1 Buckle your bucket. The Panthers pound the ball on offense and the rushing numbers steadily have risen as their offensive line has gotten healthier. Backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have power and speed, but most of all, they make tacklers miss. And any missed tackles by the Broncos will be touchdowns.
2 Find him. Steve Smith might not be among the tallest receivers in the league, but he's usually easy to spot because often he's the guy spiking the ball in the end zone, celebrating yet another touchdown. He's strong and committed to the ball, great in traffic and still has the speed to blow by the guys who take a wrong step.
3 A lot of Peppers. Rookie left tackle Ryan Clady has clamped down on some of the league's high-profile rushers this season, but this week, he gets the guy who's as tall as he is - 6-foot-7 Julius Peppers has almost as big a reach and has 121/2 sacks in his pocket this year. Peppers has rebounded from a disappointing 2007 season and likely presents the best power-speed combination Clady has seen so far.
4 Handle it. Panthers coach John Fox knows defense and his defenses routinely force turnovers. Carolina has recovered 11 fumbles this season - Peppers has forced five - and they have 10 interceptions. When the Broncos have lost this season, it's because they have lost the ball.
5 One more time. The Broncos have been one of the fiercest road teams in the league this season, with the exception of their effort at New England, no matter what roster they have put out on the field. They need another over-the-top effort in this one, and if they win, they clinch the division title.
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