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This is just patently false. They were 0-16 when Mayfield got there. Their only visit to the playoffs was Mayfield's best year. They couldn't make the playoffs with him injured. The Browns were a bad team when he got there, and Carolina is a team bad team with Mayfield arriving here. He's had not even a full off-season to try and overcome the worst coach in the NFL and a reject OC.

Third down defense. In my rewatch, it was like downs 1 and 2 Daniel Jones was a terrible quarterback, but then 3rd down, he's picking the second level apart. I felt this was a problem against Brisset and CLE, but against NY the Defense was playing well, it seems, except on 3rd downs.

This is patently false. It's a cliche that has gotten repeated so many times people have taken it as true. The online had one good year (2020) the WR in 2021 were amongst the worst in the league and the defense was middling through mid-way 2021. How is the defense doing now? Ask the Jets. Another cliche. Tell me which is more inconsistent? A team and organization that changed four offensive coordinators and coaches in as many years, or the player who threw for 14,000 years during that time-period? Show me a consistent quarterback in that inconsistent of an organization? I'll wait. Sure he's been inconsistent at times, but is it nature or nurture? Evolution or environment? Um... what. You've seen it here, in Carolina, in 2 games within an incredibly well-run and trained and coached offense with a returning OC and a proven track record of consistent offensive fireworks? Sample size, bro. First correct thing you've stated, but then more of...the above. I'll not enter the evaluation of Mayfield as good, bad, very good, very bad, elite, or xfl. But... As someone who followed the Cleveland off season far too closely, Mayfield is in Carolina because he demanded a trade forcing CLE into guaranteeing 230 million to the sexual predator, who, many felt, was an upgrade over Mayfield. If Mayfield didn't publically post his goodbye letter to Cleveland, he's likely still playing for them. If you doubt this, go look up the articles where Cleveland refused his trade request until Watson "flip-flopped" and allowed the trade to go to Cleveland (following CLE's new offer of 230m guaranteed). Personally, I'm still not sure what Mayfield can be in the NFL, but I am sure he's not the problem with Carolina right now.

You guys are funny. Mayfield hasn't been the problem thus far. Just like he wasn't the problem in Cleveland. Go re-watch the drives from this weekend. They're killed by fumbles, penalties and drops. I thought it was Mayfield during the game, but I rewatched every offensive snap, some a few times, and I reversed course. For all the experts on Mayfield's past, from a former CLE fan for 30+ years: Just look at Cleveland's loss last night, and near loss to the Panther's game 1, blowing 4th quarter leads is their speciality. The narrative that Mayfield can't elevate a team is so oxymoronic. He literally took a winless team to 7 wins, instantly. Repeated it, again, in a historically bad circumstances in 2019, then pushed that team to 11 wins. And when hurt, that same team fell to 8-9. By simple Math Mayfield has been shown to add 3-7 wins. It's fuging math. Just stop repeating that cliche. It's just not true.

I thought Mayfield looked bad on the live watch. But Go rewatch the game. Every drive is killed by fumbles, penalties, or drops (or a combination). QB play is not the issue. Mayfield needs more time to get chemistry, but who wouldn't, but the offense played way better than I thought on re-view, in spite of predictable play calling. (One caveat- I've not seen the All22, which would help).

Reminds me of the groups of kids you see being led through a museum by their teach, when it's a beautiful day outside and they're stuck looking at state history exhibits.

That was my feeling in watching, but I tend to fixate during live games on the ball-carrier, so I'll need to rewatch the coverages. I don't understand the game plan at all though.

Mayfield can (and has) played much better than this, even in 2021. The offense is just not working and Mayfield is part of the problem, but there are a lot of problems. QBs need time to learn systems and receivers, and not arrive after OTAs, and split reps for as long as he did.

The offense looks unpracticed, can't get any chemistry, is very streaky, kills drives with drops and penalties, can't get players involved, the play calling is predictable and streaky (3 runs, 3 passes, etc.) Mayfield, who I watched during his entire time in Cleveland, is playing worse/less comfortably in this offense than even in CLE during his injury year last year (2021). The Offensive like "looked" bad again today, but was it? I'd have to watch a replay today. Is this bad scheme? Poor execution? Is Mayfield in his head? Not enough time to develop together? Personally, I think this is what happens when you bring in a new QB two months too late, draw out a QB competition, preventing QB/WR chemistry and don't give the offensive line time to gel. Also, when you don't mix pass/run in a drive. There seems to be no trust on the offensive side of the ball, between QB and line, and no chemistry between QB + receivers. On the upside, the run defense looked much better.

Lol. Good call back to the other thread!

Yes. Of course the Panthers could have played better The logic "we should have done better" is always true, but the Panthers mounted an epic come back that was overcome, in turn, by refs (and the defense failing to stop the mid-range pass).

Yes, the Panthers lost because they had less points than the Browns. Those last Brown's points got there because of pretty clearly helped out by two incorrect interpretations of the current NFL rules on RTP and IG. I'm willing to concede York might have still made that kick from 68 yards with 3 seconds to bring out the kicking unit and get the kick off... which would have (a) been a much greater challenge (b) been a much greater accomplishment (c) left Panther's fans maybe more in awe and less frustrated. Second to the refs, pass defense on the final drive would have saved the game.

Agree. The Giants were able to sell out against the Titans (re: Henry). Panthers have better WR. Should spread it out, keep the defense having to play both run and pass, and then let CMC exploit the gaps. Occasional bomb to Robbie. DJ in the mid-game and break some tackles. I'm still curious to see how they're thinking of using Laviska.

Can't pick against the Refs, sir. Lose every time.

I'm guessing Laviska still doesn't know the playbook yet? It's supposed to be (rumored: needlessly) complicated.

In my three re-watches, while you can not see every snap well, you do see quite a few terrible snaps that Mayfield also WAS able to catch and avoid even MORE muffs and fumbles. There seem to be a few that look totally on Mayfield, as well, unless it's a timing issue, but the ball was all over the place coming from Elfein. It was just a high number of terrible Center<>QB exchanges

In the three re-watches, while you can't see every snap well, you do see quite a few terrible snaps that Mayfield also WAS able to catch and avoid even MORE muffs and fumbles. There seem to be a few that look totally on Mayfield, as well, unless it's a timing issue. It was just a high number of terrible Center<>QB exchanges

Another great breakdown. Keep 'em coming, if you've got the time and energy for them.

Well, if you like losing 4th quarter leads, he's the coach for you!

One of my big takeaways from rewatching the game a few times was the rush defense on the outside was not good. If they don't adjust or clean that up, it could be a long day if Barkley does the same.

What do you think is accounting for Mayfield not finding DJ Moore ...err..more, especially early game? I would have expected to see Moore...er..more involved. I assumed in the live view they were taking him away, but if he's open all the time, is there anything in the ALL-22 footage that might explain it. Or is it Baker just only trusting Robbie at the moment?

I'm not the only one who noted this. I am speaking of the final plays of the drive that ended in the field goal. Panthers are running RPOs, and the pass option, for Moore, sees him triple covered at the line, so Mayfield options run to CMC, which leads to little yardage and the field goal. It was discussed by either Rhule or Mayfield, I think, in the interviews post-game in attempting to explain why they didn't pass after finding success. I think they were looking for the pass. CLE's DBs are legit, and seemed to have good coverage on Moore a fair but - but again, admittedly, I didn't look at ALL-22, and Moore could have been open all game and Mayfield could have been a blind fool towards him. The CMC look offs are more perplexing. I'd love to hear why those were happening. Also, great posting and analysis! I forgot to mention in my enthusiasm for responding.

I was really baffled by the playcalling with CMC's runs throughout the game. Aside from the fewer touches than expected, I was really surprised they never really bounced him outside, or even much off tackle. Given CMC's lack of playing time, I can't recall if this is how he's used normally, but it seems odd for his running style to force interior runs with a back with injury and use worries, who is shifty as shifty gets.

I've gone through 3 viewings (1 live, 2 gamepass) and while I agree with some of this, your conclusions on offense are not what I observe, holistically. In looking more soberly, I saw the Offense actually not playing as terribly as it seemed live, having some bad luck, not getting push, untimely penatlies, letting D-line clog passing lanes (which is bad for Mayfield who being 6'1 and throwing hard and vertical, has this issue). I don't think Mayfield actually played as poorly as I thought he was playing, when I watched live, or even on the second viewing. On the third viewing the offensive execution looked more competent - but undermined by mistakes, some bad luck, inconsistent line play, the batted passes, and unfortunate penalties. The Interception could have been a miscommunication on route, but could easily be accounted for by Mayfield throwing high to avoid the batted passes (so it could be on him squarely). I would suspect it's likely a combination of the errant toss and maybe miscommunication,, but in watching the interception and the batted passes and pressure on the series, that I'd put the interception more on Mayfield than not. The muffed snaps, possibly on Mayfield, possibly on Elfein, possibly both seemed to derail the game almost more than anything else - save maybe for the penalty by CJ. I don't have the all-22 angle, so can't speak to DJ being open on every play. He was double teamed on some crucial plays (and even triple teamed on the final drive). I suspect that is on Mayfield not having DJ's timing down. Mayfield does miss CMC on a few plays, though whether that is one or the other missing progressions, I can't say. I think they are having some growing pains in developing some chemistry, as CMC is out of pads so much. I find it compelling that Mayfield and Robbie have the best chemistry thus far, and they've been noted on multiple occasions of tossing together. Offensive chemistry, to me, accounts for much of this. The competitions and reduced preseason schedules. The impression I get was that the oline blocking was inconsistent and unreliable, and that did not allow Mayfield to develop trust - as well as the lack of playing time as a cohesive offensive unit. Even though the interior line didn't allow pressures, they allowed the interior browns line to push in and clog lanes. The inability to establish the run up the middle (which they tried early) though never really outside, and not really at Garrett, which would have offset his rush, allowed the DEs to put up most of the rush on the outside, while the DTs could focus on clogging the middle and stopping the run. The outside rush, is what interrupted the passing game. Having said that, there are clearly some plays where Mayfield vacates the pocket and I couldn't tell why. Maybe it's the "happy feet" people like to attribute, or maybe the progression isn't there and the outside pressure is expected, or he's trying to shift the coverage by vacating to rifle something in. I think it's most likely a combination. My takeaway from the game is that the defense looks worse the more you watch it, the run defense is porous on the outside until the fourth quarter. The pass rush is absent (expected) but the pass defense (unexpected) in the second level is inconsistent all game. Brissett has no deep ball to speak of, but the LBs are playing soft, and Brisset is able to throw well in the intermediate throws, and even while the no-call gave them the option to win the game, Brisstet's final drive of the game sees him throw 3 or more really excellent passes that allow the drive to happen at all.