4 silver linings from the Panthers’ loss at Vikings in Week 12
By Dean Jones
60. Final. 27. 87. 28
What were the silver linings for the Carolina Panthers in Week 12?
It’s important for the Carolina Panthers not to dwell too much on their recent loss at the Minnesota Vikings. They have a deserved period of rest on their long-awaited Week 13 bye and although big adjustments need to be made in certain areas, it will do them all good to step away from football a little bit.
That bears significance for the fans, too.
The 2020 season has been a real rollercoaster for the Carolina Panthers after wholesale changes to a roster that is virtually unrecognizable from that which ended the previous campaign. Couple this with some heart-breaking losses in recent weeks and a time out might not be so bad for everyone concerned.
It might be hard to see at the present time, but the Panthers are heading in the right direction. Matt Rhule was under no illusions as to the size of the task awaiting him in Carolina when he took the job and expecting success in year one of the rebuild was unrealistic.
For now, here are four silver linings for the Panthers to take from their Week 12 loss in Minnesota that leaves them at 4-8 at the bye.
Silver Lining No. 1
The LB group
One of the bright spots for the Panthers over the last couple of games has been the production from their linebacker group. Jeremy Chinn has been an absolute stud from the moment he stepped on the field as a rookie, but the introduction of Jermaine Carter into the starting lineup has resulted in an extra bit of energy that has been sorely missing from the second level’s interior this season.
It’s no surprise that this has coincided with Tahir Whitehead finally being removed from the prominent rotation. The free-agent signing just hasn’t lived up to his preseason billing in any shape or form and getting a hungrier player like Carter into the mix probably should have been done sooner by the coaching staff.
Carter, Shaq Thompson, and Chinn accounted for 32 percent of the Panthers’ tackles at the Vikings. For all the team’s failings, their production overall was positive.