What were some major observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s performance in Week 2 at the New York Giants?
The Carolina Panthers and Baker Mayfield looked to avenge a poor opening day loss by finally getting their season on track at the New York Giants in Week 2. It was a difficult occasion overall for the quarterback versus the team that traded him this offseason, but he can take plenty of heart from a stunning fourth quarter that almost resulted in the unlikeliest of victories on home soil.
Carolina is counting on Mayfield heavily this offseason. It was a rocky start, but the signal-caller was keen to point out that there is a lot of football still to come and the Panthers are only going to get better once chemistry improves moving forward.
The Panthers don’t have the luxury of time. They need to start producing better results immediately and a trip to the rejuvenated Giants represented a difficult challenge despite Brian Daboll missing some key figures through injury – one in which they fell to defeat once again.
With this in mind, here are four major observations from Mayfield’s performance at the Giants in Week 2.
Major Observation No. 1
Baker Mayfield’s accuracy wasn’t great
Although the New York Giants were missing two critical pass-rushers from their front seven, there were still timing and accuracy issues for Baker Mayfield. The signal-caller completed just 48.28 percent of his passes for 145 yards, one touchdown, and a yards-per-reception average of just five.
Mayfield had a couple of batted passes in the first half once again. There were also some moments of hesitancy and mistakes from the likes of Shi Smith, who didn’t enjoy the best afternoon after being declared healthy enough to participate.
This should improve as Mayfield gets more familiar with his teammates. However, there is immediate pressure for better fortunes with the Carolina Panthers sitting at 0-2.
Baker Mayfield must utilize his primary weapons more
Forcing the issue has been evident over the first two games where Baker Mayfield is concerned. The quarterback got adequate protection for the majority of Sunday’s game at the New York Giants, but if the player and the Carolina Panthers want to start winning, then he has to find a better way of utilizing his primary weapons.
There were times when Mayfield managed to accomplish this. D.J. Moore came to life shortly after the break that resulted in Carolina’s only touchdown, but Robbie Anderson was seldom seen, and running back Christian McCaffrey also failed to make a lasting contribution in the passing game.
Moore, McCaffrey, and Anderson combined for 101 receiving yards and one touchdown from 10 receptions in Week 2. Simply put, the Panthers need this to increase and it will be up to Mayfield to deliver the goods in the face of a daunting upcoming schedule.
Just how much this has to do with scheme familiarity or the lack of genuine time to develop chemistry during the offseason is debatable. Mayfield isn’t one for excuses but with a QBR of 16.0 and a 74.6 passer rating in Week 2, the Oklahoma product must turn solid performances into legitimate quality that propels the Panthers in key moments.
Getting the aforementioned trio the football often rather than forcing it elsewhere would be a good place to start. But the onus also falls on offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to scheme things up in a way that maximizes the talent at Mayfield’s disposal.
Baker Mayfield thinks the Carolina Panthers are close
There was a collective party line from coaches and players alike after another morale-sapping loss. Baker Mayfield also highlighted his belief that the Carolina Panthers are not that far away from everything coming together.
While the evidence – especially on offense – suggests otherwise, one cannot blame anyone for thinking this in the wake of such a reverse. After all, coming out in public with a defeatist mentality won’t do him or the organization any favors.
As he did last week, Mayfield stated there is plenty of football left. But the quarterback also highlighted the need for Carolina to rid themselves of stupid mistakes, which included two fumbles in the first quarter from Chuba Hubbard and Robbie Anderson that thankfully didn’t lead to more than six points after an improved defensive effort.
"“It’s not overcomplicated, to be honest with you. We just have to come out and play. It’s the mental hump of the 0-2 record, but knowing there’s a lot of ball left, and you think about it, we’re 6-6 at halftime when we should have been losing, if you look at the stats and situations. But we’re very close; we’re going to correct our mistakes, and go play. We put in the work; we deserve to have fun on Sundays and go execute.”"
Fans are getting sick and tired of the same old excuses. Mayfield is new to the Panthers, but he should be fully aware of the sense of urgency to finally start putting a consistent run of results together.
Otherwise, the Panthers’ failings will reflect badly on Mayfield, who is looking for a new deal in Carolina or elsewhere next spring.
The jury is still out on Baker Mayfield
It’s just two games and Baker Mayfield is still acclimatizing to the Carolina Panthers after arriving late in the offseason. But in terms of whether or not he’s the long-term answer, the jury is still very much out.
There have been times when Mayfield looks electrifying. However, the signal-caller remains hesitant on occasions, failing to trust his offensive line with just 1.1 seconds of average time in the pocket, according to Pro Football Reference.
Mayfield has a lot of football left and it would be a major shock if he didn’t get a full season to showcase what he can do. Although head coach Matt Rhule is connected to Sam Darnold and still believes in the former USC star for whatever reason.
The task awaiting Carolina from here on out is tremendous. Their next five games are against playoff hopefuls and the last two Super Bowl winners, so Mayfield must step up to the plate and drive his team forward in the face of adversity.
This is arguably a career-defining moment for Mayfield. Cleveland wrote him off and there was no interest outside of the Panthers in trade talks, which stung at the time and might continue into 2023 if he cannot prove his doubters wrong.
One thing’s for sure, this needs to be a collective effort. If not, then the Panthers will fall apart at the seams for the third-straight campaign under Matt Rhule.