\u2014 Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n So what about a club that managed to score 37 points and still lost by double digits in their own building?<\/a> That would be the reigning NFC South champions, who slipped one spot from 22nd to 23rd following<\/a> a 22-point setback to the defending NFC North champs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Carolina Panthers provided two unexpected outcomes from Sunday\u2019s meeting with the Chicago Bears,\u201d explained Sobleski. \u201cFirst, Bryce Young went punch-for-punch with fellow No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams. <\/a>Young hasn\u2019t lived up to expectations during the early portion of his NFL career.”<\/p>\n “More often than not,” added Sobleski, “the 2023 class\u2019s top selection held back Carolina\u2019s offense. To open the 2026 campaign, Young threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Though he probably wants the interception back.\u201d<\/p>\n There were positives signs from the Panthers\u2019 offense on Sunday<\/p>\n Bryce Young DEEP BALL to Jalen Coker \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n 51 yd TD \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n (via @nfl<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/ZVzQd9152r<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Panthers rolled up 478 yards of offense on 62 plays, averaging 7.7 yards per play. Underrated wideout Jalen Coker picked up where he left off last season,<\/a> burning Chicago\u2019s defense for eight catches, 138 yards and a pair of scores. Unfortunately, Young\u2019s pick was one of three Carolina turnovers in the back-and-forth affair. Of course, there was also the other side of the ball and that unit was schooled on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cSecond, Carolina\u2019s defense didn\u2019t come to play,\u201d added Sobleski. \u201cEjiro Evero\u2019s unit surrendered 552 yards and allowed the Bears to score a touchdown on their last four offensive possessions. Before that point, the game was tied 31 apiece.\u201d<\/p>\n Panthers slipped in numerous NFL power rankings IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n So how about some other thoughts in terms of power rankings following Carolina\u2019s 59-37 loss? Chad Graff and Josh Kendall <\/a>of The Athletic had Carolina at No. 24 entering the season and they remain there. And Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus <\/a>knocked the club down only one notch from 25th to 26th after the wild loss on Sunday. <\/p>\n On the other hand, ESPN has the Panthers at No. 26<\/a> after the Bears\u2019 shootout, three spots lower than the previous week. Finally, Nick Shook of NFL.com <\/a>has Canales\u2019s club at 27th, down from 23rd entering Week 1.<\/p>\n Obviously, the Panthers will look to bounce back this Sunday on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. It\u2019s a team that Canales\u2019s squad has defeated in three straight meetings, scoring at least 30 points in each of those victories. But the defense needs to make amends for a rough showing last Sunday.<\/p>\n![\"Dave](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m2q8hdx4fd28g1aq0q.jpg\" "\\"Dave")
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