According to interim head coach Chris Tabor, the Carolina Panthers are not only bracing for bad weather this weekend, but they’re also embracing it.
On Friday, Tabor spoke with reporters for the final time before the team’s Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. And despite what is likely to be a rainy and windy Sunday afternoon, he said his guys are looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m gonna kinda rely back on my years in the AFC North and NFC North, and hopefully that comes into play there,” he replied. “We’re lookin’ forward to it, we’re gonna embrace it. With regards to the passing game and all those things—I think those are things that you just have to evaluate when you get out there. I don’t wanna misquote here, but sometimes the weather can be projected for one thing and not be the other, or vice versa. So, we’ll play it as we see it.”
Sunday’s forecast for Charlotte currently calls for the possibility of heavy rainfall, with an expected accumulation of one to two inches. Additionally, winds are expected to hit anywhere from 10 to 20 mph.
So, yeah, Tabor and the Panthers are also prepared to run.
“I think the line’s done a nice job the past two weeks in runnin’ the football, and so have the backs,” he later added. “And I think there’s some confidence there that’s takin’ place. If you think about, the Tampa game was a rainy game—and we ran the football. And last week, we ran the football again for 200 yards, 205, whatever it is.
“So, I like the identity of where that’s going. And if they say the weather is gonna be like it is and they run the ball, could be a short game.”
That potentially short game should feature Atlanta’s three-headed running back attack of rookie Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson. But the Panthers are currently packing their own punch with Chuba Hubbard, who has rushed for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns over the last two games.
