Sunday afternoon’s 28-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints sent the struggling Carolina Panthers to a 1-12 mark on the campaign. The Week 14 thrashing marked their sixth straight defeat, now giving them their second six-game losing streak of the campaign.
So, maybe you can already tell where they sit across this week’s power rankings . . .
Touchdown Wire
Author: Jarrett Bailey
Rank: 32 (-)
Take: “It’s beyond painful watching the Panthers’ offense, and you have to wonder if they are kicking themselves about taking Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud.”
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 32 (-)
Take: “Can’t blame Derrick Brown. He had 10 tackles, a QB hit and an interception in Sunday’s loss. He’s a defensive tackle, y’all.”
NFL.com
Author: Eric Edholm
Rank: 32 (-)
Take: “Interim coach Chris Tabor vented after Carolina’s sixth straight loss, its second such streak this season, and Bryce Young said he’s also “sick and tired” of all the losing. Everyone is. And the thing is, the Panthers aren’t even that inventive in their losses, as most share familiar themes. Close game. Good defense. Had a chance. Yada, yada. But it’s true! The defense really has held up its end of the bargain more often than not, and for the first 55 minutes Sunday, it might have been the team’s best defensive effort of the season. The run game was pretty productive (204 rush yards), but Young had maybe his worst start to a game this season, unable to get anything going beyond the short, quick stuff. Stop me if you’ve heard that before.”
ESPN
Author: David Newton
Rank: 32 (-)
Take (on the team’s biggest improvement): “Most of the focus was on Pro Bowl OLB Brian Burns before the season, but it is Brown who has been the most consistent and improved defender. He showed on Sunday that he is, as Burns says, unblockable one-on-one. He had double-digit tackles and an interception off a ball he tipped against the Saints. He deserves serious Pro Bowl consideration.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 32 (-)
Take: “Are they starting to get worried about Bryce Young? They should be, especially with other rookie passers doing so much more.”
Pro Football Talk
Author: Mike Florio
Rank: 32 (-1)
Take: “They’re making the Bears very happy.”
