National Football League

Jaguars-Panthers Preview

Published Sep. 21, 2011 6:26 p.m. ET

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The Jacksonville Jaguars were hoping to ease rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert into the starting lineup, but a lackluster defeat forced them to change their plans.

In his first professional start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Gabbert will try to match the spectacular performances of fellow rookie Cam Newton and earn something that's so far eluded the Heisman Trophy winner - an NFL victory.

After they traded up to take Gabbert with the 10th overall pick, the Jaguars (1-1) were expected to let the former Missouri quarterback get acclimated to the NFL and the team's offense while starter David Garrard played.

That process accelerated, however, when the team cut Garrard following a poor preseason, and again after Luke McCown threw four interceptions in a 32-3 loss to the New York Jets last Sunday.

Under pressure after missing the playoffs in three consecutive campaigns, Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio announced Wednesday that Gabbert would take over.

"He's got all the confidence in the world," guard Uche Nwaneri said of Gabbert. "He's got a good swagger about him. He knows what the challenge is going to be. I think he'll thrive against the challenge. He was drafted high and he's itching for an opportunity to get in and make an impact, and now he's getting an opportunity to do that."

If Del Rio required any reassurance about his decision, he would need to look no further than this week's opponent.

Having gone 2-14 last year, the Panthers were in a seemingly more desperate situation when they selected Newton with the No. 1 pick. With little competition, the former Auburn star took over as the team's starter and has thrown for 854 yards in his first two games -second-most in the NFL behind Tom Brady's 940.

He's also accounted for five touchdowns, including the team's only two rushing scores.

Last Sunday, Newton set a single-game franchise record with 432 passing yards, but his three interceptions helped Green Bay rally from an early 13-point deficit for a 30-23 win.

Newton injured his right ankle in the loss, but he's expected to practice and play this week.

"We've just got to get it right. We're going to get it right," he said. "But I'm not the person to just sit up here and say, 'Well, we have next time.' I'm not that type of person. I want it right now and I want to get it right now."

The Panthers (0-2) are hoping to get their first win with a little more balance. They've totaled 145 yards on the ground in two games after averaging more than 100 per game in each of the last six seasons.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who became the first duo to top 1,110 yards each in 2009, have a combined 74 yards on 30 carries.

Carolina has passed 83 times and rushed on 48 plays so far this year. During their six trips into the red zone last week, the Panthers threw 14 times and ran the ball eight times while coming away with two touchdowns.

"We get down inside the 15 and we throw it every time," offensive tackle Jordan Gross said. "You know I'd like to have 50 percent of those be runs. And I don't think (offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski) is trusting us to get it done right now.

"I don't think anybody in this organization wants us to rush for under 100 and throw for over 400 every week, especially without points to back it up. We've got to do better on the ground."

First-year coach Ron Rivera isn't worried, but this weekend he'll face a team that's allowing 3.2 yards per carry - the sixth-lowest average in the league.

"I'd be concerned if we weren't throwing for about 400 yards a game," Rivera said. "Since we're converting and making plays downfield and throwing the ball it's just a matter of time. It's going to happen and when it does it should pop. When it does the run game will be solid."

The Jaguars will try to use that run-stopping ability to their advantage to record their fourth win in five all-time meetings with the Panthers, who also joined the NFL before the 1995 season.

Jacksonville routed Carolina 37-6 in the most recent matchup in 2007, but the Panthers prevailed 24-23 during the previous meeting in Charlotte in 2003 on a touchdown pass with 16 seconds left.

Carolina will try to win without linebacker Thomas Davis, who tore the ACL in his right knee for the third time in less than two years last Sunday. The Panthers had already lost one of their other defensive captains, Jon Beason, for the year because of a torn Achilles' tendon.

Jacksonville defensive end Aaron Kampman, who is recovering from knee surgery, is expected to sit out.

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