The Carolina Panthers’ season could hardly have started worse. In a sloppy and uninspired Week 1 showing, Carolina looked outmatched in every phase of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, raising immediate doubts about whether this team can contend in the NFC South. A lightning delay paused the matchup for more than an hour, but it didn’t slow Jacksonville, which ultimately dominated in a 26-10 win that exposed glaring issues on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Bryce Young’s opening struggles continued for the third straight year, as he completed just 18 of 35 passes for 154 yards with two interceptions, a fumble, and a lone touchdown pass to Chuba Hubbard. His decision-making faltered in key moments, including an errant throw out of the end zone on fourth down that left him slamming his helmet in frustration.
The defense fared no better, failing to stop Jacksonville’s rushing attack and allowing explosive plays at critical times. Travis Etienne gashed Carolina for more than 100 yards, including a 71-yard run that set up a score, while the Jaguars’ revamped defense easily handled the Panthers’ offense.
Rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan was one of the few positives, showing flashes of promise in his debut, but it wasn’t enough to mask the Panthers’ deeper problems.
Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers' Week 1 loss to Jaguars https://t.co/gmcqUcO02a pic.twitter.com/XxYbJSBZ8G
— ThePanthersWire (@ThePanthersWire) September 8, 2025
Between turnovers, poor execution, and a lack of cohesion, Sunday’s performance offered little hope for a quick turnaround and instead signaled that another long season may already be looming.
