The Panthers, who rank 29th in the league in run defense, have already allowed three 100-yard rushers and one 200-yard rusher. They’ll face Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, the league’s leading rusher on Sunday and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson after the bye week.
Carolina has struggled with the run since Week 3 when the Panthers allowed Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew to rush for 122 yards in a quagmire. The Panthers would manage to win that game, but lost to Chicago a week later — after watching Matt Forte rush for 205 yards and a touchdown. Two weeks ago, they allowed Atlanta’s Michael Turner to rush for 139 yards and two scores.
Peterson will be the best back the Panthers have faced this season.
He leads the league with 719 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, while averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
