Sunday’s loss didn’t feel like the usual downtrodden defeat for the Carolina Panthers. The Week 4 outing actually brought a number of positive performances.
Here are the studs and duds from the 34-24 fall to the Cincinnati Bengals:
Stud: RB Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard, who continues to establish himself as the engine of this growing offense, ran for 104 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He’s now totaled 218 rushing yards over the last two outings.
Dud: QB Andy Dalton
Dalton wasn’t bad, but his performance was a bit of a letdown after last week’s triumphant start. The 14th-year veteran wasn’t as sharp, connecting on 25 of his 40 throws for just 5.5 yards per attempt.
Stud: WR Diontae Johnson
Johnson’s groin injury only seemed to be a minor hiccup. He still reeled in seven receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Dud: Second-half Xavier Legette
First-half Legette caught all five of his targets for 49 yards and his very first NFL touchdown. But second-half Legette dropped a pair of passes, one that should’ve went for a massive gain and one on a third-down look that forced a field goal from the Cincinnati 30-yard line.
Stud: S Xavier Woods
There wasn’t a lot of good on defense. Woods, however, filled up the box score—tallying a team-high 10 tackles and an interception.
Dud: Defensive fundamentals
Like we said, there wasn’t a lot of good on defense. A lack of sound tackling technique helped open the way for a 63-yard touchdown catch for wideout Ja’Marr Chase and a 141-yard rushing day for the Bengals.
