Hot oil and water. Toothpaste and orange juice. The Carolina Panthers and winning a football game as the betting favorite. In other words, a list of things that do not mix well together.
It has been over 4 years since the Panthers have gone into a football game as the betting favorite and left the matchup with a notch in the win column. With yet another meltdown, this time occurring against a battered New Orleans Saints team, the tally is now at 11 straight opportunities that have all ended in bitter disappointment.
In those rare moments where the Panthers show just enough on the field to earn a modicum of respect from the general public and the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, they wither under the weight of expectations. It’s not just getting old, it’s ancient. Frankly, it might have gotten to the point of prehistoric.
Once again we find ourselves combing through social media feeds and comment threads filled with well-earned frustrations and angst. There seems to be no limit on hopeful moments that can be shattered by backbreaking mistakes, missed opportunities, and unearned confidence.
For this week’s game review, it can only be appropriate to outline a few of this week’s performers who may have let the moment get to them.
Bryce Young
At this point, there is not much else to say that has not already been said. The Bryce Young experience is too turbulent to elicit confidence from anyone other than blind-faith optimists. The expected franchise quarterback of the future has continued to churn out disappointing game after disappointing game. While a winning streak does wonders to mask those blemishes, an ugly loss like the one witnessed on Sunday puts everything under a microscope.
The formula for Young to win in the NFL has become too complicated. What he was heralded to be good at in Alabama has not materialized in the NFL often enough to warrant many more chances. At his best, Young projects to be a game manager that can also create out of structure and perform in high-pressure situations. What Young has been, though, is a conservative yet still turnover prone passer whose skillset heavily limits the ceiling and creativity of an offense. Could he still turn his season around in similar fashion to his 2024 venture? Absolutely… but can you trust it if he does?
Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn has been a fantastic player for the Panthers in 2025. He won a game for the team single-handedly a couple weeks ago. There were few players more deserving of the spotlight last week after the Panthers handled the Green Bay Packers their second loss of the season. Horn made media appearances hyping up the new-look Panthers and exuded confidence about the direction the team was headed.
Then, promptly, had his worst performance as an NFL player to date. Horn allowed all 4 targets in his direction to be caught for 150 yards, including 2 touchdowns that were both given up on completely separate 3rd and 12s. An abysmal performance made even worse by timing.
Dave Canales
The head coach gets the final nod because just saying “almost everyone else” felt like a cop out. In my opinion, I don’t actually think the majority of this loss is on Canales, as the players on the field were put in the right place to win. But when an entire roster of players can’t seem to get their mind right for a home game, against a division rival, following the biggest win in recent Panthers history, it’s hard to redirect the blame on someone else other than the man in charge. Momentum can be fragile, but it should take more than a “Victory Monday” and a little bit of praise to halt it completely.
That’s all I have for you this week, Panthers fans. We’ll see you back here next week after the Panthers look to rebound versus another division rival in the Atlanta Falcons.
