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4 Overreactions to Panthers' Loss to Bucs in Week 7, Including Benching Bryce Young
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- 4 Overreactions to Panthers' Loss to Bucs in Week 7, Including Benching Bryce Young
Kenny Pickett finished Sunday's game for the Carolina Panthers, and that was all some fans needed to see. Bryce Young turned the ball over three times in a 43-13 loss to the Buccaneers, Pickett went 3 of 4 for 47 yards in mop-up duty, and the calls for a change started before the Panthers even left the field. Pickett, a former Eagle who helped prepare Carolina for Philadelphia two weeks ago, is now at the center of a very different conversation.
With a Thursday night trip to Green Bay coming fast, here are four overreactions from Week 7, and how much weight each one deserves.
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Kenny Pickett should start at Green Bay
Young had his worst game of the season, going 14 of 27 for 163 yards with a touchdown pass, two interceptions and a lost fumble. He had thrown two interceptions all season before Sunday, and he entered the game leading the NFL in passing yards per game, according to the Associated Press .
Pickett's 47 yards came against a Bucs defense up 37 points. Young has 12 touchdown passes this season and set a franchise touchdown mark through five games . Dave Canales said his quarterback was "ready to rock" on the sideline, according to the team . This is an overreaction, and it isn't close.
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Monroe Freeling can't handle right tackle
Freeling replaced Taylor Moton after Moton fractured his fibula in the third quarter, and the rookie graded at 45.6 in 33 snaps, including a 33.0 run-blocking grade, according to PFF. With Moton out for a while , Freeling is the starter again.
He started the first four games at right tackle, and he spent the last two weeks watching Moton prepare, a point the team noted . Coming in cold with Carolina down 30 points against a pass rush that smelled blood is a rough way to judge a first-round pick. The real test comes against the Packers' edge rushers, with a full game plan built around him.
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Carolina has to trade for a cornerback this week
Akayleb Evans had a 29.4 overall grade, according to PFF, gave up a touchdown and drew a 21-yard pass interference flag. With Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both out, Evans and rookie Will Lee III are holding the outside together, and Lee was the better of the two at 70.4.
This one is closest to fair. We've already floated Riq Woolen as a fit for Ejiro Evero's scheme, and the need hasn't gone away. "This week" is the overreaction part. The deadline isn't until Nov. 10, and Tampa Bay threw just 11 passes, so Sunday wasn't much of a referendum on the corners.
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The NFC South is slipping away
The Panthers are 3-3 and still in first place, a half-game ahead of the 3-4 Falcons. Tampa Bay sits at 2-5, and Carolina already owns a 34-3 win over Atlanta .
The worry is the next stretch. Carolina plays at Green Bay on Thursday, then has a road game at New Orleans and a Monday night rematch in Tampa within the next five weeks. A division lead after Week 7 doesn't guarantee much. Still, nothing about one blowout loss takes it away.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
