Brett's Cowboys Corner

The Panthers are in season 28 as a franchise, and they have always been trying to find their footing in the NFL. Having some standout seasons, with two Superbowl appearances along the way.

They entered 2024 with a new head coach and general manager. Looking to continue the development of Bryce Young, the former 1st overall pick in 2023.

The Panthers season can be split as two different looking teams, before week 9, they had a ton of problems. But since their trip to Berlin, this Panthers team has been more put together.

OFFENSE

Adam Thielen: A well known name for slot receivers, in his 11th season, with 5 seasons with 900+ yards. Thielen had a 1k season for Carolina last year, but this time injuries will keep him away from that mark. Since returning from injured reserve in Week 12, Adam Thielen has been targeted on 27.2% of his routes with a 12.0% deep route rate. 187 yards and 2 TDs during that time span, which is second most from a slot receiver behind Jaxson Smith-Njigba.

Since Berlin

It seems the Panthers are finding themselves in a lot of games where you check the scores around the NFL and say, “Hey are the Panthers about to beat the …”

They had a tie game against the Chiefs under two minutes. Took the Bucs to overtime. And had the game winning touchdown in Philly, wide open but dropped by Xavier Legette.

This is only a three win team, but they have shown some consistency the past few weeks, and mind you, these are some of top NFL teams they are taking down to the wire. This is not the same team that was blown out by the Saints and Chargers.

Great running back play all year from Chuba Hubbard and better quarterback play from Bryce Young these past few weeks. Three touchdowns and only one interception, which is an improvement from the six he’s already thrown on the year.

Bryce Young, The Future?

I have always been an advocate for the young QB to be allowed the time to develop, I think we put way too much pressure on these guys to perform early. Clubs also feel that pressure and can make overly reactive decisions on these guys as well.

A great example of this is benching Bryce Young in the third week of the season. Many began to speculate what a dumpster fire it was in Carolina at that point. Early on in the year, and the new head coach basically says, his job is to win games and Young isn’t doing that.

He went 2-16 as a starter before being benched, and began 2024 with a 8.9 QBR in the first two games. Pointing out the average QB has around a 50 QBR, and an average Pro Bowl caliber QB is around a 75.

Now it seems he’s heating things up, Young has thrown 250+ yards in a game just three times, and two of those just happened against the Chiefs and Bucs.

In 4 of the last 5 games, Young has helped the Panthers score 20+ points in each of those games.

Bryce Young has averaged the 3rd-most yards per attempt (7.9) and has converted a first down on 35.1% of his pressured dropbacks since reclaiming the starting quarterback job in Week 8, the 2nd-highest rate in the NFL during that span.

Hubbard and Friends

With no star studded playmakers on offense, the team has really stepped up and played solid. The ball is spread around the receiving core, Legette being the main target for Young. Thielen has dealt with injuries but is a reliable target in the slot.

Chuba Hubbard has been the focal point of this offense, and has had games where he has been a very dominant running back. Though better run defenses usually can contain him. He absolutely looks like a pro bowler when going against poor run defense, which for a majority of the season, the Cowboys would be the latter.

Hubbard has averaged about 76% of offensive snaps this season, which is the 2nd highest rate among running backs, trailing only Kyren Williams. Last week taking 97% of the snaps against the Eagles.

DEFENSE

Shaq Thompson: A sad ending for a great veteran and stand out player for the Panthers. Thompson was always the leading tackler of this Panther defense, and one of the great leaders for this team. In 2023 he broke his fibula, and made just 4 starts for the Panthers this season before tearing his ACL. Having to imagine that is the end of his 10 year NFL career, spending it entirely with Carolina.

Near The Bottom of the League

The Carolina Panthers’ defense is ranked 31st in the NFL for total defense yards average for 2024, with an average of 384.4 yards. They are also ranked 32nd for points allowed per game at 29.8, 32nd for rushing yards allowed per game at 170.08, 28th for sacks, and 19th for interceptions. 

This side of the ball will need some work in the offseason, and probably be a priority in the 2025 draft. Other than a few notable players, this defense needs a lot of work.

Needs Some Pressure

The Panthers defense has recorded the lowest pressure rate (26.6%) and the 2nd-longest average time to pressure (2.87 seconds) this season.

There are no stand out difference makers in the pass rush. The Panthers, Cardinals, and Falcons are the only teams without a player with 30+ pressures this year.

Jadeveon Clowney is the name you will now going into this game, once a bigger star in this league, more known as a Texan. Since 2019, he has appeared on five different teams. Getting to the tail end of his NFL career, he does still have a few moments where he makes a play for Carolina.

 Clowney has generated a team-high 28 pressures and an 11.8% pressure rate this season, the most for any Panther. When he’s rushing the quarterback, that aligns with the rare time anything good happens for this panther defense. All 7 interceptions this season have occurred with him in the game.

Stay Away From

Jaycee Horn is by far their best corner, Horn was on the Cowboys radar in 2021 but went to Carolina just two picks in front of Dallas before they ultimately traded back for Micah Parsons.

Jaycee Horn has forced a tight window at the 3rd-highest rate (54.5%) and has allowed the fewest yards per target (2.3) when playing man coverage among cornerbacks with at least 20 such targets faced this season. Which the Cowboys haven’t created separation all year.

Xavier Woods will be playing safety for Carolina on Sunday, the interesting note is that he played in Dallas, 2017-2020.

Honestly as the Cowboys will be on the bubble this week for elimination, it seems with injuries still piling up, you wonder how much they still have in the tank…or if they will give into the tank.

A Cowboys loss + A Commanders win will eliminate Dallas. OR A Carolina loss will officially eliminate them officially.