Panthers not starstruck by the Chiefs or opportunity

LAURA WOLFF | CAROLINA PANTHERS

Bryce Young looks downfield for an open receiver in the Carolina Panthers' 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Nov. 24 at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers dropped to 3-8 with the loss.

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales didn’t want to talk about moral victories.

Neither did Chuba Hubbard or Robert Hunt following Sunday’s 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium. Spencer Shrader connected on a 31-yard field goal as time expired, spoiling the Panthers’ fourth-quarter comeback before a crowd that had as many people wearing red-and-white gear as black and blue.

The matchup against a last-place club may not have generated enough buzz to lure pop star Taylor Swift to Charlotte to support her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, but, at least, the Panthers didn’t perform starstruck.

While declining to discuss the specifics of Canales’ post-game message, Hubbard suggested “no one in the locker room ... was surprised” by the 3-8 Panthers nearly pulling off the upset against the 10-1 Chiefs.  

“I think we’ve been making strides,” Hubbard said. “It’s a game I think we could win and should win.

“Keep choppin’ at the tree.”

Carolina quarterback Bryce Young has been swinging the axe. Over his past three starts, the 2023 top draft pick guided the 3-8 Panthers to back-to-back wins and a near comeback against the winner of the last two Super Bowls. Young, who completed 21-of-35 passes for 263 yards, earned the start for next Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay, Canales said.

Waiting in the wings

Rookie running back Jonathon Brooks made his NFL debut Sunday but is still waiting for a prolonged opportunity to help cut down a defense. Brooks appeared in two series Sunday and totaled 7 yards on two carries.  
The game’s flow didn’t appear to allow Canales many more opportunities to call Brooks’ number, but Hubbard felt like a “big brother out there,” watching the former Texas standout line up in the backfield after recovering from a torn ACL over the past year.

“I was real happy for him,” Hubbard said. “All the stuff he had to fight through to get back and obviously learning the playbook, without getting preseason reps, without getting (training) camp reps. It’s not easy to do.  
“Against a team like the Chiefs, they have a lot of different blitz looks. It was a good test for him.”

A better test for the Panthers?

Coming off an idle week, Carolina failed to take full advantage of red-zone chances as Eddy Piñiero, the NFL’s new all-time most accurate kicker, connected on all four attempts. The Chiefs were led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who made his first Bank of America start. He went 27-of-37 for 269 yards and three touchdowns.  

Trailing 20-9 at the start of the third quarter, Young connected with David Moore on a 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter. The momentum didn’t last long. Mahomes responded with a 3-yard scoring pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, lifting the Chiefs to a 27-16 lead.

Hubbard’s 1-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion tied the game with 1:46 remaining. It was too much time for Mahomes, who sparked the game-winning drive with a 33-yard scramble.
“I do think we’re going in the right direction,” Hubbard said. “No moral victories. Just get back to work and fix the small things.”

Jonathon Brooks earns first snaps

Among those little things could be getting the team’s younger talent bigger roles.  

Brooks debuted as the Panthers’ RB2 behind Hubbard, who gained 58 yards on 16 attempts. With Miles Sanders (ankle/foot) placed on injured reserve Saturday, the second-round draft choice could have a four-week audition.
Initially activated before the Munich Game on Nov. 10, Brooks remained on the sideline during the Panthers’ overtime victory against the New York Giants. A slick Allianz Arena grass field threw caution into Canales’ gameplan.  

The home turf proved sufficient.

Brooks made his first appearance on the Panthers’ third possession Sunday, trailing 13-6. The rookie accepted a handoff on his first snap and barreled ahead for a 3-yard gain. The outnumbered Panthers fans recognized the moment with an added cheer.

The next play, Brooks ran into the flat, but was covered as Young absorbed a sack and fumble.  

Brooks’ second try developed midway through the fourth quarter on a 4-yard gain. He was not available during the postgame, locker room session.  

While Brooks’ teammates did not want to talk about moral victories, Canales suggested last week that his role would be evaluated.

“He had a great week (of practice),” Canales said. “He’s been involved with the plan, and he looks confident. He was running hard, he was making cuts, kind of starting to develop the second level part of his runs, which is what I wanted to see. I wanted to see him hit the hole, go through it, see the finish and all that. So, I’m excited to get him out there."

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