Illustration by Neil Nakahodo
If the Panthers have any hope of salvaging their season, fixing the offensive line has to be a top priority. Bryce Young was sacked six times and faced relentless pressure throughout the game. To make matters worse, injuries have decimated the secondary, forcing Carolina to dig deep into its cornerback depth chart.
That's not exactly encouraging with the 6-2 Denver Broncos up next, fresh off a comeback victory over the Chiefs. Denver boasts one of the league's top defenses, with a relentless pass rush that could make life miserable for Young if the Panthers can't protect him.
The silver lining? Carolina plays in arguably the NFL's weakest division, with every team sitting below .500. Despite all their struggles, the Panthers are still very much in the division race. If they can shore up the offensive line and get some injured players back on the field, there's still a path to winning the NFC South.
