The Carolina Panthers‘ Week 15 loss to the New Orleans Saints may prove to be a rather costly one. Not only did they have a chance to get their magic number for the NFC South crown down to one, but they had a chance to do it against a three-win team.
Just like in Week 10, however, New Orleans packed a punch. The Saints, who were down by as much as 10 in the second half, sneaked out a 20-17 victory at home.
Luckily for the Panthers, the defeat hasn’t totally destroyed their playoff chances. In fact, they still control their own destiny going into the final three games of the campaign.
So, let’s try to extract some meaningful takeaways from the film as we head into this huge final stretch.
Bryce Young’s performance and the quarterback sneak
One of the biggest curiosities from the loss was head coach Dave Canales’ unwillingness to play more one-dimensionally with a lack of push in the run game.
Quarterback Bryce Young was playing at a high level, despite facing pressure on over 60 percent of his dropbacks. He flashed incredible sights of creativity and management from muddy pockets.
Young has been playing consistent football in recent weeks, showcasing confidence in the vertical passing game with wideouts Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan. He offered great three-level accuracy, high-level anticipation and good ball placement on plenty of throws—including on this sluggo route to Coker . . .
What a sluggo route from Jalen Coker. The anticipation from Bryce Young is outstanding, and he throws open his receiver with a beautifully led ball.
BY9 and JC18 were AAAAAA+ (s/o @theqbschool). #KeepPoundingpic.twitter.com/G7X9sHJUzd
— Jared Feinberg (new account :)) (@Jared_NFLDraft) December 15, 2025
Now, for the rough part—the fourth-and-inches play in the fourth quarter.
Rather than opting for a quarterback sneak, the Panthers dialed up running back Chuba Hubbard. But his call was cut short, as the Saints snuffed out the rush from the backfield.
Ask and you shall receive.
Good decision to go for it, not the right play-call, imo. https://t.co/4gsUI1R8m5pic.twitter.com/ZZJ6f4vdop
— Jared Feinberg (new account :)) (@Jared_NFLDraft) December 15, 2025
So, why not use Young on a sneak? For Canales, it simply comes down to science.
“With Bryce, it’s physics,” he told reporters on Monday. “He goes about 195 pounds. And when you have a 220-, 230-pound quarterback leaning on a center, that’s an advantage. When you’re not putting a bunch of force that way, I don’t see that as an advantage.
It’s okay that Young isn’t used on those sneaks, as he may not have the lower-half strength to push the pile forward. While just slipping through a crease may sound simple, Young’s size doesn’t play well to the push.
We’ll have to see if Canales and the offense get creative in these spots in the coming weeks.
Bobby Brown III shines in place of Tershawn Wharton
Starting defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton was unexpectedly added to Saturday’s injury report. The sixth-year veteran, per Canales, tweaked his hamstring while stepping on a teammate during a walkthrough—causing him to miss the outing on Sunday.
He was replaced by fellow 2025 free-agent signee Bobby Brown III, who had himself one heck of a performance.
Brown was a monster in the run game at nose tackle, showing two-gap integrity and brute power at the point of attack. His size is overwhelming, as he can easily discard blockers with a nasty stack shed that will see linemen on their stomachs 10 feet away.
He also showed some prowess as a pass rusher. Brown received the team’s second-highest pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus (72.3).
Overall, Brown hasn’t been as active as some were expecting. But when asked, he can turn it up a notch and be an impact player at the front of the Panthers defense.
What a game from Bobby Brown III. Frankly the #Panthers best defender on Sunday. Raw power and brute force at the POA.
One of my favorite moves from Dan Morgan this past offseason. pic.twitter.com/2Qipd7iCPx
— Jared Feinberg (new account :)) (@Jared_NFLDraft) December 15, 2025
2024 draft class has regressed
One of the biggest disappointments of this season has been the regression of the 2024 rookie class. Instead of taking a much-needed step forward for the development of the roster, the group has collectively sputtered.
Receiver Xavier Legette has been too inconsistent, with a lack of progression following a lowly rookie campaign. Second-round selection and running back Jonathon Brooks has only played in three games due to consecutive ACL tears. Inside linebacker Trevin Wallace had shown improvement for the first half of the season, but a shoulder injury has resulted in a dip in play recently.
Fourth-round tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders has not translated well to the NFL—as his athleticism, or lack thereof, has played a factor in his up-and-down offerings. Fifth-round cornerback Chau Smith-Wade has not been as impactful in the role as anticipated, even being replaced by undrafted rookie cornerback Corey Thornton at one point this year.
Wallace and Smith-Wade, in particular, were on the bad ends of key plays against the Saints offense. Sanders, additonally, looked lethargic in space and failed to plateau his routes.
Coker, an undrafted free agent from the class, is currently the lone bright spot. He and Young are finding their connection, and his best football is ahead of him.
Jalen Coker is heating up in the final few games of the #Panthers regular season. I feel he’s going to make a couple of big plays for this offense down the stretch. pic.twitter.com/YVKSO6GNWn
— Jared Feinberg (new account :)) (@Jared_NFLDraft) December 15, 2025
These are still young players, maturing both physically and mentally. That process, unfortunately, may take longer than some would like.
Time will tell if they reach, or even come close to their potential.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers film review: Biggest takeaways from Week 15 loss to Saints
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