The s are formally on tilt, having now misplaced their final three video games.
Their newest is a t to the s, which was a examine in most of the issues which might be flawed with this staff proper now. Then once more, there have been additionally some encouraging indicators—together with a bounce-back sport from their beginning quarterback.
Listed below are our studs and duds from Week 9 . . .
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Stud: QB Bryce Younger
Like a automobile that's been sitting within the chilly for a pair weeks, Younger wanted a while to get warmed up. However as soon as he received going, he confirmed he can nonetheless sling the rock the way in which we noticed early this season.
After a pair tough drives, Younger settled in and went to work—dicing up Vance Joseph's protection with lasers everywhere in the discipline. His footwork and poise in opposition to strain was notably spectacular.
In the long run, Younger went 28-of-39 for 276 yards, three touchdowns and one choose—which was a n in the long run zone that wasn't his fault.
Studs: Panthers TEs
Younger was notably efficient focusing on his tight ends. The most effective of them was Darren Waller, who made a number of powerful catches in opposition to tight protection and totaled a team-high 4 receptions for 39 yards earlier than the break. Waller scored the go-ahead landing within the third quarter and completed with a game-high eight catches for 90 yards.
Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans additionally contributed within the passing sport, combining for six catches and 44 yards. Tremble scored his third landing of the season, which is a brand new profession excessive.
Stud: WR Tetairoa McMillan
For many of the sport the Panthers' No. 1 large receiver was held quiet by Denver's powerful protection. McMillan got here to life within the fourth quarter, although—and wound up posting 4 catches for 56 receiving yards and a landing.
Stud: RB Chuba Hubbard
Maybe essentially the most under-appreciated operating again within the league this yr, Hubbard retains on placing up strong numbers each week.
At present, he posted 79 yards on 16 carries, popping out to simply underneath 5 yards per try. He added one other 17 yards on 4 receptions.
Stud: Run protection
The Broncos don't precisely have an elite speeding assault, however the Panthers did do a superb job of limiting their efforts on the bottom. They held operating again Jonah Coleman to simply 57 yards on 17 carries (3.4 yards per tote) and the Broncos, as a complete, to three.0 yards per try.
Dud: Go rush
Predictably, Carolina's lackluster move rush was unproductive in opposition to Denver's elite offensive line. The Panthers solely received to Bo Nix for one sack (from Pat Jones II) and three quarterback hits all afternoon.
Dud: Panthers CBs
The Panthers' cornerback room continues to have points in protection within the absences of Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.
Marco Wilson, who had a robust debut in opposition to Inexperienced Bay 10 days in the past, struggled to keep away from the penalties. Corey Thornton, in his first motion of the season, was routinely focused and sometimes beat by the Broncos offense.
Dud: Ok Ryan Fitzgerald
For an undrafted rookie, Fitzgerald had a reasonably spectacular 2025 marketing campaign—connecting on 82.8 % of his discipline objectives and 90 % of his further level makes an attempt. Nevertheless, this yr, he's had a tough time residing as much as that top commonplace—coming into Week 9 with 5 missed further factors.
He'd miss his first discipline on this one, on a 43-yard try. Fitzgerald additionally helped arrange a late first-half discipline objective for Denver by hitting a kickoff out of bounds.
Dud: HC Dave Canales
Canales was outcoached by Sean Payton, which is not any nice shock. What issues extra is that Canales has been too sluggish to deal with some long-standing issues for this staff—reminiscent of penalties.
The Panthers, who’ve been among the many most penalized groups this season, misplaced 119 whole yards on 13 flags. This sport was extraordinarily winnable—and if the operation had been just a bit bit cleaner, Carolina would have come out on prime.
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This text initially appeared on Panthers Wire: s
