3 winners and 5 losers from the Panthers loss to the Broncos: Carolina drops a third straight after beating themselves against Denver
The Carolina Panthers dropped their third straight game and fell to 3-5 after a five-point loss to the Denver Broncos, with a couple of standout performances buried under a pile of self-inflicted mistakes.
The Carolina Panthers dropped their third straight game after Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, and this one stings more than most. Carolina hung around all game despite an early jump by Denver. However, the Panthers couldn’t find enough of a late push in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
The Panthers now fall to 3-5 on the season and have their lead slipping away in the NFC South race. This was a win Carolina needed. It’s the kind of game where Dave Canales’ squad usually rises to the level of the competition, especially with a six-win Broncos team coming to town. Losing this one was a heartbreaker, and how the Panthers lost it was even worse.
Let’s break down the winners and losers from Week 9.
Loser: Penalties cost the Panthers this game
Penalties were the biggest loser of this game. Anytime a team commits 10-plus penalties, you don’t have a good chance of winning. Carolina had 13 penalties for 119 yards on Sunday.
It’s been undisciplined football all season for Canales’ squad. Last year, the Panthers were one of the least penalized teams in the NFL. This year, they rank among the most penalized, even with a bye week already behind them. Another 13 will only push that total higher.
The issues came on both sides of the ball. Cornerback Corey Thornton was flagged for two defensive pass interference calls. Marco Wilson technically had three DPIs, although one was enforced in place of a taunting call on the same play.
The Panthers were absolutely in this game, and they hurt themselves more than the Broncos did. Canales has been talking about this for weeks now, and it has to be fixed first and foremost.
Loser: Outside cornerback struggles continue
The outside cornerback position remains a major concern. Thornton and Wilson were picked on all game long, and that was expected going in.
Carolina was down to its fifth and sixth corners on the outside, with two practice squad call-ups starting the entire game. Bo Nix targeted them often. To Thornton’s credit, he was making his first appearance of the season, and did have a clutch INT that kickstarted Carolina’s second quarter momentum.
Help isn’t coming via trade, though. Tuesday’s trade deadline is approaching, but the Panthers have under $1 million in cap space and few options to work with. It’s still going to be another couple of weeks until Mike Jackson returns, and even longer for Jaycee Horn. Will Lee III could potentially return from his hamstring injury next week, which would be a big boost for this defensive back room.
Loser: Something needs to change at both offensive tackle spots
Rookie Monroe Freeling gave up a bad sack on third down in the fourth quarter and Rasheed Walker caused the pressure that led to the strip-sack on the final drive. Those two plays ultimately decided this game.
The Panthers were expected to make changes on the offensive line after allowing 11 sacks over the previous two games. Instead, they rolled out nearly the same group, with Rasheed Walker at left tackle and Freeling at right tackle. The only change came at left guard, where Torricelli Simpkins took over with Damien Lewis out.
Something needs to change at tackle. Carolina’s only other tackle option was Stone Forsythe, and even he’s not a viable answer. Still, it’s clear Freeling is struggling on the right side.
I think the Panthers need to switch it up next week and kick Freeling back over to left tackle, his more comfortable position. It’s a big change for a rookie, but leaving him on an island at right tackle isn’t helping his development.
Loser: Ryan Fitzgerald costed this team some critical points in the first-half
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 42-yard field goal in the first-half, his first missed field goal of the season. Then, right before halftime, after a touchdown gave the Panthers real momentum, his kickoff went out of bounds and handed Denver the ball at the 40-yard line. A few easy completions from Nix set up a field goal, turning a 10-7 halftime deficit into 13-7. That’s six points left on the field in a five-point game.
Loser: Wildest INT you’ll ever see killed Carolina’s momentum
The officials deserve their own spot on this list. With the Panthers holding a 14-13 lead and a chance to go up 21-13, Bryce Young threw a pass to Tommy Tremble that should have drawn a clear DPI. No flag came. The ball tipped off Tremble’s hands and ended up as one of the wildest interceptions you’ll ever see.
The Panthers even ran another play before officials went back and overturned the call after a late thrown red flag by Sean Payton. Denver scored on the following drive to go up 19-14, and that’s what flipped the momentum for good.
Winner: Darren Waller turned back the clock again
Darren Waller keeps turning back the clock. He led the team with 10 targets and finished with eight receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. This is his second big game since joining the Panthers, and he provided a spark in the first-half.
Carolina knew Waller would be a mismatch against Denver’s linebackers, and the coaching staff had a good game plan for the tight ends. Tremble also caught four passes and found the end zone. Waller needs to stay involved in this offense.
Winner: Chau Smith-Wade made some clutch plays
Chau Smith-Wade has been a consistent presence in the nickel while the outside corners struggle. He recorded two pass breakups that saved touchdowns and added seven tackles in this game. Without those plays, this loss could have been a lot worse.
Mixed-bag: Bryce Young kept the Panthers in this game, until the final play
Bryce Young played high-level football for most of the afternoon. He found a flow state in the second quarter that carried into the third and finished with 276 yards, three touchdown passes, and a 100-plus passer rating. His drive in the fourth quarter capped by a touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan pulled Carolina back within one score after trailing by 12.
Unfortunately, the fumble on the final drive ruined the Panthers’ chances. Nik Bonitto got home through a collapsed pocket and forced the strip-sack. Young had a chance to potentially win this game, but one play decided it instead.
Going into Week 10, the Panthers hit the road for a divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints. It’s a must-have game for Carolina to get some momentum back on the season.
