Baltimore Ravens: How Key Is Preseason Game vs. Carolina Panthers?

Evan Habeeb-USA Today Sports

There’s two more days until the most important preseason game for the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. They’ll take on the Carolina Panthers at home with the starters playing the majority of the game, which is standard for the third preseason game of the year.

How important is it for the Ravens to have a good performance in this game? It could go a long way.

The Ravens’ first-teamers had all kinds of struggles in their last game against the Atlanta Falcons. Besides a 77-yard touchdown strike from Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith, there was nothing doing on offense. The receivers couldn’t get open and even worse, Ray Rice had no room to run. It got to be so frustrating that Rice started yelling at RT Michael Oher on the sidelines.

The new-look defense had their issues too. Too many big plays were given up in the passing game thanks in part to a sloppy effort in the run defense. Needless to say, it was a frustrating first half for the Ravens on all fronts.

The positive showing against a last-place team like the Panthers will be just what the doctor ordered for the Ravens. The Panthers ranked in the bottom half of the league in total defense last year. If the Ravens’ offense can’t put together a couple of good touchdown drives against them, it could be a cause for concern going forward.

The Panthers present an interesting challenge for the defense. Much has been made of the youth movement for the Ravens’ defense. A new emphasis on speed and athleticism has been the focus this offseason. Newcomers like Arthur Brown, Matt Elam, Daryl Smith and Chris Canty will be tested trying to stop the ever-dangerous Cam Newton running the trendy new read-option that has swept the NFL world off its feet.

This upcoming game on Thursday will be the last chance for the Ravens to gain momentum for the huge opening night game against the Denver Broncos, a game in which the odds of the Ravens winning seems to be getting better by the day seeing as the Broncos will probably be without Von Miller, Champ Bailey and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. I expect nothing less than a great performance from the Ravens this Thursday night.

Dan Abeshouse is a Baltimore Ravens Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Danabeshouse82, Like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.