Saturday, November 4, 2023

Carolina Panthers Week 9 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 9 roundup for the Carolina Panthers in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 31

Rookie Bryce Young hasn't had many reasons to celebrate this season. But on Sunday he notched his first career win, and Carolina's first win of the season. But it was what he did on the winning drive that showed his growth. He was 5-for-6 for 50 yards, including a fourth-down completion to Adam Thielen. He also had a 7-yard scramble. He helped Carolina overcome a fourth-quarter deficit for a win for the first time since 2018 against the Eagles when Cam Newton helped erase a 17-0 deficit. Young's decision-making and processing on the drive were as elite as advertised when Carolina picked him No. 1 overall. -- David Newton

NFL.com -- Rank: 31

The Panthers won a game, and they had to feel good about Bryce Young having arguably his best NFL outing against the Texans and C.J. Stroud, who had been the better rookie quarterback prior to Sunday. Young has shown some incremental growth and improved confidence in recent contests, even if sacks remain an issue. It wasn't obvious to the naked eye what fruit the play-calling change from Frank Reich to Thomas Brown bore, but Young did seem to be in better rhythm. All of a sudden, you look at the schedule, and there are some winnable games. Obviously, no team is likely to dig out of an 0-6 hole to make a playoff run, but the Panthers would surely be thrilled if Young could match Cam Newton's mark of six rookie victories.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 32

They won for the first time in beating the Texans, but it wasn't easy. The offense did show some signs of life, which is a good thing.

USA Today -- Rank: 32

Not only did Sunday provide a breakthrough win, Carolina ended a record 56-game losing streak in games where it trailed in the fourth quarter.

The Athletic -- Rank: 32

Something scary (for them): The defense

Maybe the bye week turned things around because the Panthers did hold the Texans down. Still, this defense was supposed to give Bryce Young some room to grow. Instead, it's 30th in the league in points allowed (28.4 per game) even after Sunday's game. Edge rusher Brian Burns was dominant in his first game of the season, but he's had more than two quarterback pressures in a game only once since Week 3.

FOX -- Rank: 31

Let's not confuse this with a great win. The Panthers managed 224 yards of offense and one touchdown. But they found their way into the win column, and their No. 1 overall pick led them downfield to the game-winning points in the final minutes. However ugly it might have been, that does matter.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 31

The Panthers got a win, and that has to take a weight off everyone in the organization. The one thing Carolina has to do better is run the ball. Its running backs had 33 yards on 20 carries Sunday. Miles Sanders has been effectively benched for Chuba Hubbard, but it's not like Hubbard is taking off with the job.

PFT -- Rank: 30

It's a start. It still feels like, for this season, they're finished.

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