The Carolina Panthers fought valiantly against the Philadelphia Eagles before falling to defeat. It was another case of so near yet so far for head coach Dave Canales' squad versus a team harboring ambitions to go deep into the postseason.
It was a spirited effort by the Panthers. This is not the same team that went through a torrid stretch earlier in the campaign. They are more competitive no matter the opposition. The results aren't there yet, but they are not far away by any stretch of the imagination.
Carolina is now 3-10 on the season, but there is genuine hope for the future. This roster is still devoid of talent in key areas. They also need to limit the costly individual errors that make a significant difference in fine-margin situations. After that, more wins should arrive.
The Panthers have four games left and some difficult challenges upcoming. If they keep performing like this, Canales should be able to take something from another losing campaign in pursuit of brighter fortunes next season and way beyond.
That's for the future. For now, here are four winners and three losers from Carolina's narrow defeat at Lincoln Financial Field.
Winners and losers from Carolina Panthers' defeat at the Eagles
Winner No. 1
Josey Jewell - Carolina Panthers LB
Josey Jewell has come on leaps and bounds in recent weeks. The linebacker is quickly emerging into the beating heart of Ejiro Evero's defense. His performance at the Philadelphia Eagles in a hostile environment was another outstanding display from the veteran second-level enforcer.
The Carolina Panthers needed Jewell to be around the football consistently. Philadelphia's rushing attack got its fill, but it would have been worse had it not been for the free-agent signing's contribution.
Jewell was relentless from start to finish. The former fourth-round selection out of Iowa registered 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits. This represented another step in the right direction for someone becoming a core part of the team's defensive plans.
This is exactly what the Panthers needed from Jewell once Shaq Thompson was ruled out for the entire campaign. He's answered the call in no uncertain terms as a tone-setting force capable of impacting proceedings in all phases.
Loser No. 1
Jonathon Brooks - Carolina Panthers RB
Jonathon Brooks worked exceptionally hard to recover from a torn ACL. The Carolina Panthers took their time with the rookie running back, seeing this as a long-term investment and erring on the side of caution. After he came through his first two games unscathed, fans were expecting his usage to ramp up considerably in Week 14.
Brooks was dealt a rough hand immediately. The second-round pick went down with a non-contact injury after attempting to cut on his first carry of the contest. It didn't take long to figure out that the complication centered on the knee he damaged in college at Texas.
He was initially listed as doubtful to return before being ruled out entirely. Dave Canales was awaiting further tests before working on the extent of Brooks' issue. However, it seems for all the smart money the player will face another spell on the sidelines.
This is terrible luck at the worst possible time. Hopefully, Brooks and the Panthers receive some good news in the coming days regarding his prognosis.
Winner No. 2
Adam Thielen - Carolina Panthers WR
It's hard to find the right superlatives to describe Adam Thielen's importance to the Panthers this season. The veteran wide receiver wasted no time reestablishing himself after a spell on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was at his brilliant best once again in Week 14.
Thielen gave rookie slot cornerback Cooper DeJean a masterclass in route running throughout. His ability to create separation and dependable hands were something Bryce Young leaned on heavily. When the signal-caller needed a first down or completion in critical moments, the undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State delivered.
It wasn't enough to get the job done, but Thielen gave everything to the cause. His two outstanding receptions on the final drive, when the Pro Bowler was running on empty, are a testament to his tireless commitment and exceptional production.
The Panthers need more help at the receiver position during the offseason. Thielen looked like a salary-cap-cut candidate once upon a time. General manager Dan Morgan would be wise to keep him around looking at his supreme consistency despite his advancing years.
Loser No. 2
Shy Tuttle - Carolina Panthers DL
There was an incredible amount of trepidation among fans heading into this game. The reason for their grave concern centered on a woeful run defense going up against NFL MVP candidate Saquon Barkley.
It was another lackluster outing from Ejiro Evero's ground defense, giving up 206 rushing yards — 124 of which came from Barkley. Shy Tuttle was a non-factor once again, which was extremely disappointing.
Tuttle is not a nose tackle. We've discussed this at length after he joined the Carolina Panthers in free agency last year. He cannot effectively anchor Evero's 3-4 defensive front, is sluggish in pursuit, and loses leverage too early and often.
The former Tennessee standout failed to register a single tackle versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Tuttle was credited with a pass breakup, but it was another mundane effort aside from that.
His 37.4 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 189th out of 208 qualifying interior defensive linemen. If the same trend continues for Tuttle over his final four games, a situation could emerge where the Panthers cut their losses next spring with one year remaining on his deal.
Winner No. 3
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers RB
When Jonathon Brooks went down with an early knee injury and Raheem Blackshear was also ruled out with a chest complication, the Panthers had one healthy running back to shoulder the load. Chuba Hubbard answered the call.
Hubbard took on the responsibility and thrived. He displayed physical running and exceptional contact balance, breaking no fewer than 10 tackles during the game against a stout Philadelphia Eagles defense. This kept things ticking over and provided quarterback Bryce Young with a solid security blanket in the backfield.
After coughing up a costly overtime fumble versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was evident right out of the gate that Hubbard was keen to make amends. This was another prime example of why the Panthers gave the former fourth-round selection out of Oklahoma State a long-term extension.
The Panthers needed Hubbard to step up and he delivered. He accumulated 30 combined touches for 107 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. That's more usage than head coach Dave Canales would probably like for the player, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Loser No. 3
Xavier Legette - Carolina Panthers WR
Xavier Legette's problems with ball security were well-documented even before this game. They were magnified exponentially with several crucial mental lapses that played a leading role in the Carolina Panthers' demise.
Legette had three drops throughout the contest. Two of those came on the final drive, including a potentially game-winning touchdown catch that the first-round selection failed to bring in.
The South Carolina product finished with two receptions from eight targets for 39 receiving yards. Legette came in for scathing criticism after the clash, so brushing this off and working hard to rectify this issue remains the primary objective.
Nobody is interested in excuses. The NFL is a cutthroat business and the Panthers made a big investment in Legette. He's not performing to the level expected so far, but it's far too early to give up on the wide receiver.
He's a rookie. He's still developing as a pass-catcher. Legette's enhanced route-running is a solid foundation from which to build. However, that counts for nothing if he cannot finish plays effectively by catching the football whether he's under pressure or not.
Winner No. 4
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
This was the toughest test of Bryce Young's recent resurgence yet. He passed with flying colors once again despite not having the right result to show for it.
Young was under duress throughout. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio threw every exotic blitz imaginable at the signal-caller. His poise, ability to recognize pressure and escape it accordingly, and willingness to push forward against adversity resulted in another polished display.
The former Alabama star did throw his first interception in 127 attempts. Aside from that, he came through when it counted. Had it not been for Xavier Legette's costly drop at the death, we'd be talking about a monumental upset for the Panthers versus a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Moral victories are getting tiresome. This is the third straight game where the quarterback produced the goods in defeat. Others are not meeting their end of the bargain, which is frustrating. But make no mistake, Young is growing in stature and proving he can be Carolina's long-term answer under center.
That's the biggest positive imaginable when one considers how bleak things appeared earlier in the campaign.