The Carolina Panthers aced their biggest test in quite some time on Sunday, when they turned away the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a huge NFC South showdown. Their 23-20 win has given them a one-game lead in the division with just two weeks of regular-season play to go.
So, which players passed the Week 16 victory with flying colors?
Here are the team’s best (and worst) Pro Football Focus grades from the triumph . . .
*Players listed recorded at least 10 offensive or 10 defensive snaps.
Best of the offense
1. QB Bryce Young: 91.6
2. TE Mitchell Evans: 91.1
3. WR Tetairoa McMillan: 85.3
4. RT Taylor Moton: 78.3
5. TE Tommy Tremble: 75.9
Young’s 91.6 overall grade is a new season-high. He also earned a season-high 90.4 passing mark after completing 21 of his 32 throws for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
McMillan was the main beneficiary of Young’s work, reeling in a game-high six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Worst of the offense
11. LG Damien Lewis: 57.0
12. C Cade Mays: 55.9
13. RB Rico Dowdle: 53.9
14. WR Xavier Legette: 47.8
15. RG Austin Corbett: 45.4
Dowdle rushed nine times for 29 yards, his lowest output on the ground since Week 2.
He wasn’t helped much by his offensive line. Lewis (57.8), Mays (51.6) and Corbett (50.6) graded out pretty low in the run-blocking department.
Best of the defense
1. CB Mike Jackson: 81.4
2. OLB Nic Scourton: 77.9
3. S Lathan Ransom: 75.6
4. DL LaBryan Ray: 72.2
5. DL A’Shawn Robinson: 67.2
Jackson earned an 82.6 mark in coverage. He’s now tallied a coverage grade of at least 75.0 in five of his last six games.
Scourton was credited with three stops and two pressures.
Worst of the defense
12. DL Cam Jackson: 52.2
13. DL Bobby Brown III: 51.6
14. ILB Christian Rozeboom: 51.4
15. OLB Trevis Gipson: 44.0
16. OLB D.J. Wonnum: 39.2
Wonnum, a week after posting his first two sacks of the season, registered zero pressures on 21 opportunities.
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