CHARLOTTE — There are small things the Panthers can point to, like that one drive that got to the end zone or the way they ran in the first half.
But as the weight of the season bears down on them, the reality is the offense, as presently constructed, is not fulfilling the basic obligation.
In a 33-10 loss to the Cowboys Sunday, the 1-9 Panthers gained a season-low 187 yards, allowed a season-high seven sacks, and tied a season-low with just 10 points.
All the other things they might talk about after Sunday's loss are corollary at this point. Not that the long-term prognosis of certain players isn't important, but right now, the Panthers aren't moving the ball well enough to win.
CHARLOTTE — Frank Reich's aware of what's happening around him, but he's not prepared to overhaul things this week, considering the Panthers' 1-9 record.
That means he's not thinking about benching quarterback Bryce Young, not thinking about staff changes or any of the other big moves that might divert attention from what's happening.
Asked specifically if he's considering letting backup Andy Dalton start to allow Young a break after he absorbed seven sacks in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, Reich said he was not.
"No consideration to that," Reich said. "You know, looking back on this tape, he did a lot of good things.
"It's important for him and for us; he's our leader, he's our leader on offense, and he's going to help us get to where we want to go."
Spread & Over/Under Predictions for Panthers at Titans
Can the Panthers cover the spread?
Each week, we at All Panthers will release an article on our thoughts on the spread and the over/under of Carolina Panther games. The star ratings next to the play describe the overall confidence in that particular play.
Star ratings:
1 Star - Not very confident
2 Star - A little confident
3 Star - Fairly confident
4 Star - Very confident
5 Star - Should be a lock to happen
Spread: Titans -3.5
2 Star play on the Panthers covering (+3.5): I have this as a three point game, so I'll take the points here. I'm not sure I'd want to lay points with Tennessee even if it is against the worst team in the NFL. This is one of the few winnable games left on the schedule for Carolina, so I'll roll the dice with the Panthers.
Over/Under: 36.5
3 Star play on the under: Tennessee and Carolina have struggling offenses and I'm not sure either one of them reach 20 points in this game. The Panthers should be getting some more help in the secondary with C.J. Henderson and possibly Jaycee Horn. A pair of rookie quarterbacks facing off screams under.
My picks this season:
ATS: 5-5 (50%)
O/U: 5-5 (50%)
Overall: 10-10 (50%)
CHARLOTTE — It wasn't quite "Smash and Dash" levels of success, but the Panthers' offense showed promise on the ground against Dallas in Week 11.
In its first three games after the Week 7 bye Carolina twice failed to reach 50 rushing yards. Despite last Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, the Panthers' 110 yards on the ground were an encouraging sign for a team that has ranked near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories in 2023. It was just the third time they eclipsed the century mark over the past eight weeks.
Throughout franchise history, Carolina's best teams have normally shared the same identity on offense: Running teams ragged on the ground and sprinkling in some big plays in the passing game. And as they try to shake off a 1-9 start this season, the way they ran last week provided something they hope can be a spark down the stretch.
"We're a run-first team. That's the type of identity we want," running back Miles Sanders said. "The guys have really practiced their butts off, and they've gone out and played their butts off. That's all I can really ask for."
NFL Week 12 bold predictions: Bryce Young's career day lifts Panthers to second win
Bryce Young has thrown for 200 or more yards just four times this season -- he last did it in Week 8. We’ve been waiting for the No. 1 overall pick to break out, and we will finally get it 12 weeks into the season. Young has his best outing by a mile against the Titans, with 300 pass yards and a trio of TDs. Oh, and the Panthers win!
Five things to watch against Titans: Lights, camera, Jackson
CHARLOTTE — The Panthers are still looking for answers on offense, and they get a shot at a team having its own problems at the moment.
The 1-9 Panthers head to Nashville this week to face a 3-7 Titans team that has lost 14 of its last 17 games.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Nissan Stadium. Fans can check out more information on how to watch here.
Here are five things to watch for during the game:
One constant in secondary
With CJ Henderson and Jaycee Horn doubtful to play and replacement Dicaprio Bootle hitting IR this week, the Panthers will be relying on veteran cornerback Donte Jackson to provide some stability against DeAndre Hopkins and the Titans.
Since he was inactive in Week 5 against the Lions, Jackson has been playing some of his best football, both against the run and the pass.
"He's been a consistent playmaker," Panthers head coach Frank Reich said. "Been very good in coverage, very, very good all around in the run game.
"He's been a consistent player, a consistent winning player over there. Really is holding things down. Have a lot of trust and confidence in Donte and the way he's playing, I think he brings the confidence in the swagger back there to the back end."
The Panthers could be looking at David Long Jr. as the other starter, with Troy Hill playing his traditional role as passing-down nickel back. They also have D'Shawn Jamison on the 53-man roster and Lamar Jackson and AJ Parker on the practice squad.
Reich said he expects Horn to return soon from his hamstring strain, and Henderson practiced fully the last two days but still has to be cleared by an independent neurologist before he is cleared through the concussion protocol.
Defense looking for turnovers, to help turn a tough situation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Once again, the Panthers turned in the kind of defensive performance that should allow them to be competitive. But once again, they're forced into needing to be perfect because of the consistent struggles on offense.
And that's left those players at a bit of a loss for words after a 17-10 loss to the Titans on a day when one of the Tennessee touchdowns came after a turnover gave them the ball at the Panthers' 15-yard line.
"It's terrible," cornerback Donte Jackson replied. "It's abysmal. You need any more synonyms? It just sucks, man.
"I mean, we're grown men, and as grown men, we don't like to lose like that at nothing. So it sucks. I don't really know what else to say. We just have to get back to work."
Note - following article transferred from deprecated Carolina Panthers thread
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper fired coach Frank Reich on Monday, less than 24 hours after the owner left the locker room muttering an expletive following Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. Reich's tenure at Carolina ended with an NFL-worst 1-10 record -- including an 0-6 mark on the road. He also becomes the first NFL head coach since the 1970 merger to be fired in back-to-back seasons after last year's dismissal from the Indianapolis Colts. Special teams coach Chris Tabor has been appointed as interim head coach, while offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will assume playcalling duties with help from senior assistant Jim Caldwell. Reich, who turns 62 next week, was fired after the offense produced 15 or fewer points for the fifth straight week and seventh time in 11 games. The offense produced only 10 points in each of the past two games after Reich reclaimed the playcalling duties from Brown only three games after turning them over to him.
David Tepper stands by Panthers' decision to pick Bryce Young
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper never gave a reason for why he fired coach Frank Reich during a 14-minute news conference Tuesday, but he did stand by the team's decision to draft quarterback Bryce Young with the top pick and defended his perceived lack of patience.
Reich was fired Monday with a 1-10 record, and critics suggested the Panthers made a mistake in drafting Young in April over C.J. Stroud, who is having an MVP-type season after being selected No. 2 by the Houston Texans.
While Tepper deflected from answering most questions, he didn't hesitate to support the decision to select Young, who is 1-9 as the starter and ranked next to last among qualified quarterbacks in Total QBR at 32.3.
Dysfunction, firings and a meddling owner: who would coach the Panthers?
David Tepper has ditched two head coaches in two seasons. Anyone with any sense will steer clear of his troubled franchise
In the latest edition of David Tepper Has No Idea What He’s Doing, the Panthers owner fired coach Frank Reich on Monday.
This one is a doozy. Critics are already calling it Tepper’s best work since earlier this month, when he axed Charlotte FC head coach Christian Lattanzio, despite the team making the MLS playoffs.
For those keeping score, Tepper has owned the Panthers and Charlotte FC for a combined seven seasons. In that time, he’s had five full-time coaches and now three interims. When he fills his two vacancies in the coming months, that number will climb to 10 in eight seasons. Even Daniel Snyder is starting to think: what is this guy doing?
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