There wasn’t much room to fall down into, but the Carolina Panthers took some trips across the latest sets of power rankings.
Here’s where they stand following the Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints:
Touchdown Wire
Author: Jarrett Bailey
Rank: 26 (-6)
Take: “You could have made a sandwich every time the Panthers were on offense and you wouldn’t have missed a thing. They were held out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach. The offense is boring, Bryce Young averaged 4.6 yards per attempt, and they couldn’t do anything against a stout Saints defense.”
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 29 (+1)
Take: “For all the shade sent the NFC South’s way, Carolina is the only club living down to expectations – winless in a division of otherwise undefeated co-tenants.”
NFL.com
Author: Eric Edholm
Rank: 27 (-)
Take: “By the time the Panthers were able to get Jonathan Mingo involved and Bryce Young finally settled down against New Orleans, it was too late. The 0-2 start isn’t shocking, but it has to be disappointing, because Carolina was in both games in the fourth quarter. Frank Reich told us to have patience, and we certainly do, but that’s now two touchdowns in 23 offensive drives. It’s not all on Young, but his three turnovers in two games could have been avoided. There’s a foundation here, and the defense played pretty well again. Still, Carolina is stuck in the mud a bit for now, until the passing game starts humming.”
ESPN
Author: David Newton
Rank: 29 (-1)
Take (On Brian Burns’ contract situation): “Burns is playing under the fifth-year option of his rookie deal for $16 million. But he wants to be among the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL, earning somewhere between $25 million and $30 million a year. The sides aren’t close, and Burns said on Saturday as far as he’s concerned negotiations are “on hold” even though the team is willing to negotiate, according to a league source. With each sack Burns collects, the sides won’t get closer, and he had two just in Week 1.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 29 (-1)
Take: “The offense isn’t doing enough as Bryce Young has struggled and the offensive line has been an issue. At 0-2, they are in a hole in the division with three 2-0 teams.”
Pro Football Talk
Author: Mike Florio
Rank: 30 (-1)
Take: “Did David Tepper pick the wrong quarterback? (And, yes, the owner made the call.)”
