Locked On Panthers Hit - Quick Takes on the Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are learning how to win. It's still in dramatic fashion, but after taking down the Lions in prime time we're 2-2, with a chance to extend the division lead after the bye.

That blackout on Sunday Night Football was fun. It had been over a decade since Charlotte hosted a Sunday night game. Bryce Young heard the MVP chants, and after four games he's worth being in that conversation. He has over 1,200 passing yards, and the offense is scoring 30 plus points a game, the most points ever through four games in Panthers history.

Next up are the Eagles. Saquon Barkley just got tweaked, and something looks off about that offense. We'll still be without Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn for a while.

Is Bryce in the MVP conversation??

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 The Panthers are learning how to win
0:56 Let's talk about that Lions game
3:13 Our sponsor, Kalshi
3:44 After the bye, the Eagles

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

That Carolina Panthers offense could be one of the best in the NFL. 121 points through four games is a team record, and Bryce Young leads the NFL in passing yards.

Tetairoa McMillan stole the show against the Lions on Sunday night. He had 14 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns, plus his tribute to Steve Smith. Chuba Hubbard added 122 yards and two scores.

The defense gave up over 400 passing yards to Jared Goff, but they held the Lions to 26. Will Lee III made the game-winning tackle. We hit the bye at 2-2, still first in the division.

Who was your player of the game??

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 This offense could be one of the best in the NFL
2:16 Who stole the show? Tetairoa McMillan
3:22 Our sponsor, Kalshi
3:48 The defense did what it needed to do

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

UPDATE (Friday's final injury report): Xavier Legette and Damien Lewis are out. Jalen Coker and Monroe Freeling are questionable.

The Lions are 2-1 and totally beatable in Charlotte, so it's prediction time. There's no reason to believe we can't put up 30 or more on them. We scored over 30 in the first two games, and Detroit's defense is not the Cleveland Browns. It comes down to health: Bryce Young practiced in a knee brace, Xavier Legette did not practice, Jalen Coker was back, Monroe Freeling was limited and Damien Lewis is out.

Plus, we're in all black, in prime time, under the lights at home, with the bye coming up, so leave it all out there. I expect the tight end room to have a big game after 11 catches between three tight ends against the Browns. My score: Carolina Panthers 34, Detroit Lions 31, and it comes down to Ryan Fitzgerald's leg.

What's your score for Sunday night? Leave it in the comments.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 The Lions are totally beatable in Charlotte
1:56 Our sponsor is Kalshi
2:26 All black, in prime time, at home
3:29 The tight end room, and my score

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sunday night is almost here, so let's talk about the keys to beating the Detroit Lions. Key one is keeping Jahmyr Gibbs in check: the Bills gave the blueprint, held him to 52 yards and won 41-31. Then we have to get after Jared Goff. He has eight touchdowns and no interceptions through three weeks, but anybody can make mistakes under pressure.

Plus, key number three: protect Bryce. Monroe Freeling was limited in practice and is still in the concussion protocol, Damien Lewis is out with an elbow injury, and Aidan Hutchinson is coming. And a bonus key: score, score, score. This offense is probably going to need over 30 points.

Which key matters most on Sunday night? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 The keys to beating the Detroit Lions
2:14 Today's sponsor is Kalshi
2:35 Key number three: protect Bryce
3:50 A bonus key: score, score, score

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everybody's worried about the receivers, but that's not the biggest problem going into this game. Jahmyr Gibbs is what decides Sunday night. He has 307 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 18 catches and 2 receiving touchdowns through three games. If we can take him away, that takes away two threats: the run and the catch.

Plus, the one game the Lions lost, Buffalo held him to 52 yards. There's your key. Lee Hunter was a surprise addition to Thursday's injury report, but Devin Lloyd is back, and he had two interceptions against Atlanta. Amon-Ra St. Brown and his five touchdowns can give us fits too, so let's start with Gibbs. Win that battle, and we win the game.

Can this defense keep Gibbs in check on Sunday night? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 The real threat is their running back
1:54 It's up to the guys who are still healthy
2:49 Our sponsor is Kalshi
3:17 Gibbs can run it and catch it

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

UPDATE: Canales says neither Jaycee Horn nor Mike Jackson is out for the season. Both are expected to miss about eight weeks.

The passing game is a mess on both sides of the ball right now. Jalen Coker hurt his quad against the Browns, Xavier Legette has a knee injury, and neither practiced Wednesday, so Tetairoa McMillan is the only sure thing. Brycen Tremayne earned more snaps, and the tight ends had 11 catches in Cleveland.

Plus, the corners: Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are both on injured reserve, so Will Lee, Chau Smith-Wade and Akayleb Evans get a lot of quick experience against the Lions on Sunday Night Football. We'll need big plays from them, the safeties and the pass rush. The bye can't come soon enough.

Who has to step up the most on Sunday night? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 The passing game is a mess on both sides
1:54 Our sponsor is Kalshi
2:20 The corners: backups and first-time starters
3:23 Injuries, injuries, injuries

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

UPDATE: After I recorded this, the Panthers put Mike Jackson on injured reserve. He's out at least four weeks.

The Lions offense worries me: Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown have 11 touchdowns between them through three weeks, Detroit has scored 31 in every game, and Jared Goff has eight touchdowns and no interceptions. With Jaycee Horn out and Will Lee possibly making his first start, that's the matchup to watch on Sunday Night Football.

Plus, the part that doesn't scare me: that Lions defense. They've given up 30, 41 and 24 points. There will be opportunities for our guys to put up points, with Jalen Coker hopefully back, Tetairoa McMillan without Denzel Ward across from him, and the tight ends coming off 11 catches. Devin Lloyd is back, and I have confidence in this team.

What do you think is going to happen? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 The Lions offense worries me
2:32 Kalshi
3:06 The Lions defense doesn't scare me
3:52 The matchup to watch

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

UPDATE: After I recorded this, the Panthers put Mike Jackson on injured reserve. He's out at least four weeks.

Jaycee Horn is headed to injured reserve with a torn quad, and Will Lee might be getting his first start on Sunday Night Football against the Lions. So how do we survive against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs?

The good news: Devin Lloyd is coming back. After that, it's ball control. Play boring offense, run the ball, get Chuba involved, use A.J. Dillon's power, and keep the ball out of the Lions' hands. .500 and 1-3 are miles apart as we head into the bye.

What do you think is going to happen? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

0:00 Jaycee Horn is headed to IR
1:25 Will Lee is the next man up
2:00 Devin Lloyd is coming back
3:04 How we survive against the Lions
4:39 500 and 1-3 are miles apart

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Panthers are starting to look like a M.A.S.H. unit. Jaycee Horn tore his quad against the Browns and he's going to IR, Mike Jackson got hurt early in that game, and we finished with Akayleb Evans, Will Lee and Chau Smith-Wade at corner. That's not going to cut it against Detroit.

Plus, my offensive MVP. It's Jalen Coker. He leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, and he's tied for the team lead in touchdowns.

Coker hurt his quad, Bryce got stepped on and toughed it out, and Damien Lewis has an elbow injury. We have a bye coming up after the Lions game, and with all these injuries, we really need to get healthy.

The silver lining: the tight ends really came to play. Waller had five catches for 51 yards, Tremble three for 41, Evans three for 36. That's 11 receptions for 128 yards. If we can get more production like that, it's going to help everybody else.

Who do you think is the offensive MVP at this point in the season? Who's the defensive MVP? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notes:
We never should have lost this game. Going for it on fourth down against a tough Browns defense put our defense in a bad spot, and Bryce threw the ball 48 times. That is not the formula for success in Carolina.

Plus, the mistakes. A roughing the passer call after we had the interception to seal it, dropped picks, and missed tackles that made Deshaun Watson look like his old self.

As John Fox used to say, a punt is not a bad play. Today would have been one of those days. It was always going to be a defensive battle and a field position game, and we gave the Browns easy opportunities. Then the offensive line was a mess and Bryce never really got in rhythm.

What were the most glaring issues you saw? Leave a comment.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Kalshi
Today’s episode is sponsored by Kalshi. Download Kalshi and use code HIT to get $25 when you trade $25.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.