After a 17-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales addressed the team’s ongoing challenges in generating explosive passing plays. Reviewing game footage revealed that the Panthers struggled to move the ball downfield, allowing the Saints to focus on stopping their running game.
Canales emphasized that improving their passing attack requires a collective effort across play-calling, practice, and execution. “In general, I think it’s a group effort,” Canales said. “Calling more of them, yes, let’s get some more opportunities, we would love to have those explosive plays come alive. I will call them more when we have more success and those things come alive for us, but we have to keep working together. We have to keep taking those shots in practice to make sure we feel comfortable with them, and certainly for Brad (Idzik) and I, just looking at the pass game, the coverage contours, and what they’re giving us, it’s pretty simple when they’re playing single-high (safety) and everyone’s at the line of scrimmage.
“We’ve got to make the most of those opportunities when we have them, so that we are a balanced offense and so it does play off of the run game, which we got going. But now, let’s get the pass game going so we really can be attacking.”
Quarterback Bryce Young completed only one pass longer than 15 yards during Sunday’s game and finished with 124 passing yards. Over nine games this season, Young has averaged 5.6 yards per attempt—down from his 6.6 average in last season’s second half.
Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan described Young as visibly upset after Sunday’s defeat and said he addressed teammates about their performance: “He addressed the team,” McMillan said. “I feel like he was probably one of those guys that came out of the game with the most fire in his eyes. He was disappointed himself in the way he played and the way the team played, and he addressed that and he let the team know how he felt, and you know it’s just contagious.”
Young joined other leaders like cornerback Jaycee Horn in taking responsibility following Sunday’s loss.
Reflecting on team preparation leading up to facing New Orleans—a team with only one win prior—Canales questioned whether granting players a day off after their previous victory affected readiness: “Could be the game before, the travel, you know maybe it was Victory Monday, and maybe that’s not a good strategy for us,” Canales said.
The Panthers gave players Monday off following their Week 9 win over Green Bay as recognition for their effort ahead of a late-season bye week. While some players still came into work or held film sessions independently during this unstructured day off—a departure from previous weeks—the result did not carry over positively against New Orleans.
“Giving the guys a little bit of chance to pour a little bit back into the cup,” Canales said about balancing rest with preparation. “It’s not just a physical thing; it’s a mental and emotional thing where you allow guys to have space to recuperate… And we have to make sure that we show that we have ability to handle that.”
With several rookie receivers seeing increased playing time due to injuries among veterans such as David Moore (elbow) and Hunter Renfrow (inactive since Week 4), leadership remains important within position groups.
Moore explained his role mentoring younger receivers while sidelined: “Just trying to stay down with you guys… Letting them know what I see… showing up every day and interacting with them… I’m still here as long as they need me in any way—friend, brother teammate anything.” Moore watches games from home when unable to travel due to being on injured reserve but supports teammates during home games from sidelines.
On roster changes at quarterback following recent moves—including releasing Hendon Hooker from practice squad last week followed by veteran Mike White’s release—Canales stated: “We’ll bring one of those guys back.” White’s locker remained intact between Young’s and Andy Dalton’s after meetings on Monday.
