After an emotional win in Week 8, the Carolina Panthers fell back into their losing ways this past Sunday. A three-interception performance from quarterback Bryce Young headlined a disappointing 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, pushing their record to 1-6.
But luckily for the Panthers, at least as far as the power rankings go, there are a few more teams facing a few more struggles . . .
Touchdown Wire
Author: Jarrett Bailey
Rank: 30 (-)
Take: “The good news is Bryce Young threw three touchdowns in Week 9. The bad news is two of them were to the Colts.”
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 30 (+1)
Take: “The NFL doesn’t have an in-season tournament – yet – but you have to think Carolina really wants to win the DJ Moore Bowl.”
NFL.com
Author: Eric Edholm
Rank: 31 (-)
Take: “In the span of a week, the narrative around Bryce Young has flipped again. The Week 8 win over the Texans (and OROY favorite C.J. Stroud) was a big accomplishment, and it was Young’s personal high-water mark. But everything that happened in the loss to Indianapolis on Sunday seemingly undercut that, to the point where some of us are again debating whether Young was the right pick at No. 1 overall. It didn’t help that Stroud had a career game Sunday, but this was more about Young’s struggles. The Panthers scored 13 points, and Young gave up 14 on two pick-sixes. On 43 dropbacks, Carolina netted 137 pass yards. On 28 runs, the Panthers gained 138. Now is the problem clear? The Young debate can’t realistically be settled for a few years, but losing a potential top-five pick in 2024 adds some salt and vinegar to Carolina’s wounds.”
ESPN
Author: David Newton
Rank: 31 (-)
Take (on the team’s non-QB MVP): “[Frankie] Luvu has been a constant on a defense and team that have been mired in inconsistency. He leads Carolina in tackles with 62, having to play inside and outside because of injuries and an overall lack of a speed rusher opposite Brian Burns. He has a team-best 7 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to rank second to Burns. Luvu is playing well enough to make his first Pro Bowl, although getting attention on a 1-7 team will make that tough.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 32 (-)
Take: “This is going in the wrong direction for Bryce Young. Two pick-sixes in one game is terrible quarterback play.”
Pro Football Talk
Author: Mike Florio
Rank: 30 (-)
Take: “One step forward, one big step backward.”
