Fans of the Carolina Panthers were riding high after embarrassing the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. It rarely takes long in this league to be humbled, however. Week 4 against the Browns turned into a preseason game by the fourth quarter for Carolina, while Cleveland rode their relative health and more conservative coaching to an uneasy victory.
Should Panthers fans be optimistic that they nearly beat an NFL team while missing so much talent? Maybe. Are they? Assuredly not. Bryce Young looked like vintage
2004 at times (though he ultimately played better than that lowly standard). The offensive line looked like a group of rookies playing together for the first time. The defense seemed like they got more injured with each passing drive. Asking them to cover or contain a mobile quarterback seemed like secondary goals to getting off the field under their own power
The fact of the matter is that fan confidence rides wins and losses like a wave. The trough is bigger the better the won or worse the loss. Sunday’s loss, while understandable from one point of view, just felt bad.
A loss to the Detroit Lions is expected. I wouldn’t expect another 30+% dip unless Bryce Young throws an interception so horrendous that he, Terairoa McMillan, and Derrick Brown all somehow land on IR just from that one attempt. Conversely, an upset win vould buoy spirits like little else. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
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