The Carolina Panthers’ latest loss did more than drop them to 3-5. It forced a hard look at the way they’re playing, the way they’re leading, and the way they’re finishing games.
After a 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 8, the Panthers made a change on defense, firing coordinator Ejiro Evero and naming Todd Walsh as the interim defensive coordinator for the rest of the season. The move came after a stretch that has left Carolina searching for answers, including a 26-21 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in which the Panthers gave up 10 points on the Broncos’ first two possessions and then allowed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
That defeat was Carolina’s third straight. The slide started with a 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 25, and the Panthers have not won since beating the Philadelphia Eagles 25-14 on Oct.
- They’re now tied with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3-5 in the NFC South, though Tampa Bay had yet to play the Chicago Bears on “Sunday Night Football.”
After the loss in Denver, head coach Dave Canales made it clear what he wanted his team to hear.
During his postgame news conference, Canales was asked what the message was after the Panthers dropped a third straight game. His answer was simple: the team has to execute better. He also pointed directly to penalties as a major problem.
Carolina was flagged 13 times for 119 yards, while Denver was called for five penalties totaling 50 yards. The Panthers also lost the turnover battle 2-1.
Canales said the Panthers have to play “aggressive” and “connected” if they want to beat a team like Denver. He said the Broncos are 7-2 because they can execute consistently. He also said he liked the way his team fought at the end and gave itself a chance to win, but the Panthers still have to finish.
Canales has identified the issues, but fixing them is another matter. The gap between Carolina and a team like Denver, under Sean Payton, is still wide.
And now the burden shifts even more onto the locker room. At some point, Canales said, the players have to step forward and lead. Right now, he believes the Panthers are dealing with a strong level of disconnect.
The schedule doesn’t offer much breathing room. Carolina’s next game is on the road against the Saints, who beat the Cleveland Browns 23-22 in overtime on Sunday. For the Panthers, it feels like a must-win.
A fourth straight loss would sting, especially against an NFC South opponent still in the division race. And if Carolina wants to stop the skid, the penalties have to go.
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