Believe it or not, the Carolina Panthers actually had some studs in their 19-16 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. But, we’re not going to give those to you without evening them out with the duds.
Here they are, in all their glory from Week 2.
Stud: RB Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey was hardly involved in last week’s opener, at least by McCaffrey’s standards. That was not the case on Sunday.
Carolina dialed up No. 22 for 19 total touches—15 rushing attempts and four receptions. That resulted in 102 yards on the ground and 26 through the air.
While it may be prudent to limit McCaffrey’s workload here and there, especially given his recent injury history, it’s clear this offense absolutely needs its star at full force to have any chance to actually win a game.
Dud: QB Baker Mayfield
For the second consecutive week, Mayfield helped take the Panthers offense on a sickening roller coaster ride. He completed just 14 of his 29 attempts for 145 yards and a touchdown.
The good news is that he didn’t turn the ball over nor did he botch a snap exchange. But with another game came another bag of batted balls at the line, missed throws and a lack of consistent chemistry with his targets.
This reclamation project under center, the third in as many years for this franchise, isn’t working quite yet.
Stud: DE Brian Burns
Speaking of quarterbacks, here’s a guy who got his hands on one—twice.
Burns picked up his first two sacks of the season on Sunday, taking Daniel Jones down in the first and third quarters. He finished the outing with four total hits on Jones and was a constant nuisance for New York in the pocket.
Dud: WR Shi Smith
Week 2 was supposed to be another stepping stone in the rise of the second-year wideout. Alas, it was just a step back.
Smith dropped a pair of lasers from Mayfield that should’ve gone for substantial gains. The one that really hurt came on a third-and-12 from the Giants’ 14-yard line, where a catch would’ve set the Panthers up for a first-and-goal on the 4 right before the break. So instead of having four close shots for a touchdown, they settled for a field goal.
Along with his one reception for just two yards over his six targets, Smith also finished with a combined 17 yards on his pair of punt returns. Perhaps it’s time to start incorporating other wideouts Terrace Marshall Jr. and Rashard Higgins, who have seen a combined zero targets over two weeks.
Stud: LB Frankie Luvu
This was the Frankie Luvu the organization gave a two-year extension to this offseason.
The fifth-year backer was all over the field, totaling solo 10 tackles (four for a loss) and a pass defensed. He displayed his quickness, explosiveness and ability to be a game-wrecking presence on a defense that desperately needs one.
Although the unit is still lacking big-play prowess, they have themselves a keeper of a heat-seeking missile in Luvu to help them through their struggles.
Dud: Coaching staff
The Panthers are simply just not playing consistent football. From their lack of rhythm on offense, their uneven drives on defense and quiet special teams presence—there’s just no real identity on this team.
That all starts from the top, with head coach Matt Rhule and his staff. Now, the Panthers have gone five games without a takeaway, nine games without a win and three seasons without any tangible progress.
