Even as they're sitting atop their division, the Carolina Panthers are currently at their lowest point of the 2026 season.
The defending NFC South champions have entered Week 9 on a rough two-game losing streak. The first of the two defeats left them run over by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the second served up a pressure-filled struggle against the Green Bay Packers.
To be fair, their mounting list of injuries has taken a toll. But unfortunately for the Panthers, there's no sympathy for that in the NFL.
And now, the red-hot leaders of the AFC West are galloping on into Bank of America Stadium this weekend.
Here are our biggest storylines for Sunday's matchup with the Denver Broncos . . .
Wash up
Oh, did we forget to mention that the Panthers have a new
defensive play-caller?
The morning after their prime-time loss in Green Bay, Carolina dismissed defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. Their firings brought about an abrupt end to an up-and-down four-year run, primarily headlined by the NFL's most porous run defense and an almost-laughable inability to get off the field on third-and-long situations.
Will that decision, however, also put an abrupt end to those struggles?
Well, perhaps not right away—but interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash is looking for an immediate change in approach.
"We're gonna try to set a culture on defense," Wash told reporters Thursday morning. "We are gonna play fast, hard and physical. If we make mistakes, we're gonna do it at a million miles an hour."
This won't be Wash's first rodeo. The 58-year-old served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2016 to 2020, and yielded some notable results—leading his unit to overall rankings of sixth, second and fifth through his first three campaigns.
Although the Broncos come in averaging the third-fewest yards per contest (273.0), you can't overlook a Sean Payton offense—something Panthers fans should be aware of. Plus, Carolina will be down two important contributors in outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.
So, how will Wash and company respond in their opening act together?
Cornered
Regardless of opponent, Wash and the Panthers have their work cut out for them at the cornerback position. Usual starters Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are still on injured reserve and their backups, Akayleb Evans and Will Lee III, won't be available for this contest, either.
Those setbacks have left them reaching for the bottom of their barrel, as evidenced by their start of practice squad member Marco Wilson last week. To Wilson's credit, though, he held his own—and earned himself another go.
He'll likely be joined out there by Chau Smith-Wade and Corey Thornton, their primary slot defenders from 2025. Along with Wilson and Smith-Wade, Carolina's active roster also includes undrafted rookie Malcolm DeWalt IV.
Can the Panthers patch together enough of a secondary to keep a lid on this game?
Under pressure
Carolina's top-ranked offense and Bryce Young's early MVP candidacy were both fun while they lasted. Now, those seem like distant memories.
Like at corner, the offensive line has been bit hard by the injury bug. Still without tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, the unit will also be missing left guard Damien Lewis—who's out with a knee injury.
The group that's left hasn't been doing such a good job. Left tackle Rasheed Walker, center Luke Fortner and right guard Robert Hunt have all allowed the most pressures at their respective positions while 2026 first-rounder Monroe Freeling is dealing with growing (and knee) pains at right tackle.
As a result, the offense has stalled. Young took 11 sacks in their last two outings, and passed for a combined 372 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
When asked on Friday if he plans on shaking up the trench, head coach Dave Canales declined to tip his hand—per usual. The possible return of sixth-year veteran Brady Christensen, who has lined up at every spot as a pro, may factor into any potential changes.
Nevertheless, they'll have to find answers—especially against a stacked defense that led the NFL in sacks a year ago.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Broncos in Week 9
