If Carolina has a defensive liability, it’s possibly their depth in the secondary.

Behind Pro Bowler Josh Norman, journeymen Cortland Finnegan and Robert McClain present a potential weakness for the Panthers. Although they’ve been serviceable of late, both Finnegan and McClain spent portions of this season unemployed.

Norman has the ability to take one Denver wide receiver out of the game, but he rarely covers the slot. These days, Peyton Manning’s game minimizes outside passes, allowing the Broncos to avoid the strength of Carolina’s secondary naturally.

Coupled with the running game, Manning will look to move the ball via short passes into the middle of the field. Gary Kubiak and company will undoubtedly scheme their personnel into favorable matchups against the Carolina secondary. The Denver pass catchers will have an opportunity to exploit their matchups, and they have the talent to do just that. Both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders ranked in the top 20 in Reception NEP during the regular season, among wide receivers with at least 50 targets.