A different head coach may have yielded the same kind of outcome for the struggling Carolina Panthers on Sunday. But something felt a bit refreshing for the team in Week 13.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Carolina’s 21-18 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Offense (slightly) improves
Owner David Tepper had been waiting for the slightest hint of improvement from his offense all season. And unfortunately for Frank Reich, it came in the first game without him.
No, the Panthers didn’t light the box score up on Sunday, as they finished with all of 18 points and 282 total yards. But if you’ve been watching all year, and bless you if you have, you may have noticed that Week 13’s offering was a tad more palatable.
Quarterback Bryce Young, despite an uninspiring line, looked the part of the play-making passer the Panthers drafted—perhaps more than ever in his rough rookie campaign. He fought the constant pressure from the Buccaneers defense with impressive mobility and movement in the pocket, breathing life into plays that initially never had a chance.
Young also helped his fellow rookie Jonathan Mingo take a step forward. Mingo posted career-highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (69), stringing together multiple games of at least 60 yards for the first time in his NFL career.
Oh, and let’s not forget about this guy . . .
Chuba Hubbard was the offense (again)
For the second straight week, Hubbard was the engine of the offense.
After posting a score and 92 yards from scrimmage in Week 12, the third-year back pushed the load even more. Hubbard turned his career-high 25 carries into 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Not only did that performance make Hubbard only the second 100-yard rusher the Bucs have allowed all season, but it also made him the first 100-yard rusher for the Panthers in 2023. Oh, and all three of his touchdowns are the only three touchdowns the Panthers have scored over the past two games.
So, has the offense finally found a smidge of an identity through the ground? Maybe it’s just a theme for Carolina’s interim head coaches.
Chris Tabor provides (some) stability
Our hats go off to special teams coordinator-turned-interim head coach/special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who has seen a lot during his two years in Carolina. And unfortunately, those two years have seen the team’s head coach canned in the middle of the season.
But, after Steve Wilks admirably step up into the tough interim role in 2022, Tabor has begun to do the same here in 2023.
The veteran coach, from the very start of this tumultuous week, gracefully handled the unenviable task of leading a one-win team through another painful turnover. Sunday’s outing may not have resulted in a victory, but it gave a decent enough account of Tabor and his players during this unstable time.
Hopefully, you had at least a little more fun watching this time around.
