Yeah, we know you probably don’t want to look these over. But, hey, at least we have some positives to take away from the Carolina Panthers’ Week 9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Here are the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades from the disappointing 27-13 defeat:
Best of the offense
1. TE Stephen Sullivan: 74.4
2. LT Ikem Ekwonu: 73.6
3. RB Miles Sanders: 68.3
4. TE Hayden Hurst: 67.6
5. C Bradley Bozeman: 61.4
Sanders turned in the most encouraging performance of what’s been a nightmarish campaign. He racked up 39 rushing yards on six carries (6.5 yards per attempt) and threw in another 22 yards on three receptions.
Hurst, another free-agent signing that has yet to pan out, also flashed. His 48-yard reception was the longest catch of the contest.
Worst of the offense
12. RT Taylor Moton: 53.7
13. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.: 52.2
14. WR Adam Thielen: 49.8
15. LG Calvin Throckmorton: 43.0
16. QB Bryce Young: 39.8
When you throw three interceptions and two of them wind up as 14 points for the other team, you’re probably not getting a good grade. Young completed 24 of his 39 attempts for 173 yards, a touchdown, the trio of picks and a career-worst 48.3 passer rating.
Meanwhile, Moton and Throckmorton were charged with a combined 14 pressures. Moton’s nine pressures topped his previous career-high of six, which came back in Week 5.
Best of the defense
1. CB Dicaprio Bootle: 80.4
2. OLB Brian Burns: 79.2
3. LB Frankie Luvu: 78.4
4. DT Nick Thurman: 72.1
5. DT Shy Tuttle: 69.4
Bootle stepped up after CJ Henderson went down, registering a season-high 42 defensive snaps. He allowed four catches for 15 yards on five targets.
Burns, who made an early exit of his own after sustaining a concussion, put in work when he could. The two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was good for five pressures of quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Worst of the defense
16. CB CJ Henderson: 57.7
17. LB Deion Jones: 56.9
18. CB Donte Jackson: 55.0
19. S Matthias Farley: 49.3
20. CB Troy Hill: 27.8
Jackson and Hill weren’t particularly great against the pass. They earned coverage grades of 51.2 and 28.5, respectively.
