2024 Week 14: Panthers 16, Eagles 22
Through 3 quarters Carolina was leading 16-14 but just like their recent games, they blew a lead on the fourth quarter. Philadelphia came into this expecting an easy win, just like KC did, and since Bryce Young is improving it wasn’t that easy of a win. While Young is getting better, he’s not good enough yet to win these close games against the best teams.
Philly (11-2) is nearly locked in as the winner of the NFC East, but if they lose to PIT and Washington wins this week, their Week 16 matchup gets a lot more interesting. If Philly beats the Steelers this weekend they might win out and would be in contention for the #1 seed with MIN and DET.
Carolina (3-10) has been playing better lately, and so has Bryce Young, but I think it’s mainly because the defense has been taking strides week after week, not Young.
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QB Report:
- Bryce Young (19/34 for 191 yards, 1 TD/1 INT; 7 rushes for 29 yards) is looking better, but he’s gone from the “shouldn’t be in the NFL” to “semi-capable backup”. Young is still jumpy, he can’t perform on obvious passing downs and is at his worst in the red zone when the field starts to shrink. First and second down he’s been getting better for sure, but I don’t know if he’ll be able to figure out the hardest parts of the game.
RB Report:
- Chuba Hubbard (26-92-1; 4 catches for 15 yards) once again has sole possession of the Carolina backfield for the ROS and likely 2025+ after Jonathon Brooks (1-[-3]-0) tore his ACL again. The Panthers signed former WR Velus Jones Jr. off of the Jaguars practice squad to try and fill in the pass-catcher role that Brooks was in.
WR Report:
- AJ Brown (4-43-0/4), like many star wide receivers, couldn’t keep his mouth shut and created a lot of off-the-field noise. After the game last week AJ Brown was asked what the Eagles offense needed to work on and he gave a simple one-word answer, “Passing”. Earlier this week Brown was on a podcast and hinted at a falling out in his relationship with QB Jalen Hurts. There are definitely grounds for that to be true, Brown has just 1 TD in his last 7 games and has had less than 8 targets in seven of his last 8 games.
- Adam Thielen (9-102-0/11) had a slow start to the season, was injured, and has come back just in time for Bryce Young to be playing a bit better. In the last two games, Thielen has averaged 8.5 receptions, 100.5 yards, and 0.5 TDs. Bryce has been improving and relying on Adam Thielen to carry him to these new heights.
- Rookie Xavier Legette (2-39-0/8) had an awful game, dropping multiple passes.
D/ST Report:
A big reason for Carolina’s defensive uprising has been the D-line. The Panthers signed DJ Wonnum (5 tackles, 1 sack) in the offseason and missed most of the season. Wonnum has played in 4 games for the Panthers and has 3 sacks and 5 QB hits in those games. A few weeks before Wonnum came back, A’Shawn Robinson (5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL) started to break out, he’s the #4 IDP DL since Week 10.
image source: (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)