NFL Midseason Panthers Predictions: Chuba Hubbard Scores 1,000 and Carolina Wins 4 Games

The Carolina Panthers’ first half of the season included a bench, a car accident and weekly questions about the future. And that was just at the quarterback position.

The Panthers reached midseason (the 17-game schedule makes the math trickier) with a 2-7 record, after tying last season’s win total with a come-from-behind, 23-22 victory above a bad one New Orleans team last week at Bank of America Stadium.

They will face another bad team this week in Germany: The New York Giants will also arrive in Munich at 2-7 behind the Charlotte native Daniel Jonesanother highly skilled quarterback coming under criticism.

Now that the trade deadline and Election Day have passed, it’s a good time for the Panthers to cross the pond for the second international match in team history. It is also a suitable time for this The Athletics to weigh in on predictions for the Panthers’ second half of the season.

The Panthers finish 4-13 and with a top-5 pick

The Panthers are one of nine teams entering Week 10 with two wins. That means there’s a lot of traffic between Carolina and Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick. (Mentioning Ward isn’t a bonus prediction, just a name-dropping of a intriguing QB prospect (who happens to play at Dan Morgan’s alma mater.) No one will be working on Mint Street if the Panthers get four wins. And honestly, that’s a high bar considering their schedule is about to get significantly tougher. The calculation is unlikely to work without a win in Munich this week, although Dave Canales’ side could take a break Dak Prescott‘s hamstring has not yet healed by the time the Dallas Cowboys come to Charlotte in week 15.

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Bryce Young And Andy Dalton each will start at least three more games

After sitting on the QB decision for three days, Canales announced Wednesday that Young will start Sunday at Allianz Arena in Munich. That’s as it should be: Young had one of his better games against the Saints and deserves another chance. But Canales still doesn’t seem sold on being the No. 1 pick of 2023. Conventional wisdom would be to keep playing Young to make absolutely sure he isn’t the answer. But it wouldn’t be shocking to see Canales return to Dalton, the 37-year-old who sprained his thumb in a two-car accident last month. Canales praised the “fantastic job” Young did in closing out the Saints game, but made no commitments beyond this week. And no one in the organization has committed to him after this season. So while the Panthers snagged him at the trade deadline, trade talks will likely be reignited this offseason. “Ultimately, we’ll have those conversations once the season is over,” Morgan said, “and we’ll see where we are.”

There will be change

David Tepper has shown restraint as his team has once again slogged through a season that will end without a playoff berth for the seventh time in Tepper’s seven years in Charlotte. Tepper is well aware of his reputation as an impatient owner who cuts coaches and its negative impact on signing free agents and qualified coaches in the future. So don’t expect the hedge fund billionaire to fire Canales after one season, no matter how ugly it has been. But there’s no way Tepper can let Canales run the company with the same staff, and some assistants won’t want to stay either. The Panthers did not allow defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to opt out of his contract, which runs through the end of next season, last winter. Ejiro’s future will be a major offseason storyline. But the changes shouldn’t be limited to the defensive staff.

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Chuba Hubbard will rush for 1,100 yards… and get a new contract

The Panthers haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Christian McCaffrey in 2019. But Hubbard will achieve that goal and then some. The fourth-year back is on pace to finish with 1,256 yards, which would be the fourth-highest total in team history. Even if the Panthers activate the rookie running back Jonathon Brooks this week, Hubbard will continue to be the workhorse in the backfield. Hubbard has impressed with his tough running style on the field, his work ethic and his strong leadership in the locker room. He’s the type of player Canales wants to build around, so look for the Panthers to extend Hubbard before the end of the season to prevent him from hitting free agency.

Panthers will threaten N.F.L‘s points allowed record

The Evero-coached defense gave up 22 points last week against a New Orleans team missing its top two receivers after Chris Olaf left with a concussion in the first quarter. That tied the fewest points allowed this season, matching Las Vegas’ total in Week 3. Still, the Panthers are on pace to allow 553 points, which would surpass the 1981 Baltimore Colts’ mark of 533. which was three years after the NFL. switched to a 16-game schedule. The Panthers are allowing an average of 32.6 points per game, which would be second-highest behind the aforementioned Foals (33.3) from the Super Bowl era. The Panthers have a great chance to lower their ppg average against the Giants, the lowest scoring offense in the league at 15.4 ppg. But after a bye, the Panthers face a brutal three-game stretch Kansas City, Tampa Bay And Philadelphia — all ranked in the top 11 in scoring fouls.

Jaycee Horn will get his first career pick six

It’s been more than a year since the Panthers’ last defensive touchdown — a 61-yard interception return by Troy Hill last October in Miami. Horn has never had a defensive TD. But it feels like the top 10 pick from South Carolina — who has stayed healthy while putting together his best season — should be one. Horn’s only interception this season came in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers. But he ranks sixth in the league with nine pass breakups (already a career high) and is solid in run support. On a better team, Horn would likely receive strong Pro Bowl consideration. But Horn will give an injury-ravaged defense a reason to celebrate with a pick six before the season ends.

Brian Brands will reintroduce himself to Bryce Young in Germany

Remember Week 1 last season, when a motivated Burns effectively extended a middle finger in the direction of the Panthers’ front office by playing like his hair was on fire during the Atlanta Falcons’ first offensive series? Burns had something to prove after Scott Fitterer and Morgan failed to strike a long-term deal with Burns after turning down a trade offer from the US government. Los Angeles Rams that included two first-round picks. It’s clear that Burns has a grudge. The 26-year-old has five sacks in his first season in New York, more than the combined total (4 1/2) of Panthers edge rushers Charles Harris, Jadeveon Clowney And DJ Johnson. The prediction: Burns gets one sack on Young, but abandons the tackle Brady Christensen – assuming Ikem Ekwonu (ankle) doesn’t play – holds his own. “He’s Brian Burns, as good as he’s ever been,” Christensen said. “You know his tendencies and based on his body language you can get a better idea of ​​what he’s going to do. That’s why you watch movies about boys. … So going against him for years helps.”

(Top photo of Chuba Hubbard: Matt Kelley/Getty Images)