Things can’t get much worse for the Carolina Panthers
It’s a matter of pride, really.
And the Carolina Panthers cannot get any worse, right?
This is the final stretch of semi-winnable games for the organization before their Week 13 bye. If the Panthers don’t come out of this stretch before then, it will be nothing short of a catastrophe.
The bar is now as low as it’s been in 2021 and possibly since Matt Rhule took over as head coach.
Sam Darnold’s status as the team’s starter is also hanging by a thread. Rhule’s statement about getting him back to basics this week is a strange situation for the quarterback to be in considering he’s a four-year veteran that’s had months to improve key components of his game after he was brought in via trade from the New York Jets.
"“Sam is working so hard and trying to push ahead to the next week and what’s next and the next practice, and I think taking some time today with me, and some time hopefully by himself, and some time hopefully with Sean (Ryan), to go back and say this is what it looked like when you did it right. I’m hoping that gave him a mental picture of this is what I need to do. We’ve got to get him back to that.”"
The Atlanta Falcons have shown signs of life of late. But they’re not exactly world-beaters and if the Panthers can build some confidence in the opening exchanges, it could be a solid platform to build as the game goes on.
This all depends on just where morale is right now. Especially where Darnold is concerned.
It won’t take long to figure out of it’s past the point of no return.