Panthers’ Play-Calling Under Fire: OL’s Scathing Comments Reveal Predictable Offense

The Carolina Panthers entered Sunday’s home matchup vs. the Dallas Cowboys as favorites for the first time in 33-consecutive games.

And on the Panthers first drive, it looked like they would finally get over the hump, executing a nearly perfect 13-play drive where QB Bryce Young was a perfect 6-of-6 for 72 yards. But the excellent opening drive was ended with Young fumbling, which set the tone for how the whole game would play out.

Young ended up with a career-high four turnovers, and nearly every time the Panthers were threatening to score, they would make another offensive blunder and give it back to Dallas.

This was by far the second-year QB’s worst game since taking over again as the Carolina starting QB after getting benched two weeks into the season. Young has looked like the team’s future franchise quarterback in recent weeks, leading the Panthers on clutch final drives and delivering in high-pressure moments over the last three losses to the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Eagles. All three of those teams are expected to make the playoffs and Young was unfazed in those matchups.

But after the massive mistake on the opening drive, Young couldn’t seem to find a rhythm.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the turnover on the opening drive derailed the team’s offensive game plan.

“When you have a successful drive ending in a turnover, the challenge is you’ve gotta snap back and say, ‘OK, these are the things that led to the success that drive. Can we just return to it?’ ” Canales told the Athletic. “And we weren’t able to return to it in the course of the first half.”

But Panthers OL Robert Hunt believes the offensive coaching staff abandoned what was working the best, and the Cowboys talented defensive players took advantage.

“That first drive is what I thought we should have did all game. But once you get out of that rhythm, it’s hard to (find it). Once you get behind, obviously they can tee off,” right guard Robert Hunt said. “They’ve got (Parsons) over there, who’s a really good pass rusher. And everyone knows what we’re doing. … They made the best of their opportunities and got after us.”

Hunt is clearly referring to Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who also admitted he noticed the Panthers trying to force on offense, making it easier to cause disruption.

“They felt like they had to put some points up on the board. They had to get after it, get away from the run because it wasn’t hitting early on,” Parsons said. “It allowed us to get after the quarterback. That’s what complementary football does.”

Chubba Hubbard, who has been the team’s work horse in the backfield over the last several games, ended the matchup with just 10 carries for 32 yards. Young on the other hand, threw the ball 28 times and was sacked six times while throwing two interceptions and fumbling.