Bleacher report not buying Panthers’ hype

[strato]

1 hour ago, PadresPanthersFan said:

he panthers were a sub 500 team with a middling defense,  putrid offense and a sub par qb that backed their way into the playoffs

There is no hype to buy yet

Ahh but there actually is, if you really want to buy some. Most people aren’t. Even the national press that was wagg

[strato]

I never saw anyone called racist for dogging Byron Bell. Or Nick Scott. Or Turk Wharton. Or Legette lol. 
 

 

[strato]

I didn’t realize that half written post made it to the board. Sorry. 
I was just saying there plenty of Bryce hype to go around after he made a good showing in the WC game. 
And wasn’t going to finish it to post it. Oops  

 

 

[shaqattaq]

On 5/16/2026 at 11:45 PM, HardcoreHokie said:

Ponder that for a minute while watching Kenny Pickett highlights.

a minute is all you need!

[SetfreexX]

18 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

If our defense becomes a top 10 defense we will have a winning record.  We won't beat every first place team but we have the talent to do it.

This IMO will be the make or break for Dave Canales.  I have always felt that our offensive scheme was very vanilla.  We need to get a bit more imaginative on offense.  

We need a QB that can do more than Bryce, he LIMITS THE OFFENSE IMMENSELY. 

[SetfreexX]

18 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

If our defense becomes a top 10 defense we will have a winning record.  We won't beat every first place team but we have the talent to do it.

This IMO will be the make or break for Dave Canales.  I have always felt that our offensive scheme was very vanilla.  We need to get a bit more imaginative on offense.  

The offense is limited due to the midget at QB.

5'10, 180'ish pounds confirmed in a presser by Canales last season after being questioned about the "lack of QB sneak calls" on 1 yard or less situaions.

Canales imo overall has gotten the most out of this team all things considered. He inherited Bryce. 

[45catfan]

The NFL is about parity.  There are few teams in the upper tier and a few bottom dwelling teams every season, every other team is in the middle. This version of the Panthers can be a fringe playoff team if, BIG IF, things goes their way.  First off health.  This goes for every team. It takes a special club to overcome a rash of injuries and still get into the playoffs.  Secondly, timing.  The Panthers have to catch a good team on a short week, with key injuries or some disruption to their team dynamic--like a dome team in the rain, for example.  Lastly, luck.  In order for the Panthers to get over the hump, things have to go their way in 2-3 games.  Things like a controversial call in our favor,  a DC going into prevent defense most of the 4th quarter, a fortunate (for us) turnover by the opposition while trying to seal a win etc...  This will be the difference in a 6 win Panthers team and 9 win squad this season.  I can't see us lower than 6 wins (short of the wheels completely falling off) because they roster has been getting better or higher than 9 wins simply due to Bryce's ceiling.

 

[fanpanther]

On 5/16/2026 at 4:50 PM, raleigh-panther said:

Well, everyone is a critic.  not much meat on the bone here in analysis but if the team needs motivation … lol
 

I have also heard a lot of talking head or two say that ‘Young is not in the same class as most of these teams and that in 12 of the 17 games he is the lesser QB
 

BR write up below 

2025 record: 8-9

Last season, the Carolina Panthers made the playoffs for the first time since 2017. They won the division. Bryce Young made strides, throwing for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 63.6 percent completion rate. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan won the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

In free agency, the Panthers signed edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd to bolster their middling defense. Carolina can win with complementary football if the offense continues to trend in the right direction.

In 2026, Carolina will play the AFC North and NFC North on a first-place schedule, which includes matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, and the Seattle Seahawks. The club will have a much tougher 17-game slate than it had last year, which may lead to regression.

The Panthers aren't on the same level as the league's top teams. We'll see the gap between them and division-winning clubs from the previous season.

2026 projection: 6-11

 

I really only see byoung maybe being better than the browns qb situation and the vikings qb situation but those are both maybes 

[fanpanther]

On 5/17/2026 at 12:39 PM, SetfreexX said:

Might be a little too much Kool aid, those Rico games mask how pedestrian Bryce was,and earned us a few wins to stay afloat.

We lost 4 of 5 down the stretch as we controlled our own destiny, and we moonwalked into the playoffs off of whacky tie breakers. 

We over achieved last year. 6-11 is pretty conservative but I also don't think its that far off the mark. If we finish over .500 (primarily because Bryce is our QB) I'll be surprised. 

my predication is 3-5 wins but on the flipside if the panthers had a qb who was anywhere from 16th best qb and up in the nfl they would be serious contenders the team is good the qb is not.