Despite a disappointing loss, the Panthers got some encouraging performances out of a few young studs in Week 15.
Week 15 proved to be a letdown for the Carolina Panthers, who came into Sunday’s contest against the visiting Dallas Cowboys as the betting favorites. After three straight weeks of near-upsets against playoff-bound squads, the Panthers faltered in a disappointing 30-14 loss.
At 3-11 and now officially out of playoff contention, we can start to peek ahead at the offseason—where the roster should be met with a few crossroads. This latest defeat proved that there’s still some remodeling to be done moving forward.
So, let’s dive into the All-22 film to identity some faults and, for you positive folks out there, highlight a few standout performers . . .
Jaycee Horn’s Pro Bowl season
If you were to look strictly at the box score for the former eighth overall pick, his one interception may not lead you to believe that he’s having a career campaign. But the film shows us an all-around impactful presence, both against the pass and the run.
Horn is currently has 64 total tackles and 15 stops, which is tied for the most amongst all cornerbacks this season. His technique in run support is teach-tape for young corners across the league and sport.
And not to mention, he’s been used on corner blitzes and racked up his second sack of the season on Sunday afternoon.
Against the Cowboys, his skill set in coverage was on full display. He offered patience in his backpedal when playing man coverage and showed aggressiveness at the catch point. He’s one of the best in the league at staying in phase with high-level instincts in zone coverage and spacing.
Unfortunately, Horn rarely shadowed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and his comments in the locker room about playing within the scheme, despite wanting to defend the All-Pro pass catcher, were eye-opening. This has further fueled the debate around his defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, and his future in Carolina.
Horn has been healthy all season, a rarity for the previously injury-riddled defender. He has proven not only to be a worthy representative for the Panthers in the upcoming Pro Bowl Games, but also one of the elite players at his position.
Change is needed at safety
During training camp, it looked like the Panthers’ safety room was the best position group on the roster. But that’s not been the case during the regular season.
Carolina’s run defense will likely end on a historically bad note, as they’re allowing nearly 30 more rushing yards per game than the next closest unit. Yet, an underrated issue that has plagued the bunch has been the inconsistent play from safeties Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller.
Both have shown serious miscommunication on the backend that has led to big plays for opposing offenses—and that was the case against Dallas. A below-average quarterback—Cooper Rush in this case—looked like an average passer when targeting Woods and Fuller due to their bad positioning and mismatches.
Woods and Fuller are free agents this offseason—and for a defense that is likely to see a near or complete revamp, they’ll likely be looking for new teams in 2025. The Panthers desperately need quality play on the backend from their safeties, especially if Evero is to return next season.
Jalen Coker’s Career Day
One of the few bright spots from Sunday’s loss was the career day from undrafted free agent Coker, who caught four passes for 110 yards and touchdown. That output was highlighted by this, the longest play of the year for the Panthers offense . . .
Coker has become a key part of the offense and was missed in the three games he sat due to a quad injury. Even as a first-year player, he has a veteran savviness that allows him to play the game smoothly and efficiently.
Outside of Adam Thielen, he is one of the best route runners on the roster and has an advanced feel for the open grass around him. Plus, Coker’s ball skills are right alongside the veteran receiver’s for the best on the team.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a potential staple for Carolina’s offense in 2025. While he may not be someone to lean on as the No. 1 guy, having a big No. 2 or 3 target to trust on longer down-and-distances will be beneficial for what the unit will look like next year.
Woeful day for the Panthers OL
Despite a great season from the unit overall, Carolina’s stout offensive line had their worst day of the season, by far. In the second half alone, they gave up six sacks and in what was seemingly a flashback to last year’s debacle of a line.
If you thought the entire offensive line struggled, that’s because it did—especially on the left side with tackle Ikem Ekwonu and guard Damien Lewis. Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer did an excellent job disguising pressure and making sure his players maintained rush integrity and discipline.
During the entire second half, it seemed like the Panthers’ front five was losing reps consistently—whether it was not getting deep enough into their sets or not establishing a firm anchor at the point of attack.
The Panthers have been more consistent offensively this season because of their wins in pass protection. None of that was on display Sunday.
With this group, this may have been a one-off game. However, this is something to keep an eye on as the season approaches its end.
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