The Carolina Panthers come out of their off week and into a Sunday matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers riding a three-game winning streak, and a big reason for the turnaround sits in the middle of the defense.
Carolina handled the Jalen Hurts-less Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, winning 25-14 while piling up a 399-222 edge in total yards. Six weeks into the season, Dave Canales’s team is 3-2 and sitting alone atop the NFC South after stringing together wins in three of its last four games since the 59-37 home loss to the Chicago Bears.
Bryce Young has been sharp all season, and Ejiro Evero’s defense has steadied itself after that rough opening stretch. General manager Dan Morgan poured resources into that side of the ball in March, signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million deal and adding 2025 Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd on a three-year, $42 million contract. Bobby Okereke arrived later, joining the Panthers in late August on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Lloyd and Okereke have quickly become the heartbeat of the group.
Lloyd has a team-high 35 tackles even though he missed the Week 3 game at Cleveland. He also has two sacks, two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, four quarterback hits, and three passes defensed.
Okereke is right behind him with 34 tackles. He has added one sack, two QB hits, one interception, a forced fumble, and four passes defensed. In the win at Philadelphia, he finished with a team-high eight tackles, including three for loss, and broke up two passes.
He made his presence felt immediately, too. On the Eagles’ first snap from scrimmage, Okereke took down Tanner McKee for an 11-yard loss, helping set the tone for a game in which Philadelphia was held to 3.6 yards per play.
After six weeks, Lloyd is Pro Football Focus’ 14th-ranked linebacker with a 71.8 grade, and Okereke is right behind him at 70.5.
The Panthers’ defensive jump is a dramatic one from the season opener, when Caleb Williams and the Bears lit them up for 552 yards and eight offensive touchdowns in a 60-minute disaster. Since then, Carolina has allowed 64 points and only six offensive touchdowns over its last four games.
With the help of Lloyd, Okereke, and other newcomers, Carolina’s defense is starting to look like a real strength.
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Panthers Face A Tough Week 7 Problem Before Buccaneers Showdown
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Todd Bowles said the Bucs are preparing as if Daniels could start again, while still leaving the door open for Mayfield if he is healthy enough to go. For Carolina, that means the early part of the week is about reading the clues in Tampa Bays plan and getting ready for whichever version of the offense shows up when the NFC South rivals meet. [Read more 🡒]