The Carolina Panthers didn’t get their desired result on Saturday, falling short to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a heartbreaking 16-14 defeat. A win would have clinched the franchise their first playoff berth since 2017 and their first NFC South title since 2015.
So, yeah, it’s a tough one to swallow—even with the division crown still in play.
But there were a number of standout performances throughout what was the Panthers’ biggest game in quite some time.
Here are the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades from the loss . . .
*Players listed recorded at least 10 offensive or 10 defensive snaps.
Best of the offense
1. WR Tetairoa McMillan: 79.8
2. TE Tommy Tremble: 78.0
3. RT Taylor Moton: 75.1
4. QB Bryce Young: 67.3
5. C Cade Mays: 65.9
McMillan reeled in four catches for a team-high 85 yards. Tremble recorded three grabs for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Young completed 24 of his 35 throws for 266 yards, a pair of scores and an interception.
Worst of the offense
10. RG Austin Corbett: 62.6
11. WR Xavier Legette: 62.5
12. TE Mitchell Evans: 52.9
13. LT Ikem Ekwonu: 50.1
14. RB Rico Dowdle: 33.4
Ekwonu was charged with a team-high three pressures.
Dowdle rushed for just 10 yards on seven carries. His 33.4 overall mark is a season-low.
Best of the defense
1. S Nick Scott: 86.5
2. S Lathan Ransom: 84.1
3. DL Derrick Brown: 69.3
4. ILB Christian Rozeboom: 63.8
5. CB Jaycee Horn: 62.7
Scott’s 86.5 is a new season-high. He registered four stops and earned a team-high 86.6 run defense grade.
Brown notched a career-high 13 tackles and led the Panthers with six stops.
Worst of the defense
11. OLB Nic Scourton: 54.0
12. CB Mike Jackson: 49.6
13. OLB Trevis Gipson: 48.1
14. DL Cam Jackson: 47.3
15. CB Chau Smith-Wade: 36.3
Smith-Wade received a team-low 29.5 coverage grade. He allowed three catches for 45 yards on three targets.
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