How did the Carolina Panthers grade out in yesterday’s 21-13 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings?
Here are the best and worst marks from the team’s fourth straight loss:
Best of the offense
1. WR Laviska Shenault Jr.: 81.3
2. WR Adam Thielen: 73.5
3. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.: 71.4
4. LT Ikem Ekwonu: 70.4
5. RB Chuba Hubbard: 67.4
Thielen, after ranking first in Week 2 and second in Week 3, finds his way back to the top after another productive performance. The 33-year-old wideout reeled in a team-high seven receptions for 76 yards against his old friends.
And after a rough showing in Seattle, Ekwonu bounced back with just one pressure and one penalty (of the non-false start variety).
Worst of the offense
14. RB Miles Sanders: 55.2
15. WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette: 54.0
16. TE Giovanni Ricci: 52.3
17. TE Hayden Hurst: 44.0
18. LG Chandler Zavala: 37.0
Ickey’s right-hand man, however, wasn’t as clean. Zavala, who lands at the very bottom for the second straight week, was charged with four pressures of quarterback Bryce Young.
Sanders, who rushed for just 19 yards on 13 carries, also makes an appearance. He’s now averaging 2.9 yards per tote this season.
Best of the defense
1. S Jeremy Chinn: 85.0
2. CB Troy Hill: 76.7
3. S Sam Franklin Jr.: 75.5
4. OLB Amaré Barno: 69.7
5. OLB DJ Johnson: 67.2
Chinn swopped in for his most disruptive performance of the campaign. The fourth-year Swiss Army knife picked up six tackles and his first sack.
Speaking of disruptive—Franklin Jr.’s 99-yard interception return for a touchdown, a new franchise record, probably helped land him a spot.
Worst of the defense
16. OLB Brian Burns: 47.4
17. DE LaBryan Ray: 47.0
18. DT Nick Thurman: 44.9
19. DT DeShawn Williams: 40.6
20. CB D’Shawn Jamison: 38.7
Burns was held at bay. The two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher chalked up just one pressure of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
What wasn’t kept to a minimum was the Minnesota ground attack, which tallied 135 yards on 22 carries. That’s probably why this bunch includes three defensive linemen.
