Have the Panthers done enough to support second-year quarterback Bryce Young after a tumultuous rookie season?
Former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young had the lowest QB win pct, pass yds/att, and passer rating in the NFL as a rookie in 2023.
- CAR traded 2024's #1 overall pick to CHI to trade up for QB Bryce Young in 2023
- The Bears selected QB Caleb Williams in 2024 (Texans selected QB C.J. Stroud 2nd overall after the Panthers selected Young 1st in 2023)
| Bryce Young's 2023 Season | NFL RANK | |
|---|---|---|
| QB W-L | 2-14 | Last |
| Comp Pct | 59.8 | 31st |
| Pass YPG | 179.8 | 31st |
| Pass Yds/Att | 5.5 | Last |
| Pass TD-INT | 11-10 | 29th |
| Passer Rating | 73.7 | Last |
| Sacked | 62 | 31st |
The Panthers ranked last in total and pass offense in 2023
- Panthers: 12.6 offensive PPG, 4.1 yds/play in 2023 (both last in NFL)
| Panthers Offense 2023 Season | NFL RANK | |
|---|---|---|
| PPG | 13.9 | T-Last |
| Total YPG | 265.3 | Last |
| Pass YPG | 161.2 | Last |
| 3rd Down Pct | 34.1 | 27th |
| Sacked | 65 | T-30th |
The Panthers offense averaged over 6 more PPG in 2022 than in 2023
- 2023: 13.9 PPG, 265.3 total YPG, 65 sacks taken
- 2022: 20.4 PPG, 306.2 total YPG, 36 sacks taken
The Panthers hired former Buccaneers OC Dave Canales as head coach in January 2024
- Hired after his 1st season as OC (TB ranked last with 88.8 rush YPG in 2023)
- Canales worked under Pete Carroll (SEA) in various offensive roles from 2010-22
Young had the lowest comp pct (41.2), pass yds/attempt (3.9), & passer rating (44.1) when pressured in 2023 (NGS)
- Only QB to average fewer than 5.0 yds/att under pressure in 2023 (NGS)
- Young led FBS in pass yds & pass TD under pressure from 2021-22 at Alabama (PFF)
The Panthers added multiple offensive starters during the 2024 offseason
- Traded for Diontae Johnson (PIT received CB Donte Jackson & a pick swap)
- Signed LG Damien Lewis & RG Robert Hunt in free agency
- Drafted WR Xavier Legette (1st Rd, 32nd) & RB Jonathon Brooks (2nd Rd, 46th)
- Brooks will miss at least the first 4 games on PUP (tore ACL in Nov. 2023)
Adam Thielen led the Panthers with 103 rec (T-10th in NFL) & 1,014 rec yds in 2023
- Only Panthers player with 50+ receptions in 2023 (34 years old)
- Most rec or rec yds by Thielen since 2018 (last Pro Bowl season)
- Chuba Hubbard led CAR with career highs of 238 carries, 902 rush yds in 2023
Bryce Young had a season-low 36.1 comp pct & 48.0 passer rating in his first career game in New Orleans (CAR lost 28-6 in Week 14, 2023 at NO)
- Young at NO in Week 14: 13-36, 137 pass yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 48.0 passer rating
Young had 7 pass TD, 1 INT on quick passes (under 2.5 secs) in 2023 (Next Gen Stats)
- NGS: 4 pass TD, 9 INT on passes with 2.5+ second time to throw in 2023
Young had 0 pass TD, 6 INT vs zone coverage in 2023 (according to Next Gen Stats)
- Young had 11 pass TD, 4 INT vs man coverage in 2023 (according to NGS)
- NO defense: 36.7 man coverage pct in 2023 (6th-highest in NFL)
The Panthers ranked 4th in total defense (293.9 total YPG allowed) in 2023
- CAR allowed 171.5 pass YPG in 2023 (3rd-fewest in NFL)
The Panthers defense ranked last in sacks (27) and takeaways (11) in 2023
- CAR defense: 24.5 PPG allowed (29th), 25 rush TD allowed (last)
Jaycee Horn has allowed 477 rec yds since 2021, PFF (fewest among CB, min 80 targets)
- Horn: 4 INT, 13 passes defensed in 22 career games (missed 29 games in 3 seasons)
The Panthers traded 2-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns to the Giants in March 2024
- Burns led the Panthers in sacks in 3 of the last 4 seasons (2020, 2022, 2023)
The Panthers lost each of their top 3 sack leaders from 2023
- Traded Burns, Frankie Luvu signed with WAS, Yetur Gross-Matos signed with SF
- The trio account for 18.0 of the Panthers 27 sacks in 2023
Will Derek Carr and the Saints build on 2023's strong finish to push for NFC South title?
The Saints have missed the playoffs in each of the last 3 seasons (2021-2023)
- Made playoffs & won NFC South in each of 4 seasons prior to that (2017-2020)
The Saints have won 5 straight season-opening games (longest active streak in NFL)
- Longest active streaks: Saints (5), Eagles, Dolphins & Buccaneers (3)
The Saints hired Klint Kubiak as OC in 2024 (Pete Carmichael was NO OC in 2023)
- Kubiak served as the 49ers pass game coordinator in 2023
Derek Carr will be playing for his 4th different OC in as many seasons
- NO: top 10 with 23.6 PPG (9th), 18 giveaways (T-6th) & 35 sacks taken (8th) in 2023
The Saints won 4 of their final 5 games in 2023 (started season 5-7)
| Saints Offense 2023 Season | Week 1-13 | Week 15-18 |
|---|---|---|
| W-L | 5-7 | 4-1 |
| PPG | 21.4 | 29.0 |
| PPG Allowed | 21.3 | 14.4 |
| Turnover Diff | +4 | +7 |
| Sack Diff | -8 | +7 |
Derek Carr led the NFL with 12 pass TD (1 INT) from Weeks 15-18 in 2023
- Carr had 13 pass TD (7 INT) in his first 13 games of the season
- The Saints won 4 of their final 5 games in 2023
| Derek Carr's 2023 Season | Week 1-14 | Week 15-18 |
|---|---|---|
| W-L | 6-7 | 3-1 |
| Comp Pct | 66.4 | 75.0 |
| Pass YPG | 221.5 | 249.5 |
| Pass Yds/Att | 6.9 | 7.8 |
| Pass TD-INT | 13-7 | 12-1 |
| Passer Rating | 89.4 | 125.1 |
Carr ranked top 2 in comp pct, pass TD & passer rating from Weeks 15-18 in 2023
- Carr had 3+ pass TD in 3 of his final 4 games in 2023 (0 in first 13 games)
| Derek Carr Final 4 Games 2023 Season | NFL Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Comp Pct | 75.0 | 2nd |
| Pass TD | 12 | 1st |
| Passer Rating | 125.1 | 2nd |
Carr ranked top 10 in comp pct, pass TD-INT ratio, & passer rating in 2023
- Carr: 9-8 as a starter in 2023 (3rd career winning season)
| Derek Carr's 2023 Season | NFL Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Comp Pct | 68.4 | 5th |
| Pass TD-INT | 25-8 | 6th |
| Passer Rating | 97.7 | 9th |
| Giveaways | 11 | T-9th |
| > Minimum 250 attempts |
Carr has had 61 total giveaways since 2020 (2nd-most in NFL)
- 45 INT (T-3rd-most), 16 fumbles lost (4th-most) since 2020
- Carr has 39 fumbles lost in his career (most in NFL since 2014)
Alvin Kamara had career lows with 694 rush yds & 1,160 scrimmage yds in 2023
- Kamara: 6.2 yds/reception, 4.5 yds/touch in 2023 (career lows)
Kamara is 1 of 4 players in NFL history with 5,000+ rush yds & 4,000+ rec yds in their first 7 seasons (Others: HOF Marshall Faulk, SF Christian McCaffrey, Roger Craig)
- Kamara has 505 career rec (2nd among RB behind McCaffrey since 2017)
Chris Olave led the Saints with 87 rec, 1,123 rec yds & 5 rec TD (tied) in 2023
- Olave has led Saints in rec yds each of first 2 seasons (1,042 rec yds in 2022)
- Joins Michael Thomas (2016-17) & Marques Colston (2006-07) as only NO players with 1,000+ receiving yds in each of first 2 NFL seasons
Rashid Shaheed had 46 rec, 719 rec yds, 5 rec TD in 2023 (T-most rec TD on team)
- NGS: 452 deep rec yds (20+ air yds) in 2023 (4th in NFL)
- NGS: 5 deep rec TD in 2023 (3rd in NFL behind Tyreek Hill & Mike Evans)
Taysom Hill is the only player in the Super Bowl era with 10+ pass TD, 10+ rush TD, & 10+ rec TD in a career (Hill: 11 pass TD, 27 rush TD, 11 rec TD in career)
The Saints defense ranked top 10 in scoring defense (19.2 PPG, 8th), takeaways (29, 4th), opp 3rd down pct (34.5, 4th) in 2023
- The Saints defense ranked bottom 5 in sacks (34, T-28th) & QB hits (72, T-30th)
DE Cameron Jordan had 2.0 sacks, 6 QB hits in 2023 (fewest since 2011 rookie season)
- First season with fewer 7.5 sacks or 10 QB hits since 2011 rookie season
- Jordan has 117.5 career sacks (2nd among active players, Von Miller)
- NO signed 2020 #2 pick Chase Young to 1-year, $13M deal in 2024
Marshon Lattimore has missed 17 of 34 (50 pct) regular season games since 2022
- Lattimore made the Pro Bowl in 4 of his first 5 seasons (2017, 2019-21)
Demario Davis has 100+ tackles & 6+ sacks in each of last 2 seasons (2022-23)
- Entering 13th NFL season (35 years old); Made Pro Bowl after 2022-23 seasons
Tyrann Mathieu had 3+ INT for the 5th straight season in 2023
- 1 of 2 players to do so each season since 2019 (Justin Simmons)
