The Panthers’ Week 1 opener turned into a scoreboard sprint, and the film grades tell the same story: Carolina had some real bright spots, but too many rough edges to keep pace in a 59-37 loss to the Bears at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. In the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, the numbers behind the performance were just as eye-catching as the final total.
On offense, Jalen Coker led the way with a 90.1 PFF grade, the best mark on the team. Jonathon Brooks wasn’t far behind at 88.8, while Damien Lewis checked in at 87.0. Bryce Young landed at 80.7, and Darren Waller rounded out the top five at 78.5.
Young threw for 361 yards, the second-most of his career, and accounted for four total touchdowns. A huge chunk of that production went to Coker, who piled up 138 yards and two scores.
Brooks didn’t get much going on the ground, finishing with 14 yards on four carries, but he added a 48-yard catch and also posted a strong 78.2 pass-blocking grade. Waller made an efficient debut for Carolina, catching both of his targets for 28 yards.
The lower end of the offensive grades was a tougher read. Stone Forsythe came in at 59.4, Monroe Freeling at 56.4, Brycen Tremayne at 54.6, Jimmy Horn Jr. at 52.9 and Xavier Legette at 41.7.
Freeling, making his regular-season debut, logged the second-lowest pass-blocking grade for Carolina at 62.0 and gave up four pressures, including one sack, across 41 chances. Legette finished without a catch after dropping one of his two targets.
Defensively, Bobby Brown III stood out with an 89.5 grade, easily the best on that side of the ball. Jaelan Phillips followed at 69.2, Bobby Okereke at 66.9, Aaron Hall at 64.2 and Tre’von Moehrig at 63.0.
Brown was credited with three pressures, while Phillips added four pressures and one of the team’s two sacks. Okereke tied for the team’s highest pass-rushing grade at 80.7.
At the bottom of the defensive chart, TeRah Edwards posted a 47.5 grade, followed by Will Lee III at 44.9, Jeremiah Moon at 41.1, Devin Lloyd at 37.2 and Derrick Brown at 35.5. Lloyd was charged with two missed tackles and gave up seven catches, 58 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Derrick Brown received a 54.6 grade for run defense.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Trade Decision Fans Did Not Expect
The Ravens receiver room took a hit in Week 1, and that has already pushed Xavier Legette into the early trade conversation as a possible name for Carolina to consider. Baltimore lost Ja'Kobi Lane to a fractured wrist, and Zay Flowers also went down, leaving the team with a clear need at wideout and prompting outside speculation about whether the Panthers might listen if an offer came their way.
For Carolina, Legettes underwhelming debut only sharpened the discussion around his place in the offense. He still carries the kind of upside teams keep tabs on, but the question now is whether the Panthers see him as part of their long-term plan or as a movable piece if Baltimore comes calling. No deal has been reported, but the idea alone adds an unexpected layer to what was supposed to be a straightforward start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Is Already Calling Out A Panthers Problem
The Panthers left Week 1 with plenty to clean up, and Dave Canales did not wait long to make the point. After Carolina was tied at halftime against the Bears before the game slipped away badly in the second half of a 59-37 loss, the new head coach said the defense needs to be more consistent. For a team still trying to establish an identity under Canales, it was a reminder that competitive stretches are not enough if the group cannot sustain them.
Canales framed the issue as bigger than one side of the ball, stressing execution and consistency across all phases moving forward. The opener showed flashes of what Carolina wants to be, but it also exposed how quickly a game can turn when the details stop lining up. The challenge now is whether the Panthers can turn that message into something more dependable before the early-season hole gets any deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Williams Added To Panthers Fans Frustration After That Loss
Week 1 brought plenty of frustration for Panthers fans on the scoreboard, but Caleb Williams added a little extra to the mood after Chicagos 59-37 win. The Bears quarterback did his damage through the air and on the ground, throwing two touchdown passes and running for two more while piling up 269 passing yards and 65 rushing yards in a game that never felt under Carolinas control for long.
After the final whistle, Williams was seen shaking hands and offering praise to Panthers defensive coordinator Dave Canales, and the exchange quickly spread across social media. For a fan base already trying to digest a rough opener, the moment only sharpened the sting of a night when Chicago looked poised, efficient and fully in command. [Read more 🡒]