Panthers' loss to Bengals is one thing 'we are able to construct on'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have each proper to really feel down heading into their Week 5 recreation in opposition to the Chicago Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox).

They’re 1-3 following Sunday’s 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Financial institution of America Stadium, and historical past reveals they’ve little likelihood of constructing the playoffs with that form of a begin.

Accidents proceed to mount, notably on the defensive aspect, the place Shaq Thompson was carted off the sector Sunday with a decrease leg damage.

Subsequent week’s opponent, the Bears, is the workforce they traded with so they might draft quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 general choose of the 2023 draft — and Younger’s future as a franchise quarterback is shaky at greatest since being benched after an 0-2 begin.

However as an alternative of gloom and doom, the Panthers (1-3) left Sunday’s loss to what had been a winless Bengals workforce surprisingly upbeat. As an alternative of letting the sport get out of hand, because it did Weeks 1 and a pair of once they misplaced by a mixed 73-13, they have been inside a landing earlier than Cincinnati kicked a area objective with 1:14 to play.

“We did not lose something at this time,” stated quarterback Andy Dalton, 1-1 because the starter since changing Younger. “This was an NFL soccer recreation. It got here right down to a few performs that made the distinction. We will return and take a look at the tape and say, ‘Man, if we had simply carried out that, the result might have been totally different.’

“For us, at the least we’re placing one thing on the market we all know that we are able to construct on.”

There was that sense of optimism all through the locker room, one thing that was nowhere to be discovered in the course of the first two video games when the Panthers seemed just like the worst workforce within the NFL.

Dalton is a giant motive. His capability to stretch the sector with deep passes that Younger seldom tried has opened up the run recreation for Chuba Hubbard, who has rushed for 218 yards over the previous two weeks (104 Sunday) after totaling 78 the primary two video games.

That is enabled first-year coach Dave Canales to open up the offensive playcalling, one thing he appeared hesitant to do with Younger beneath middle.

It is given the workforce an id.

“The entire workforce, simply the power is totally different,” huge receiver Diontae Johnson stated. “I really feel prefer it’s a special workforce. We have been down by two [touchdowns], however we got here again. We have nonetheless bought that dawg in us, and we’re not gonna quit.”

As Johnson and others identified, the everyday NFL recreation comes right down to a few performs. This one was no totally different. That they had 4 dropped passes (tied for his or her second most in a recreation since 2011), none greater than Johnson’s on a fade route ultimately zone on the opening sequence when the Panthers failed to attain after going for it on fourth down.

“It was large,” Johnson stated of not making the second-and-goal catch from the 1-yard line. “No matter the place the ball was thrown, I ought to have made a play on it.”

The make-no-excuse mentality is one thing Canales has been making an attempt to instill, and this was one among many indicators it is starting to take maintain.

There additionally was a drop on a pretend punt that would have modified the result, however there was no pointing of fingers.

As an alternative, there have been fingers pointed at how nicely rookie huge receiver Xavier Legette (6 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD) stepped up within the first recreation since starter Adam Thielen went on injured reserve with a hamstring damage.

There was reward for the protection that already was down three starters (defensive linemen Derrick Brown, nostril guard Shy Tuttle, security Jordan Fuller) when Thompson went down.

“We simply consider in ourselves,” stated Johnson, who completed with seven catches for 83 yards and a landing. “The sport plan the previous two weeks … simply being comfy is the principle factor, simply enjoying as a unit, simply letting Andy lead, making performs. That is the place every part builds confidence all through the unit.

“It simply comes right down to the main points.”

An enormous matter this week can be Younger’s failure as a franchise quarterback up to now, particularly for the reason that Panthers despatched two first-round picks (2023, 2024), huge receiver DJ Moore and a 2025 second-round choose to the Bears so they might draft Younger — and the Bears used that 2024 choose to draft quarterback Caleb Williams, who’s 2-2 regardless of some struggles.

However Canales and his gamers aren’t trying again at that. They’re trying on the progress of the previous two video games and what this workforce can grow to be after six straight dropping seasons.

“It is a totally different vibe,” cornerback Jaycee Horn stated. “Though we misplaced, we form of stroll away from the sport realizing we’re getting slightly higher.”