The Carolina Panthers suffered their second loss of the season in a frustrating defeat to the Cleveland Browns.
It was a disappointing result after a dominant win over the Atlanta Falcons the week prior. Cleveland's defense gave Carolina's offense problems all game long, raising the issue of the offensive line further, despite a gritty performance from quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers' defense.
There is much to cover from this game. Here are some instant reactions from Sunday's defeat in Cleveland.
9 gut reactions to the Panthers loss against the Browns
1. The offensive line was a nightmare in this game in all facets, though they had some cleaner moments in the second half. Rasheed Walker struggled against power, as did rookie Monroe Freeling at their respective tackle spots. The interior offensive line, specifically center Luke Fortner and Robert Hunt, also had a day to forget in what was a humiliating performance up front.
2. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero coached a good game, regardless of the result. His defense forced key stops to give the offense a chance throughout the matchup, showing aggression in its blitzes and pressures and tackling fairly well in space. The Panthers only allowed 259 total yards of offense, but other offensive mistakes left nol margin for error.
3. Carolina went 0-3 on fourth down, including the two plays inside their own territory. The decision will be critiqued, but in the moment and considering the distance, they were the right calls, though they were not executed properly on all fronts. As head coach Dave Canales said in his post-game press conference, the fundamentals have to be better, not just on those specific plays.
4. Injuries have pummeled this Carolina team. Star cornerback Jaycee Horn left the game after Cleveland's game-winning score with a quad injury, and wide receiver Jalen Coker missed most of the second half with a quad ailment of his own. Cornerback Mike Jackson Sr. (groin) missed most of the game. Guard Damien Lewis (elbow) and defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (back) also missed time. Look for a lengthy injury report on Wednesday.
5. Back to the defense, I appreciate how much pressure and aggression they played. You could see more man-to-man coverage, and one player I thought has improved week to week is rookie cornerback Will Lee III, who has started to settle in and make plays on the ball, which is exactly what you want from a young defensive back. An on-to-the-next-play mentality is vital for a first-year player.
6. Bryce Young's box score may not look impressive, but he was the second biggest reason the Panthers were in this game from start to finish. His command of the offense allowed him to play with outstanding confidence and poise and made generally good decisions despite a hemorrhaging offensive line and a bad ankle. This game only further shows he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback.
7. This may have been Carolina’s best showing on the ground, considering all of the factors throughout the day. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik was able to establish the run with Chuba Hubbard and AJ Dillon in the backfield, generating some chunk runs of at least 10 or more yards. This helped set up the play-action game for Bryce Young late and led to some critical plays.
8. I'm a big fan of how Idzik got the tight ends Darren Waller, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans involved in the passing game, especially inside the hashes. Those three made up three of the top-four leaders in receiving yards for Carolina, silencing the narrative that this system doesn't use tight ends in the passing game.
9. I'm going to shout out two players: wide receiver Brycen Tremayne and safety Lathan Ransom. The former led the team in receiving yards (83), while the latter led the Panthers with eight tackles. At safety, there was a clear difference in playmaking ability with Nick Scott out for the foreseeable future, and it might be hard for Carolina to keep Ransom and rookie Zakee Wheatley off the field.
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