Do the Pro Football Focus grades feel any better after a win? Well, let’s see.
Here are the Carolina Panthers’ best and worst grades from their Week 8 victory over the Houston Texans:
Best of the offense
1. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.: 83.3*
2. WR Adam Thielen: 78.1
3. QB Bryce Young: 68.2
4. RB Raheem Blackshear: 66.6
5. TE Stephen Sullivan: 64.9
*Played four offensive snaps
If not for Marshall Jr.’s sample size, Thielen would have his fourth No. 1 finish in Carolina’s seven games. He went for game-highs in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (72).
Young earned himself his highest single-game offensive grade yet. He completed 71 percent of his passes for 235 yards and a touchdown while committing zero turnovers.
Worst of the offense
12. LG Calvin Throckmorton: 55.7
13. C Bradley Bozeman: 54.5
14. LT Ikem Ekwonu: 52.2
15. WR DJ Chark: 51.8
16. TE Hayden Hurst: 30.8
Young was, however, often failed by his offensive line—which allowed 10 hits. Ekwonu was the main perpetrator, as he was charged with a team-high five pressures—two of which resulted in sacks.
Chark and Hurst were saddled with a drop apiece.
Best of the defense
1. LB Frankie Luvu: 78.6
2. CB Donte Jackson: 77.3
3. DE LaBryan Ray: 70.9
4. DE DeShawn Williams: 69.0
5. LB Kamu Grugier-Hill: 68.5
The guy who ended up with 12 tackles, a sack and two passes defensed tops the list. Shocker!
Luvu is joined by Jackson, who had his best outing of the season in the face of trade rumors. He earned a stellar 86.4 coverage grade and made two stops.
Worst of the defense
15. S Xavier Woods: 56.6
16. DT Nick Thurman: 52.1
17. OLB Brian Burns: 50.2
18. S Sam Franklin: 40.1
19. OLB DJ Johnson: 33.9
Ejiro Evero’s defense showed out, but the tackling left a bit to be desired. Burns, Franklin and Johnson combined for five misses.
