Who were the big winners and losers from another heavy defeat for the Carolina Panthers, which leaves them 0-6 at the bye week?
Despite streaking into an early lead, it was the same old result for the Carolina Panthers. After 35 unanswered points by the Miami Dolphins, head coach Frank Reich must try to make sense of their 0-6 start during the bye week, which involves self-evaluation and pinpointing exactly where things are going wrong.
It's not going to be a quick fix. The Panthers are a mess in terms of personnel fitting schemes on both sides of the football, so some significant adjustments are needed over the next fortnight before they take the field versus the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium.
There were brief flashes of what this team might be capable of, but they were fleeting. The Panthers couldn't even cover the mammoth 14.5-point spread - that's how bad things got as the game progressed.
With this in mind, here are five winners and losers from Carolina's latest reverse at Hard Rock Stadium.
Loser No. 1
Donte Jackson - Carolina Panthers CB
Matching speed with speed was the only viable option for the Carolina Panthers in an attempt to counteract the supreme threat posed offensively by the Miami Dolphins. That meant tasking huge responsibilities to Donte Jackson, who once again failed to meet expectations.
It seemed almost guaranteed that Jackson would give up a big play, which happened after Tyreek Hill torched him for a long score. However, his running angle in pursuit of Tua Tagovailoa for another touchdown was simply unacceptable.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that Jackson was one of the names Carolina is keen to make available for trade before the deadline. Depending on what happens during the bye, this might be the final time we see him in a Panthers uniform.
Winner No. 1
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers RB
The result might have been disappointing, but there were some slight positives to take from the Carolina Panthers' latest outing. Of those, running back Chuba Hubbard was undoubtedly one.
Hubbard got the lead-back role he'd been craving after Miles Sanders was ruled out with a shoulder issue. The former fourth-round selection flashed moments of quality when called upon this season, so he was more than deserving of a prolonged look with the struggling No. 1 option missing from the lineup.
Carolina tried to get the run game going and Hubbard set the tone as a result. There was far more explosiveness and vision than at any stage when Sanders was accumulating the majority of touches, with the Oklahoma State product even going into the end-zone during a sensational start to the contest.
There was a lot to like about Hubbard's production, even if the Panthers had to move away from the running attack when things got away from them. The third-year pro eventually finished with 19 carries for 88 rushing yards and a score, which was a step in the right direction for a team that's found life extremely difficult establishing momentum on the ground.
Whether this same trend continues after the bye remains to be seen. The Panthers paid Sanders a lot of money in free agency, so they probably feel obligated to keep him in the limelight despite Hubbard boasting far superior credentials currently.
Loser No. 2
Terrace Marshall Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
Given the Carolina Panthers didn't allocate a single offensive snap to Terrace Marshall Jr. in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, many fans expected to see a lot of the wide receiver in this one. But it was yet another game where the player flattered to deceive.
Marshall was a non-factor yet again, failing to bring in any of his three targets throughout. This was extremely disappointing and led many to wonder whether leaving him out entirely last time out was an accident or by design.
This is the latest in a series of underachievements from the former second-round selection. Something that could lead the Panthers into trading Marshall if the right opportunity comes along.
As was the case with Donte Jackson, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated named Marshall directly as someone who could be on the trade block. Any team would be betting on the upside rather than any legitimate production, but the Cincinnati Bengals could make sense given the pass-catcher's previous connection with Joe Burrow from their time together at LSU.
There has to be a tipping point between Marshall and the Panthers. That might be during the bye and looking at how things are unfolding for the player, he'd likely welcome a change of scenery at this juncture.
Winner No. 2
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
As previously stated numerous times last week, the main priority for the Carolina Panthers in 2023 has changed. No longer does it revolve around delusional dreams of winning the NFC South and reaching the postseason, it should now firmly center on rookie quarterback Bryce Young's development.
That is the most important thing above all else right now. Young once again demonstrated impressive poise at the Miami Dolphins, conjuring some magic with exceptional timing on his throws en route to yet another encouraging afternoon.
Young's ability to fit the football into tight windows was eye-popping on occasion. There were some deep shots he'd like to have back, but the signal-caller can take heart from the contest even if the result didn't go Carolina's way as anticipated.
There's no doubt Young is lacking help. Once the scripted plays ended after the opening exchanges, head coach Frank Reich went back to a less creative approach that worked to the Panthers' detriment.
Nevertheless, the Heisman Trophy winner is growing with every passing week. Young looks more comfortable in the pocket and displayed the traits that made him such a highly touted college recruit, to begin with.
Hopefully, some significant alterations can be made during the bye that allows Young to flourish further over the next 11 games. Perhaps scheming things up around his strengths rather than trying to fit him into an already bland, uninspiring system would also help.
Just a thought…
Loser No. 3
Brian Burns - Carolina Panthers OLB
The Carolina Panthers had absolutely no room for passengers at the Miami Dolphins. Especially considering how many established figures were missing due to injury, which gave them an obvious mountain to climb.
That's why Brian Burns finds himself on this list. The edge rusher was probably playing at less than 100 percent after landing on the injury report, but it was once again a subpar outing from someone who is looking to be paid among the league's most elite at the position.
While accusations of Burns checking out are unfounded given how committed he was during the preparation period, fans have every right to expect better. This is a foundational piece everyone is looking to for difference-making production consistently, which the Panthers just haven't gotten from the former first-round selection over the last few games.
Speculation will be rampant during the bye about the possibility of trading Burns, who looks like the only player that could genuinely get the Panthers a first-round pick. This would leave them desperately short of reliable pass-rushing options, but there is also the small matter of his lucrative upcoming extension to factor into the equation.
The more likely scenario is Carolina placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on Burns when the time comes. Not exactly ideal for the player, but his situation has been handled terribly by the front office.