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          NFL Nation

          W2W4: Steelers vs. Panthers

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterSep 21, 2014, 08:00 AM ET
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The last time the Carolina Panthers played on Sunday night, defensive end Greg Hardy introduced himself as "The Kraken from Hogwarts" and the result was a 31-13 drubbing by the New Orleans Saints.

          Hardy won't be introducing himself as anything Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers after being placed on the commissioner's exempt list until his domestic violence case is resolved. And the Panthers hope to avoid another drubbing when they play host to the Steelers at 8:30 p.m.

          The Sunday night loss at New Orleans is Carolina's only blemish in the last 14 regular-season games. The Panthers have won their last five dating to the Dec. 8 setback.

          Here are three things to keep an eye on heading into this one:

          • Turnovers: This has been a huge key to Carolina's 2-0 start. The Panthers haven't turned the ball over on offense and have a league-leading six turnovers on defense -- three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The Steelers (1-1) are going the opposite direction with four turnovers on offense and none forced on defense. They had three in their 26-6 loss to Baltimore in their last outing.

          • Rushing: The most disappointing factor during Carolina's fast start has been the lack of a rushing game. The Panthers rank 25th in the league with 87.5 points a game. That leading rusher DeAngelo Williams (hamstring) has been limited in practice after sitting out last week and reserve Fozzy Whittaker (thigh) is likely out means there'll be more on quarterback Cam Newton to contribute. The Steelers rank 29th in the league in stopping the run, allowing 170 yards a game, and that has to help. But it will come down to better communication on the Carolina line and Newton being Newton with his legs.

          • Distractions: The Steelers lost to a Baltimore Ravens team fresh off the Ray Rice release in their last outing. Now they face a Carolina team fresh off the Hardy situation. Coach Ron Rivera has expressed concern about this being a distraction. That he was 15 minutes late to practice Wednesday while the final details of Hardy's status was being hashed out didn't go unnoticed. At some point you'd have to think that and losing a player of Hardy's caliber would have an impact.