Jaguars at Panthers
THE STORY: For weeks leading up to the 2011 NFL draft, speculation centered on a small group of quarterbacks who could be the first player off the board. So far, the Carolina Panthers seem to have made the right pick with Cam Newton, but Blaine Gabbert and the Jacksonville Jaguars would like to cast some doubt on that assertion Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. The Jaguars will turn to Gabbert – the No. 10 overall pick in this year's draft – after Luke McCown was ineffective in two starts. McCown threw four interceptions last week and has not thrown a touchdown pass. The rookie out of Missouri will be hard pressed to clear the bar set by this year's No. 1 draft pick. Newton not only leads the NFC in passing with 854 yards, he also is the Panthers' leading rusher with 71 yards and two touchdowns. It's the first meeting since 2007, when Jacksonville scored 27 unanswered points in a 37-6 victory.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Carolina -3.5, O/U 43
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (1-1): Jacksonville needs some sort of spark on offense after averaging only 263 total yards while splitting its first two games. They turned to Gabbert in the second half of last week's 32-3 loss to the New York Jets, and the rookie completed 5 of 6 passes for 52 yards. Getting more from the passing game could open up more running room for RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who leads the team with 185 rushing yards but has scored only one touchdown.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (0-2): The Cam Newton era is off to a great start, statistically, with Carolina leading the NFC with 476 total yards per game, but the Panthers are still winless. No one has been happier with the start to Newton's tenure than WR Steve Smith, who has rebounded from last year's injury-plagued season with 14 catches for an NFL-best 334 yards and two touchdowns through two games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Newton's 432 passing yards last week were an NFL rookie record and made him the first player in league history with back-to-back 400-yard passing games to begin his career.
2. Jacksonville CB Rashean Mathis posted a franchise record 30th career interception last week.
3. Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis has 17 career touchdown receptions and needs two more to pass Reggie Williams for third on the franchise's all-time list.