Some players may not want the attention for it, but the Carolina Panthers seem to be coming into their own. They've gotten a nice start on trying to repeat as NFC South champs, their quarterback is garnering some Most Valuable Player buzz and their defense is on the rise.
But the return of a familiar face, who always has a chip on his shoulder, will try to spoil that on Sunday.
Here are our biggest storylines for the Panthers' showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . . .
Bold ball
The Panthers—on a per-game basis—have entered Week 7 averaging the second-most total yards (404.4), the most passing yards (295.6) and the fourth-most points (29.2) in the league. That success has grown off the identity established by offensive coordinator and first-year play-caller Brad Idzik.
Idzik's unit knows who they are and what they want to do—as exhibited in last week's 25-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Red-hot quarterback Bryce Young was given a long leash to make his plays en route to a fifth-straight 280-yard passing output, then running back Chuba Hubbard used said leash to wrap up the Eagles with a hard-earned 96 rushing yards in the second half.
If we're to nitpick the unit—they could do a better job of establishing the run early on and protecting Young, who has dealt with the highest rate of pressures per dropback amongst all passers. And one of those could give—as Tampa has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per contest (75.5), but has also mustered up the sixth-lowest pressure rate (19.8 percent).
Either way, we'll see if the Carolina offense can continue to impose their will.
Baker's back
After missing three games due to a dislocated right thumb, Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will be back in the saddle again. But how far can he and this snake-bitten offense ride on Sunday?
Mayfield, for one, is expected to wear a custom glove on his throwing hand that will limit the range of his thumb. And if he's able to really throw, he won't be doing so to his No. 1 wideout in Emeka Egbuka—who has already been ruled out with a concussion and a foot injury. Plus, starting right tackle Luke Goedeke (calf) will be down as well.
Luckily for the Bucs, the defense they'll be lining up against isn't exactly the healthiest group out there either. The Panthers will embark on their third-straight tilt without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson and won't have their top edge defender in Jaelan Phillips due to a nagging hamstring issue.
That might not matter too much, though—as defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and company have persisted . . .
Busy Buck
Despite being undermanned, the Carolina defense has rebounded in a drastic way since getting dragged for a franchise-record 59 points in Week 1.
Dating back to Week 2, the Panthers have allowed the second-fewest points per game (16.0), the fifth-fewest yards per play (4.71) and the eighth-lowest third-down conversion rate (34.5 percent). Their rushing defense has also been the 10th-stingiest (92.5 yards per contest), and that'll have to show this weekend.
Bucs running back Bucky Irving, who recorded 44 touches between Weeks 5 and 6, should be a busy man at Bank of America Stadium. Putting in work against the Panthers isn't new to him either—as he amassed 421 rushing yards and 123 receiving yards in his previous four outings versus Carolina.
Expect to see a heavy dose of Irving with so much uncertainty in Tampa's passing game.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Buccaneers in Week 7