Defense

The Panthers have been blitz heavy in the red zone and it's hurt them. So far this season they are allowing a touchdown on 88.9 percent of opponent red zone opportunities, the second-worst rate in the league.

Through their first four games, the Panthers have pressured opponents on just over 26 percent of pass attempts, which ranks 20th in the league according to Football Outsiders. That is a low rate for a team that likes to send extra rushers, and may explain why they've allowed teams like the Giants and Cowboys to creep back into the game after being up two scores in the fourth quarter.

Panthers defensive coordinator Eric Washington told reporters after last week's win over the Giants that they're not getting the pressure they want with their rushes.

"It's a combination of several factors. The tempo of the passing play, some of the quick slants, some of the extra guys that are used in protection, those are factors, but I won't make any excuses for why we don't rush the way I believe we're capable of rushing," Washington said. "We have a very high standard where that's concerned, and if we have one person that's one-on-one we expect that person to be a factor and to at least affect the quarterback. We'll continue to work at it."

Four of the eight red zone touchdowns the Panthers have allowed this season have come inside of the five yard line against a goal line defense.

The other four came on pass plays from outside of eight yards, three culminating in receiving touchdowns (The other was a scrambling touchdown by Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan).

The first of those came in Week 2, against the Falcons, on third-and-eight from the Carolina 11 yard line. The Panthers sent five rushers, their four down lineman and linebacker Shaq Thompson. Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley ran a slant on the right side and Ryan hit him for an 11 yard touchdown. Ridley had a one-on-one match up and won.

The second came in the same game on second-and-two from the Carolina eight yard line. Thompson was lined up on tight end Austin Hooper, who beat him on a sail route for the eight yard touchdown. This time the Panthers only sent four, and Thompson got beat in man coverage.

The third such touchdown was Ryan's scramble, where defensive end Mario Addison lost contain and allowed Ryan to dive in for the score.