The Carolina Panthers are 3-9. They've lost two straight and will likely suffer another loss at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14. And yet, fans are more optimistic about the future than ever.
It took time for everything to click. Head coach Dave Canales was dealt a rough hand through injuries earlier in the campaign. Establishing an improved culture took time, but he never wavered. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense coordinator is starting to see the fruits of his labor.
The Panthers won't win every game. They are devoid of talent in crucial areas and lack the necessary experience to come through in close contests. However, Canales' squad has proven over the last month that they can be competitive. This is not the same walkover that became the NFL's laughingstock under previous regimes.
That's why the team's long-suffering fanbase is clinging to it as a source of inspiration. Hope has been in short supply across the organization since David Tepper assumed ownership. This is slowly changing at long last.
With this in mind, here are five notable Panthers improvements during their recent 2024 resurgence. We'll start with the biggest one above all else.
Carolina Panthers improvements during 2024 resurgence
Bryce Young's growth
Bryce Young's progress since becoming the starting quarterback once again is the catalyst behind the Carolina Panthers' improved performance levels. Considering how bleak things looked for the signal-caller after his Week 3 benching, it's an astonishing turnaround.
Young didn't sulk when Dave Canales took him out of the firing line. He studied, took a deep breath away from the spotlight, and worked hard to enhance his craft. When the Panthers gave him another shot, he grasped it with both hands.
The Heisman Trophy winner looks like a different player. Young is no longer hesitant, displaying assurance in the pocket and exuding confidence that his teammates are feeding off. He's making smart decisions with the football and is coming through in high-pressure situations to further raise optimism.
This is exactly what the Panthers had in mind when they took Young at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He's gone from a trade candidate this offseason to potentially becoming the team's long-term answer under center. That's a testament to his high character and strong work ethic in the face of adversity.
Canales took a lot of heat for benching Young so soon into his head coaching tenure. As it turned out, this was the best thing that's happened to him as an NFL pro.
Carolina Panthers OL dominance
This has been a staple for the Carolina Panthers to count on throughout the campaign. No matter the injuries or upheaval, the offensive line remains one of the league's most dominant units.
Things have taken another step forward since Bryce Young was reintroduced. The quarterback got beaten up beyond comprehension as a rookie. He didn't trust the unit in front of him over the first two games before his benching. That's not the case anymore.
Young is staying in the pocket safe in the knowledge he'll be secure. General manager Dan Morgan made some hefty investments in the offensive line throughout the offseason. It was a calculated risk that paid off in no uncertain terms.
Much praise should also be directed to Joe Gilbert. The offensive line coach did a remarkable job to turn this revamped group into a cohesive unit. He turned unheralded players like Brady Christensen and Cade Mays into productive performers. His work to get left tackle Ikem Ekwonu on the correct path comes with long-term benefits attached.
If Young had benefitted from this sort of protection throughout a turbulent rookie campaign, the Panthers might have enjoyed better fortunes.
Carolina Panthers pass-rushing
The Panthers are still 29th in sacks per game league-wide throughout the campaign. However, their progress in recent weeks has been a major step in the right direction.
D.J. Wonnum's return to health is a big reason why. The free-agent signing suffered complications in his recovery from a torn quad that also resulted in blood clots and an MRSA infection. He's been eager to make up for lost time, providing a genuine threat to cause havoc in opposing backfields from the moment he came back into the lineup.
This makes everyone's life easier. Jadeveon Clowney is thriving with more space to do damage. The linebackers are getting additional freedom to make plays. It also helps that the offense is giving them a fighting chance by either leading or keeping things close.
While Carolina's 3-4 defensive front needs some work - especially against the run - the pass-rush growth cannot be disputed. The Panthers are averaging 3.7 sacks per game over their last three contests. This ranks sixth across the NFL and is night and day to anything Ejiro Evero's unit produced over the first half of 2024.
Carolina Panthers tight end production
It's been a long time since the Carolina Panthers had legitimate production at the tight end production. Matt Rhule's decision to let Greg Olsen walk in 2020 for the Seattle Seahawks was a grave error in judgment. What followed was a constant stream of failed acquisitions and draft picks who couldn't lace the Pro Bowler's cleats.
Dave Canales wanted to get the tight-end position more involved within his scheme. It took time, but there's been some encouraging progress of late.
Rookie fourth-rounder Ja'Tavion Sanders looks like a long-term option after flashing enormous promise so far. He's already got more receiving yards than any tight end since Olsen. The former Texas star is only going to get better with more experience.
Sanders suffered an unfortunate neck injury and missed Week 13's loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Canales showed tremendous faith in Tommy Tremble, who took over the No. 1 spot and enhanced his chances of an extended stay beyond the campaign with an assured contribution to Carolina's passing attack.
Every good team has a strong tight-end safety valve in the passing game. Carolina's getting back on track in that regard following years of personnel mismanagement.
Dave Canales' play-calling
Dave Canales is a first-year head coach. He got thrust into the limelight with a surprising promotion after one season calling plays with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There were always going to be some growing pains during his pivotal transition to the top job.
This was no more evident than in Canales' play-calling. There was hesitancy and poor situational management earlier in the campaign. The rhythm just wasn't there aside from an impressive display in Week 3 at the Las Vegas Raiders. The progressive coach couldn't find the right balance and the Panthers struggled to generate any consistent momentum.
Trust is everything, especially between the head coach and quarterback. Canales and Young are building that exponentially. You can see it in the creative schemes being devised from week to week. You can see how well everything is being executed no matter the situation.
The Panthers have some difficult challenges upcoming over the next five games before their campaign concludes. If Canales enhances his offensive strategies further down the stretch, Carolina could be playing spoiler to a few potential playoff contenders when push comes to shove.