4.2) in 2022? And will the Panthers be tempted to shoot on the relatively weak Pittsburgh secondary?

While minimizing opportunities for a usually turnover-prone Darnold is a wise strategy, your backfield can only take you so far. (Just ask the Tennessee Titans.) So if Carolina wants to make a serious run, they’ll have to win through the air at some point. Does that point begin on Sunday?