Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
Sunday did not go as planned for the Carolina Panthers. In a short week, Carolina entered Week 7 with a chance of securing themselves a lead in the NFC South. However, the Panthers laid a goose egg in front of the Carolina faithful. On a night when the team was honoring Luke Kuechly, the Panthers’ defense struggled while the offensive line looked like they never woke up. The 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a complete and utter failure from top to bottom of the Carolina Panthers.
“I mean, it’s a shock, you know, it’s um, for me to be able to move on from it because literally I’ve never been a part of a half of football like that. Um, and uh, to experience it in all phases,” head coach Dave Canales stated in his postgame press conference.
The Panthers will have to take a long look in the mirror before they swiftly turn around to play the Green Bay Packers this Thursday. Carolina failed in three phases this past week: The execution, the coaching and the front office.
Systemic Failure: Carolina Panthers Fell Flat in 3 Phases
The Failure of Execution: The Players Gave Themselves No Chance
The Panthers shot themselves in the foot a lot during Sunday’s loss, giving up 22 points off turnovers and making uncharacteristic errors that kept them from getting into a rhythm. Bryce Young looked like he reverted to 2024 Bryce Young, freezing in the pocket and making throws that he would have avoided in the prior five weeks.
Young went 14-of-27 for 163 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. It’s by far his worst game so far this season. He looked lost and like he was fighting just to even snap the ball.
It did not help that the offensive line stood still most of the game, allowing the Buccaneers to blitz young every chance they got. The strip sack that resulted in a defensive touchdown was damaging, as Tampa Bay kept Carolina in the backseat rather than allowing the Panthers back into the game. The increased uncertainty at tackle was put on full display as Taylor Moton left with a fibula fracture, and Rasheed Walker looked every bit of a seventh-round tackle rather than one of the best pass protectors in this free agency class.
The defense continued its woes of tackling. Carolina allowed another 200-plus rushing yards. The defense struggled to finish plays and limit explosive runs, being pushed in every direction to create running lanes. To top it off, the usually reliable special teams struggled, allowing an unblocked kick and a David Moore muffed punt gave Tampa Bay comfortable field position in a phase that usually is solid under Tracy Smith.
Carolina made too many independent mistakes to keep up with their game plan. Missed Tackles, turnovers and protection breakdowns all fed into each other. Even if the players had played better, the offense and special teams mistakes proved costly and put Carolina in difficult positions.
The Failure of Coaching: The Panthers Had No Answers for the Buccaneers
The Panthers’ coaching staff deserves significant scrutiny for the loss, as the team looked unprepared in all areas of the game. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero again looked outmatched and unprepared. Tampa Bay finished the game with 258 rushing yards. Carolina has struggled with gap discipline, tackling, and containing runners once they reach the second level.
Carolina had already given up 40-plus points at home this season (Week 1 to Chicago). The unit lacks consistency, putting up highlight-reel tape that coaches should show across the league, and then next week looking completely incompetent against a lesser opponent. This calls Eveo’s operation and planning into question, as well as his failure to make adjustments during the game.
This goes hand in hand with the injuries this unit has faced. The injury issue was completely exposed in this game. Three starters were out this game, and it looked like the backups were not equipped to handle the absence of Phillips, lacking the ability to slow down the Buccaneers.
The defense was not the only position group that struggled.
Brad Idzik’s offense looked flat against a fast Buccaneers defense. The running game was again a no-show, which did not help this offense get into rhythm, especially when the pass rush of Tampa Bay looked like too much for the Panthers offensive line. Similarly, the offensive game plan did not adjust to give Young time to find open receivers or scrambling lanes to give the offense new life.
The coaching staff did not make timely adjustments as the game unfolded. While execution was spotty, the preparation again was lacking, and when the same fundamental problems keep appearing, that means there is a larger issue that goes back to Canales.
Canales has had multiple games in his stint as head coach where the team looks unprepared for the game set before it. Whether it’s falling for the trap game or just not understanding how an opponent can attack you, Canales has looked unmatched at times; it’s a look not suited for a playoff team. After the game, Canales defended the game plan and the play calls, blaming much of the issue on execution.
While execution was a large factor, if the same issues keep happening, it usually means an issue with the scheme. Canales has a lot to answer for with this loss; it’s not time to ask whether he is the right coach, but it’s time to question whether his staffing choices are correct.
The Failure of the Front Office: The Carolina Panthers Roster Got Exposed
Dan Morgan has done a lot with a little in his time as general manager. He has made key signings and trades that have helped Carolina’s rebuild. However, he and the staff do deserve some criticism for this massive loss against Tampa Bay. While the criticism is not about the play, it is about the roster and inaction Morgan has taken so far this season.
The biggest issue Carolina has is depth. The offensive line depth continues to be questioned, particularly at tackle. It looked as if it was about to get better with Taylor Moton coming back, but he was injured during the game and looks to be out for the rest of the season.
The depth on both the offensive line and the defensive secondary has been shown to not be good enough, with Akayle Evnas playing significant snaps and giving up 100 yards in every game he has started. Carolina had an early bye, giving it a chance to get players back, but while many NFL experts were calling for a trade in the secondary to add some pieces, Dan Mrona stood firm, which has been the philosophy for much of his tenure.
After Sunday’s loss, the Panthers should be looking for more depth, particularly on the defensive side of the ball in order to help contain some of the bleeding that has happened to Carolina during games.
The Last Word
The Panthers were utterly embarrassed Sunday at home. They looked unprepared and uninterested in all three stages of an NFL team. The players failed to execute during the game, missing key tackles and making mistakes in crucial areas of the field, while coaching did not adjust in time or at all during the game.
The front office bears some of the blame for failing to give the coaches and on-field personnel enough resources to work with. This was a huge loss for a playoff-ambitious team.
However, Carolina always seems to have bad losses like this one each season. Last year, they lost to the New England Patriots 42-13 and went on to win the division and also upset the Los Angeles Rams. Carolina will fix its issues, but now that they are a playoff team, the microscope is now larger on the team.
Carolina will need to turn the page as they head to Green Bay on Thursday to face a Packers team that also lost on Sunday, but is returning top rusher Josh Jacobs. If Carolina can get back into the win column, they will have a longer week to break to address their issues as well as get players back from injury.
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Main Photo Courtesy of Jim Dedmon – Imagn Images