In the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, there was a lot to assess on film from the Carolina Panthers' disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers failed to win their opening game for the fifth consecutive season, and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is back on the hot seat after allowing the most points in a single game in franchise history. However, Carolina's offense was wildly efficient and productive to kick off the new campaign.
After watching some All-22 coaches' film, I wanted to share my observations from the loss. Here are my biggest takeaways.
Carolina Panthers film observations from Week 1 defeat against the Chicago Bears
Princely Umanmielen must be better
Princely Umanmielen had an atrocious game for the Panthers, to say the least. Despite two pressures and a clean-up sack off a Devin Lloyd pressure, he looked out of place as a run defender.
Umanmielen had some solid reps against a Bears tight end or two, but too often he abandoned his responsibility in quarterback containment, which led to two rushing touchdowns by Caleb Williams. The Ole Miss product also lacked the play strength to work off blocks against opposing tackles.
On Kyle Monangai’s 61-yard touchdown, Umanmielen anchored in an attempt to stalemate Cole Kemet's seal block to minimize the damage, and it did not go well. If Umanmielen is to hold a bigger role in the Panthers' defense, he must adjust from here on out.
Will Lee III's brutal debut
Will Lee III has a lot of growing to do as a rookie. Too often, the Panthers' fourth-round cornerback was out of position in coverage and run support, costing the defense valuable plays and potential stops.
His zone discipline was poor, and he locked his eyes on the backfield and got drawn by Williams, causing him to react late to plays in front of him or behind him. Lee played 27 snaps, and it was underwhelming.
Unfortunately, no answer is coming through the door anytime soon, meaning the Panthers will have to deal with growing pains throughout the season.
Bryce Young's outstanding start
Bryce Young had as good a start to the season as any Panthers fan could’ve hoped. He finished the day completing 23 of 37 pass attempts for 361 yards, three touchdown passes, a plus-8.5 expected points added (EPA), and a rushing score.
The biggest difference from last year is Young's aggression and his total command of the Panthers' offense. A key to this was offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, who called his first plays in the NFL.
There was a clear emphasis on downfield shots, play-action, and play-sequencing that was missing from the passing offense last year under Dave Canales. The execution was steady on all fronts, with a handful of miscues that didn’t seem as costly as they would have been in past years.
It is a step in the right direction for both the play-caller and signal-caller. The only grip I have from watching Young’s tape is that his progressions were sped up, likely because of the instability along the offensive line.
Even so, if this performance is a sign of things to come, Young could become the Panthers' first 4,000-yard passer in franchise history since Cam Newton.
What the Carolina Panthers' revamped offensive line displayed
Speaking of the offensive line, this unit was mostly steady throughout the game. Monroe Freeling had some subpar moments. These included allowing a sack from Montez Sweat, where he leaned forward while extending and getting grips, creating balance issues and letting the defensive end get by.
Rasheed Walker had a sound day, allowing one pressure and keeping Young’s blindside clean. Right guard Robert Hunt had an up-and-down day in both facets, while Damien Lewis was stout as always in every phase, though he did suffer an injury before returning.
Newcomer Luke Fortner had a serviceable day at center and did a good job setting protections and communicating up front. But the free-agent signing allowed three pressures and created interior problems for Young.
Overall, Panthers fans should feel cautiously optimistic with this offensive front heading into Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Defensive newcomers catch the eye
Despite Carolina’s defensive issues, I was impressed with their pass rush. They made some containment mistakes against Williams, but they still disrupted the backfield.
The team finished with 23 total pressures and two sacks. The addition of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebackers Devin Lloyd and Bobby Okereke made a significant difference, especially in the exotic fronts Carolina executed during the game.
Phillips led the team in pressures with four and was effective on that front, while Lloyd and Okereke pressured Williams from the interior with well-timed blitzes.
Jalen Coker's sensational Week 1 performance
Jalen Coker was the Panthers' No. 1 wide receiver with eight catches for 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns. On two big plays — the acrobatic catch on the first drive and the 51-yard score — he was effective on double moves and incredibly polished at the catch point and in tracking the ball downfield.
His ability to adjust on the fly made him a great target in the passing game.
Coker mainly aligned as the X-receiver in most formations, with Tetairoa McMillan in the slot, and the Panthers reaped the benefits. The 2024 undrafted free agent may be one of the best the league has had in some time, and general manager Dan Morgan gets credit for the find.
With 16 games to go, the Panthers have two wideouts that now act as No. 1 pass-catchers. Coker's ability to thrive at the catch point from all three levels and generate explosive plays makes him a player to watch for weeks to come.
Add us as a preferred source on Google