You know a lot of these numbers we’re about to show you from the Carolina Panthers’ season-opening loss to the Cleveland Browns aren’t going to be pretty. But, we’ll show you anyway . . . because we’re that nice.
Here are the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades from the Week 1 defeat.
Best of the offense
1. RB Christian McCaffrey: 79.5
2. C Pat Elflein: 69.1
3. WR DJ Moore: 69.0
4. LG Brady Christensen: 68.9
5. RG Austin Corbett: 64.0
McCaffrey wasn’t used like he normally was, but he made the best out of it. The sixth-year rusher amassed 57 yards and a touchdown from scrimmage and even turned a botched snap in a clutch 32-yard pickup.
Meanwhile, the trio of Elflein, Christensen and Corbett allowed a combined zero sacks and four hurries.
Worst of the offense
11. TE Giovanni Ricci: 51.8
12. QB Baker Mayfield: 47.0
13. RB D’Onta Foreman: 44.8
14. TE Tommy Tremble: 44.7
15. LT Ikem Ekwonu: 41.1
Ekwonu’s regular-season debut might be one to forget, as least as far as these grades go. The 2022 sixth overall pick was charged with four total pressures—two sacks and two hurries.
Mayfield felt some of the effect from that, eating four takedowns on the afternoon. Overall, he completed 16 of his 276 throws for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception along with a 7-yard rushing score.
Best of the defense
1. DB Myles Hartsfield: 84.5
2. S Xavier Woods: 77.2
3. DE Henry Anderson: 73.6
4. DT Derrick Brown: 70.3
5. DT Matt Ioannidis: 67.1
Woods and Anderson had a couple of positive team debuts. They combined for 10 tackles, five of which registered as stops.
Worst of the defense
14. CB Jaycee Horn: 49.4
15. S Jeremy Chinn: 49.2
16. LB Frankie Luvu: 47.7
17. LB Damien Wilson: 36.7
18. DT Phil Hoskins: 28.4
Horn probably didn’t have the return he had hoped for. 2021’s eighth overall selection allowed four receptions for 31 yards over five targets while being penalized twice.
Luvu, in his first outing since signing a two-year extension, was credited with a team-high four missed tackles.
