The Carolina Panthers lost a fairly sloppy game against the a similarly—but not quite as—sloppy Atlanta Falcons team in their season opener yesterday. Bryce Young joined a long tradition of first overall picks to lose their first game. Frank Reich joined a long tradition of Panthers head coaches who have watched their passing attack evaporate in the second half. While much of yesterday’s game may have felt familiar, the fact remains that this was the season opener after a massive staff and roster overhaul. Sloppiness and inconsistency were to be expected. Many of yesterday’s errors won’t concern me until they prove to be habits after a few weeks of football.
Monday Morning Optimist: Sloppiness obscured real promise for the 2023 season
