The Carolina Panthers suffered an ugly loss to the New England Patriots on Monday, 24-6. They had high hopes this season after starting 3-0. Unfortunately, the Panthers have struggled since as they now sit last in the NFC South with a 4-5 record.
The game against the Patriots was atrocious from start to finish for the Panthers as their offense couldn't get anything going. Bill Belichick has been Sam Darnold's kryptonite as he always struggles against the Patriots.
Here are three Panthers takeaways from their sorry Week 9 loss.
Panthers Week 9 Takeaways
3. Panthers defense is elite
While they lost the game, the Panthers' defense still played well. They have talented young players at all three levels of the defense who are bound to grow together. Against the Patriots, the defense had two sacks, putting pressure on rookie quarterback Mac Jones. They were able to force and recover a fumble after picking Jones as well.
The Panthers' defense may not be the best in the league yet, but the young talented players will make them a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
2. Chuba Hubbard needs more carries
With Christian McCaffrey back, Hubbard didn't see a ton of carries. While McCaffrey is one of the superstars in the NFL, his injury history is a huge cause for concern. The Panthers need to be more careful moving forward and allow Hubbard to get more touches. Against the Patriots, McCaffrey had 14 carries for 52 yards along with four receptions for 54 yards. The Panthers have been over-utilizing him whenever he comes back from an injury, which could cause long-term problems.
Giving more touches to Hubbard could help stop this problem. Hubbard only had three carries for three yards on Monday, along with one reception for 33 yards. He played well during McCaffrey's absence and has solid numbers to back it up. On the season, he has rushed for 394 yards and two touchdowns. Hubbard also has 19 receptions for 152 yards.
1. Sam Darnold isn't the answer
In the offseason, the Panthers made a trade to acquire Darnold. The young quarterback struggled during his time with the New York Jets but looked good with Carolina through the first few games. However, he has not maintained his strong start as they have lost five out of their last six games. Darnold's turnovers have been a key part of the skid. He threw three interceptions against the Patriots and does not look like the solution at center.
The Panthers have a great well-rounded team but lack a star QB to take them over the hump. Darnold has the ability to win them some games but he will not lead them to a Super Bowl run. He has a ton of talent and potential, but he is turnover-prone, which can cost the team games. On the season, Darnold has thrown for 1,986 yards along with seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Having more turnovers than touchdowns is not going to earn a long-term spot as a starting quarterback.
The Panthers have some decisions to make as they move forward as a franchise. They technically still have a shot at a wild card spot, but with the offense struggling, it is unlikely. The offseason could be key as a star signal-caller could be the missing piece for the squad.
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