Panthers vs. 49ers: 5 key stats to watch in Week 1
By Robert Smith
No. 2: Turnovers
This stat here is no big surprise. Typically, the team that wins the turnover battle usually wins the game.
In fact, Carolina and San Francisco are prime examples of how much turnover affected their win-loss record. In 2011 and 2012, San Francisco had a combined plus-36 turnover differential. They were in the NFC Championship game in both seasons and the Super Bowl in 2012.
During Carolina’s run to the Super Bowl in 2015, the Panthers were first in the league with a plus-20 turnover differential. Last season, which saw them drop to a 6-10 record, they finished with a minus-2 turnover differential, which landed them 22nd in the league.
With San Francisco installing a new offense, and with major roster turnover on the offensive side of the ball, ball security will need to be of utmost importance, because they simply do not have established playmakers compared to many of the teams in the league.
For Carolina, its offense is predicated on Cam Newton making good decisions, whether passing or running with the football. Newton is also afforded the advantage of having playmakers, with Kelvin Benjamin, Curtis Samuel and Devin Funchess at wide receiver, tight end Greg Olsen, and running backs Jonathan Stewart and Christian McCaffrey.
San Francisco’s young defense will have its hands full trying to slow down the offense. But if these players are able to create a few turnovers and turn them into points, they may have an opportunity to keep the game close or steal it in the fourth quarter.