Carolina Panthers

How the Carolina Panthers' pass rush will rattle Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning

Published Jan. 27, 2016 1:24 p.m. ET

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All season Matt Chatham has been breaking down tape for FOXSports.com's NFL Game of the Week column. Now, as we shift our focus to Super Bowl 50, he will break down four key aspects that could decide if the Panthers or Broncos emerge victorious. Here is the first in this week's four-part series.

At this point in the season, there are no secrets. There are no unearthed weaknesses that only your team has discovered. The warts are what they are. Your opponent is fully aware and preparing to get at them the best they can.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos are back in the Super Bowl, but they come in with one of the more limited passing offenses in recent Super Bowl history. If it wasn't for the surefire interception-turned-34-yard-completion WR Emmanuel Sanders plucked from the hands of Patriots CB Malcolm Butler on an ill-advised in-game jump ball, the Broncos passing offense was staring at a paltry sub-150-yard day through the air, highlighted by a second half of general offensive inactivity.

This is the kind of stuff that makes Super Bowl defensive coordinators drool.

As we discussed here heading into the AFC Championship Game, Manning really needs his "spot" to step into and drive throws down the field at this point in his career. What that means is the pass rush action is much more important on the inside of the offensive line to collapse the front portion of any potential pocket.

The Patriots provided some template material that the Carolina Panthers are bound to try to work towards in their own scheme, especially considering the talent they have on the inside with defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short.

The key here is to maximize pressure, stunts, and games to the inside. This is where the focus of pass-rush game planning should lie, much as it did for New England (see below).

The Panthers will use various four-man front alignments, but invariably somebody on the inside is bound to be single blocked. He is the guy who needs to crash the party. In those situations for the Patriots, DT Alan Branch feasted over Broncos center Matt Paradis, forcing Manning to throw that pass that looked like it was shot out of the sky (see below).

As much as getting sacks, this kind of strategy is more about forcing bad throws. Manning was fortunate this one wasn't intercepted. Expect the Panthers to work their focus on creating confusion and/or penetration over the center and guards in hopes that they can get as many balls like that one as possible. Carolina has as strong a penchant in the league of turning those kinds of balls into turnovers.

Lotulelei is well-versed in this kind of "step up when singled" kind of mantra for getting a pocket quarterback off his spot, as evidenced in the Arizona game several times (below).

This play illustrates the importance of the guy providing that initial spot pressure -- even if he ultimately isn't credited with the sack stat in the end.

The formula isn't new. And fortunately for the Panthers, they're particularly talented and experienced at providing pressure where Manning wants it least. Edge rushers will have their opportunity as well, but Manning has always had an ability to let those fly by provided he can step up in the pocket.

The Panthers defensive line's task is very simple: Make sure he can't, then get a ring.

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Matt Chatham played for the Patriots and Jets for nine NFL seasons, winning three Super Bowls. He is also the founder of footballbyfootball.com. You can follow him on Twitter.