Frank Reich won his first game as head coach of the Carolina Panthers last week and the timing couldn’t be better for his second.
Reich is set to see his former team on the other side on Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts visit Charlotte, N.C. Generating offense is bound to be a priority for the Panthers and fixing defensive snags is something the Colts are desperate to accomplish.
“I have a bunch of love and respect for who Frank is, but he’s on the other side now,” Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said.
While the Panthers (1-6) became the final team in the NFL to break into the win column this season by defeating the Houston Texans, 15-13, last week, the Colts (3-5) have been dealing with their own problems. Indianapolis has lost three games in a row to fall from the top of the AFC South to the bottom.
Carolina is last in the NFC South and faces a sharp turnaround to a short week date with the Chicago Bears (2-6) next Thursday.
“We’ve got to just continue to find ways for us to take the next step,” Reich said.
Reich had a 40-33-1 record in four-plus seasons with the Colts. He was fired Nov. 7, 2022.
“I don’t really want to rehash that,” Reich said. “I don’t want to stand up here and make this a personal thing, because it’s not.”
Colts coach Shane Steichen said he has a deep respect for Reich and how the former backup quarterback-turned-coach understands the game.
Steichen put his team through a walkthrough Wednesday rather than a full workout while trying to minimize injury risk.
“The NFL season is long,” he said. “Giving these guys the opportunity to have a mental day. Felt like this was the right time to do it.”
Indianapolis, the only team in the NFL with 20-plus points in every game, has allowed an NFL-high 28.6 points per game. Carolina is averaging 18.1 points per game (25th in the NFL).
Steichen was peppered last week about trying to hold onto leads and specifically whether he should be going more conservative in the second half to get the ball in the hands of running back Jonathan Taylor.
Both teams hitched their future to rookie quarterbacks drafted in April. Overall No. 1 pick Bryce Young finally got in the win column with the Panthers, while Anthony Richardson, drafted at No. 4, is out for the season following shoulder surgery. He inspired hope and confidence after playing in four games with the Colts.
With Richardson injured, Indianapolis has excelled for shorter stretches behind Gardner Minshew at quarterback. He’s familiar to many fans in the Carolinas as a former college quarterback at East Carolina.
If Taylor can get going, it might not matter who plays quarterback for the Colts. He’s coming off a season-high 95 rushing yards in last week’s game vs. the New Orleans Saints, though teammate Zack Moss is second in NFL rushing this season with 589 yards.
Steichen said it’s important to have the right player on the field at the right time.
“We have stuff that (Taylor) is tagged on, same thing with Moss,” Steichen said. “We try to ride the hot hand. (Taylor) is a big-time playmaker.”
This weekend’s game will be the second outing of the season for Carolina right guard Austin Corbett, whose value at the line of scrimmage is crucial for the Panthers.
“It’s sure good to have him back and continue to build with him being right in there at the center of things for us,” Reich said.
The Panthers could have safety Vonn Bell (quad) back as he returned to practice Wednesday.
Both teams have defeated the Texans and both teams have lost to New Orleans.
Franklin has nearly twice as many tackles (102) as any other player on the Indianapolis team.
Carolina is 5-2 all-time vs. the Colts, including 2-1 in home games.
– Field Level Media