From Bad to Worse: The Carolina Panthers' Continued Struggles on the Field

As I write this, it's still the first quarter with 11:58 left on the clock. At this moment, it felt like the game was already decided, and I think you felt the same way. Yet, I kept watching because I believed the initial two series were just anomalies. In all my years as a Carolina Panther fan, I’ve never wanted to stick a fork in the electrical outlet so badly and just end it all. 

I’ve found myself yearning for the Jake Delhomme era and missing Jerry Richardson, the former owner. Even during those times, despite my frustrations with Delhomme, I never felt as disheartened as I am now.

Warning: This article will contain no stats because why?

The Carolina Panthers celebrated their 30-season milestone in an unforgettable way, allowing 30 points in the first half. This game felt like it went on forever! The New Orleans Saints scored on nearly every offensive drive. Our run defense was nonexistent, blitz protection seemed to be on vacation, both the running and passing games were horrible, and our quarterback, who we were assured had made progress, seemed to have taken no steps forward. So now, the question is: who do we blame?

Carolina Panthers - Bryce Young

Bryce was visibly nervous in the pocket, overthrowing wide receivers repeatedly. Neither the coaches nor Bryce made any adjustments to counter the relentless blitzing. Despite an upgrade on the defensive side, the performance seemed even worse than last year. How is that possible? It was the same exact system and defensive coordinator from last year! On a brighter note, we did get a brief but promising look at Xavier Legette (WR), and Raheem Blackshear (RB) proved to be a standout on special teams.

Who Cursed us?

In 2018, David Tepper acquired the Carolina Panthers and assured fans he wouldn’t tolerate “constant mediocrity.” Well, congratulations are in order sir, because we haven’t even reached mediocrity yet. By definition, ‘mediocrity’ means ‘moderate ability’ or ‘average,’ and unfortunately, we haven’t achieved that standard either. 

This owner dove in headfirst like a bull in a China shop, eager to make a quick impression. But what has that approach brought us? Tepper’s ambitions seemed to lie elsewhere when they should have been centered on the team he had just acquired. Had he focused on nurturing what was already in place, the major changes we’ve discussed might have been unnecessary. Every player we’ve parted with had a deep connection to this city, its fan base, and the essence of Carolina Panthers culture.

You could label it the Cam Newton Curse or the Steve Wilks Curse, but perhaps it’s more accurate to call it what it really is: the Curse of David Tepper.

Week 2

The Carolina Panthers will aim to bounce back from last week’s dismal loss—assuming, of course, that they’re planning to do so. They’ll face the Los Angeles Chargers, who are arriving on a high after their first win of the season. The excitement in LA is not only due to the victory but also the return of Coach Jim Harbaugh!

I’m still holding onto my optimism for this team, but it’s time to start asking tough questions. Is Dave Canales really up to the task? Is Bryce Young the solution to our problems? Was this really just a fluke? Earlier this week, Canales told fans, "It’s a long journey." Panther fans are fed up with that line. The frustration in the fanbase and the city is intense, and rightly so. This journey didn’t have to be so lengthy, but here we are.

Come Sunday, I’ll still don my jersey and watch the Carolina Panthers play because that is all I know to do. 

Week 1 is in the books- 17 more to go.

Images: USA Today, Panthers