Benching Sam Darnold might be best step in fixing Carolina Panthers' offense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It’s time for Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold to be benched -- permanently.

For the past five weeks, Darnold could fall back on the excuse of not having his security blanket, Christian McCaffrey, when making mistakes that cost Carolina chances to win.

But even with the running back’s return for Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the New England Patriots (5-4), Darnold continued to make the same mistakes that plagued him for three years with the New York Jets and five of the past six games with Carolina (4-5).

He threw three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, when he missed a wide-open player. That gives him 10 interceptions in the past six games, five of them…