Bryce Young, Panthers take a beating, suffer first shutout since 2002
Posted December 28, 2023 1:53 p.m. EST
Updated December 31, 2023 4:43 p.m. EST
| Carolina Panthers | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 26 |
| Final | |
After showing signs of improvement in their last two games, the Carolina Panthers offense had arguably their worst showing of the season on Sunday in an ugly 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It was the team’s first shutout loss since 2002, breaking a streak of 342 straight games with some sort of score.
"I'm disappointed obviously," said interim head coach Chris Tabor. "The way we were trending, I did not see this performance coming down... We never got on track. We talked a lot this week about starting fast and we did not do that."
Even before kickoff, there were signs that the Panthers might have trouble scoring in this game. Kicker Eddy Pineiro reportedly woke up with hamstring tightness and did not play.
With no time to make a roster move, Carolina had to go into the game without an active kicker. Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill handled kickoff duties, and the Panthers opted out of trying a field goal on their opening drive.
The kicker dilemma, while unfortunate, didn’t end up having much impact on the game, simply because the Panthers were rarely in position to score.
Following a 13 play, 44-yard drive that ended with a turnover on downs, Carolina’s offense produced six straight three-and-outs and went 32 minutes of game time without a first down
After his first career 300-yard passing game last week, Bryce Young was held to 112 yards and an interception on 32 attempts.
Young was also under duress all game long and was sacked six times. He was hit hard and briefly knocked out of the game after a sack in the first quarter. He did not miss a snap, however.
Young has now been sacked 59 times this season, which is the second most in franchise history and tied for 11th most all-time.
Steve Beurlein was sacked 62 times for the Panthers in the 2000 season.
“It’s a group effort," said Young of his sack numbers. "I can do a better job of getting the ball out quicker, more effective communication and making the right calls to put everybody up front in the best situations.”
The defense put forth a pretty good effort with five sacks of their own. They also held the Jaguars to four field goals on five different red zone trips.
They could not, however, contain Travis Etienne, who gained 118 total yards and two scores on the day. 62 of those yards came on an outside pitch play in the third quarter, for a long touchdown that essentially sealed the game.
With the loss, the Panthers have now clinched the worst record in the NFL this season. They will not, however, have the number one overall draft pick, since they traded it to Chicago in order to draft Bryce Young in April.
"How are you going to deal with it?" said Tabor. "It's either character or compromise... We're gonna go back to work -- they're not going to cancel the last game."
Carolina will close out the season next week at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They will try to play spoiler for the Bucs, who need a win to clinch the NFC South.
