After nine weeks of action, proclaiming that the Carolina Panthers’ (5-4) glass is “half full” feels like a fair representation of where the 2025 campaign stands. Perhaps even more so, with the team fresh off the heels of what could be considered the most impressive win for the franchise in the seven-year tenure under David Tepper’s ownership umbrella.
In classic Cardiac Cats fashion, it took fifty-nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds to get to the 49-yard game-winning field goal from rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
You won’t find a Panthers fan, player, or coach who would change the outcome of the game. But by tidying up and improving in a few areas, Carolina may be able to make life a bit easier for itself.
Penalty Thrusts the Panthers Into No Man’s Land
After running back Rico Dowdle (PFSN RBi No. 3 RB) reached the end zone in the third quarter, his second trip there on the day, he and a handful of his offensive teammates celebrated by paying homage to Hingle McCringleberry (a character from a Key & Peele skit). Dowdle received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for his calculated — yet apparently still excessive — pelvis pumps.
When asked about the moment after the game, Dowdle said, “From my understanding and everything I’ve learned — we go over stuff like this every week in the meeting room — I definitely think you’re supposed to get two pumps. Hopefully, I don’t get a fine.”
I’m not a proponent of the No Fun League, so touchdown cellies don’t bother me personally. However, this one put head coach Dave Canales in a tough spot, deciding whether to go for a high-degree-of-difficulty two-point attempt from the 17-yard line or kick a 48-yard extra point attempt directly into the swirling winds of Lambeau.
The Panthers decided to send out the kicking unit, which resulted in the missed PAT. That miss kept the lead at seven points for Carolina, instead of a situationally beneficial eight.
Another Missed Connection Between Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan
I’ll preface this section by pointing out that quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan were able to connect on 4 out of 6 targets, for 46 yards on Sunday. However, the duo still leaves meat on the bone with their timing and approaches not quite in sync.
Just before the two-minute warning in the second quarter, Young attempted a pass on first-and-goal from the 5-yard line, with McMillan as the target facing one-on-one coverage. The rotation of the ball was wobbly right out of Bryce’s hand. It appeared to have been affected by the wind, as the quarterback’s interception earlier in the game was as well.
But it still reached its spot at a catchable destination, with McMillan timing his jump and attack appropriately enough to get both hands on the ball. Unfortunately, the rookie wideout attempted to catch the ball with an underhand technique, and the ball slipped through to the ground.
Earlier in the week, McMillan gave a one-word answer of “average” when asked for his assessment of his rookie season thus far. The dropped passes and missed connections are often the difference between ordinary and extraordinary.
Self-Inflicted Damage Alters the Trajectory
The Panthers have been one of the least penalized teams in the NFL this season, averaging 5.7 per game. The team stayed true to this in Week 9’s win, being flagged for five infractions for a total of 39 yards.
However, the timing of the penalties was often the difference between extending a drive and having to send out the punt unit.
On the opening series, Carolina picked up 13 yards between the second and third-down runs from Dowdle. Unfortunately, the Panthers picked up a 5-yard false start by guard Chandler Zavala on the game’s first snap. Then, a holding call against tight end Tommy Tremble on fourth-and-one negated a would-be first down conversion on a Jimmy Horn Jr. 4-yard run.
In the second-to-last drive for the Panthers in the fourth quarter, an illegal formation penalty against tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders wiped out a 21-yard dash by Dowdle. A mere two snaps later, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu tacks on a false start. The cumulative effect of those penalties and subsequent plays was a 3rd-and-14 from the Carolina 22.
Once again, they failed to pass the sticks, and the drive ended with another Sam Martin punt. In the end, the Panthers got the win. Moving forward, situational execution and discipline (or lack thereof) can be the difference-maker in a week-to-week league like the NFL.