The Carolina Panthers will be heading into historically hostile territory on Sunday without the face of their franchise.
For that (and more) check out our biggest storylines for the Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks:
Bryce-less in Seattle
An ankle injury has put a brief pause on Bryce Young’s rookie campaign. So, the Panthers now have to break out the Red Rifle.
Andy Dalton will be getting the nod on Sunday in this, his 13th NFL campaign. The 35-year-old is coming off a season where he started 14 games for the New Orleans Saints—having passed for 2,871 yards, 18 scores and nine interceptions.
Entering the weekend, the sluggish Carolina offense is averaging the sixth-fewest yards per game (260.0) and is one of only two units not to record a passing play of at least 25 yards thus far. Can the three-time Pro Bowler spark something in Young’s absence?
Any degree of separation
While the convenient storyline is the one that blames this year’s 5-foot-10, 204-pound No. 1 overall pick for those early offensive woes, the real struggle rests in the team’s receiving corps. Panthers pass catchers are simply having a difficult time gaining space.
Young, through two games, is the NFL’s most accurate passer in open windows—completing approximately 80 percent of passes when he aims to a good look. But he also has the second-lowest concentration of passes to open windows, suggesting his targets are not often available.
The individual numbers on said wideouts back that up as well. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Carolina has some of the lowest averages on yards of separation—with Adam Thielen at 2.9, Terrace Marshall Jr. at 2.3 and Jonathan Mingo at 1.8.
Will they be able to break through for Dalton against one of the weaker passing defenses?
Tossed salad and scrambled eggs
The receiving room on the other sideline is a much different story—with the likes of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Seattle’s disposal. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they may be ill-equipped to defend them.
Carolina will, of course, be without their top cornerback Jaycee Horn, who is recovering from hamstring surgery. And things didn’t go too well for the secondary in their first full game without him—as Donte Jackson, Troy Hill and CJ Henderson earned three of the defense’s five lowest overall grades from Pro Football Focus in Week 2.
How will this bunch write back against quarterback Geno Smith and a potent aerial attack?
