The Carolina Panthers are on an absolute skid, having lost three straight games, and their hold on the NFC South is teetering on the brink. Forget a “lead,” a loss in Week 10 would hand the top spot straight over to the New Orleans Saints. It feels less like a roll and more like they’re tumbling down a hill with nothing to slow them down, especially after their Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Falling Fast in the Rankings
You’d think losing three in a row would send them plummeting in the power rankings, and you’d be right. USA Today Sports dropped them one spot to #23, noting that with two divisional foes and no opponents with winning records for the rest of the month, it’s crunch time. Sports Illustrated was even harsher, knocking them down four spots to #24. CBS Sports and ESPN both saw a two-spot dip, placing them at #20 and #19 respectively. NFL Media actually had them climbing one spot to #20, finding a “glimmer” in their loss, but The Athletic still put them at #21, pointing out their below-average offense (18th in EPA per play) and a truly concerning defense.
The Defense Is a Real Problem, Y’all
Let’s be real, the defense is where things are *really* falling apart. Despite dismissing DC Ejiro Evero, that side of the ball hasn’t gotten any better. Bleacher Report highlighted that the pass rush still struggles, making it clear the defensive problems run deeper than just Evero’s coaching. Injuries are hitting them hard on defense, creating a “makeshift secondary” that ESPN called out as a major challenge. The Athletic confirmed our fears, ranking their defense 27th in EPA per play. They’re in a “downward spiral,” and the coaching change didn’t even move the needle. You can’t contend for anything serious with that kind of production.
Flashes From Young, But It’s Not Enough
Amidst this mess, there have been a few impressive moments and strong performances from Bryce Young, offering some encouragement. NFL Media saw a “glimmer” against the Broncos: an interception turned into a touchdown, then another score right out of halftime to snatch a 14-13 lead. Young even entered a “flow state” during that offensive surge! But that version of the Panthers vanished after a “wacky, controversial interception” swung momentum, allowing the Broncos to score two more touchdowns and seal the win. ESPN added that Chuba Hubbard needs to be a “model of consistency” to give Carolina a shot, but even with those individual efforts, Young “will need to be that quarterback for the majority of games” for this team to prove they’re worth taking seriously. For now, they might be tied for first in a “terrible division,” but that’s not exactly inspiring confidence when the numbers show a below-average offense and a bottom-tier defense.
This team has to “right the ship immediately.” They haven’t won in New Orleans since the 2022 regular-season finale, and with the Saints breathing down their necks, they need to end that skid in Week 10 or face the very real consequences of falling behind in the division race. Get it together, Panthers, before that hill becomes a cliff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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