The Panthers have surprised many with their fast start this season. Last week’s decisive win against a Saints team that embarrassed the Packers the week before was eye opening.

The Panthers have won mainly on the strength of their defense. Through two weeks, they lead the NFL in points allowed, yards allowed, and sacks. Their offseason acquisitions (Haason Reddick and Morgan Fox, among others) have played a major role. So has defensive coordinator Phil Snow’s scheme. His pressure looks gave the Jets and Saints issues up front, often leading to defenders running free at the quarterback on 4-man rushes, as you can see below:

With the Texans starting a rookie quarterback (Davis Mills), don’t be surprised to see Carolina continue to bring the heat and force confusion within Houston’s protection schemes at the line of scrimmage.

Here’s how these teams match up: