How Can The Panthers Beat the Packers? The All-Important Key.

Last Week

It’s hard to find the words for the Panthers Week 8 disaster. A 40–9 thrashing at the hands of the Buffalo Bills that played out in front of a national audience. What was supposed to be a statement game turned into a showcase of everything still wrong with this team and lack of consistency. And now, the finger-pointing begins, because there’s plenty of blame to go around.

Let’s start with the man under center, the veteran backup quarterback Andy Dalton. After the game, Dalton admitted, “I felt like I didn’t give us a chance,” and he couldn’t have been more right. Dalton and the offense were responsible for three turnovers, directly leading to 17 points for the Bills. His struggles were evident early! From slow decision-making in the pocket to misfires with open receivers and the problems only snowballed from there. Losing three offensive linemen during the game didn’t help matters, as Dalton was sacked seven times in a performance that exemplified the Panthers’ offensive chaos. Simply put, it was a disaster from start to finish.

Nic Scourton

The defense didn’t fare any better, getting gashed by Buffalo running back James Cook, who exploded for 216 rushing yards. Carolina’s run defense was nowhere to be found, consistently losing gaps and missing tackles in the open field. Still, it’s worth noting that 17 of Buffalo’s points came directly off offensive turnovers, gifts from Andy Dalton and company. Even so, the defense simply didn’t show up, and it left the Panthers looking completely outmatched.

Looking Ahead

Bryce Young

So, what can we expect as we set our sights on the Green Bay Packers? The Carolina Panthers finally saw their winning streak come to an end this past week, and while the loss was devastating, failing to make key adjustments could lead to a similar outcome in the next matchup. What needs to change? First off, we need Bryce Young back under center. There’s no way around it, Andy Dalton’s play on Sunday was rough, and it showed in the final score. I’ve always been a fan of Dalton, but that one was hard to watch.

Defensively, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what needs to change. One week, this unit looks dominant, shutting down everything in sight, and the next, they resemble a slice of Swiss cheese, full of holes for opponents to exploit. We’ve seen what this defense is capable of, but giving up 218 rushing yards and 410 total yards is totally unacceptable. As a result, the Panthers now drop to 11th in the league.

Deep down, I truly believe this team has what it takes to compete and pull off a win especially with Bryce Young back under center. His leadership, composure, and growing chemistry with the offense could be exactly what the Panthers need to build momentum and remind everyone that they’re far better than their record suggests.