The Carolina Panthers are still in the NFC South mix, but the next stretch of the season is going to say a lot about what kind of team they really are.
At 3-5, Carolina is hanging around in a division that hasn’t separated itself from the pack. The Panthers and New Orleans Saints are tied for first place, while Tampa Bay and Atlanta are both 3-6. That keeps the door open, even after a rough three-game skid.
The latest setback came in Week 9, when the Panthers dropped a 26-21 decision to the Denver Broncos. Bryce Young put together a productive stat line, finishing 28 of 39 for 276 yards and three touchdowns.
But the mistakes were costly. He threw an interception in the end zone and later lost a fumble late in the game that Denver recovered.
Carolina also piled up 13 penalties for 119 yards.
That loss fit the pattern from the last three weeks. The Panthers have now fallen to the Buccaneers, Packers and Broncos, and in each game, errors have opened the door for the opponent to take control.
That said, the division setup is still working in Carolina’s favor. The Panthers do not need to chase a huge gap to get back into the race, and last season showed how manageable that path can be. Carolina won the NFC South with an 8-9 record.
Of course, getting into the playoffs and doing something once you’re there are two different things. The Panthers still have to prove they can put together a steady run, and that’s been the issue. They’ve shown flashes, but not enough consistency.
The upcoming game in New Orleans looms large. A win there would stop the slide and put Carolina in a stronger spot in the division. It would also set up the next two games, with Baltimore and Tampa Bay waiting after the Saints.
There’s still time for the Panthers to clean things up, but the margin for error is getting thinner. The defense has to hold up better, and the offense has to cut out the mistakes that have hurt them over the last few games.
Carolina wants more than just to hang around in the NFC South. The next few weeks will go a long way toward showing whether this team can actually make another playoff push.
In Other News...
Panthers Have An Ickey Ekwonu Problem They Can't Ignore
Ikem Ekwonus absence has become one of the quieter but more important questions hanging over Carolinas season. The Panthers starting left tackle is still working back from the torn patellar tendon he suffered in a playoff game in January, and he has yet to play this year, leaving the team to sort through both the short-term hole on the edge and the longer-term picture at a premium position.
The bigger issue is what comes next. Carolina picked up Ekwonus fifth-year option, but the contract situation could put him on the market after this season, and a player with his pedigree is the kind of lineman other teams will monitor closely if his recovery continues to trend in the right direction. The Panthers and Ekwonu reportedly want to keep the partnership going, which makes the coming months about more than just health - they may help determine whether a foundational piece stays in Carolina or becomes one of the more intriguing names available. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Protection Problem Is About To Get Even Harder
Bryce Youngs progress this season has given the Panthers something to build around, but the protection in front of him has become a real concern. Carolinas offensive line has already had trouble holding up, and left tackle Rasheed Walker has been part of the problem as the unit has allowed too many sacks and pressures while the team has stumbled to a 3-5 record and a three-game losing streak.
The timing could hardly be worse. With a difficult stretch ahead against opponents that can get after the quarterback, the Panthers are staring at a test that could put even more strain on an offense trying to find stability. If the line cannot clean things up quickly, the pressure on Young and the rest of the offense is only going to grow. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Suddenly Have A Week 10 Problem Up Front
The Panthers are heading into their Week 10 matchup with the Saints carrying a familiar kind of late-week uncertainty, and this time it starts up front. Brady Christensen and Damien Lewis are among the players listed on the injury report, a reminder that Carolinas offensive line picture can change quickly from one practice to the next. The club also has other names in the mix, including Jaelan Phillips and Mike Jackson, as it tries to sort out availability before Sunday.
Alongside the injury concerns, Carolina continued to churn the bottom of the roster and practice squad. The team signed linebacker Claudin Cherelus and defensive tackle Cam Horsley to the practice squad, then brought back wide receiver David Moore after waiving him earlier. Ihmir Smith-Marsette remains on the practice squad with an injury designation, leaving the Panthers with a few moving parts as they try to stabilize the depth chart before facing New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]