The Jacksonville Jaguars have opened their 2025-26 regular season with a roar. They pounced on the Carolina Panthers with a convincing 26-10 victory in Week 1. The Panthers picked up the regular season where they left their pre-season, with another disappointing loss. They had an embarrassing pre-season, which ended with a 0-3 record. Other teams work out on their flaws and expect to roll in the regular season without any loopholes, but the Panthers? Guess not. Under head coach Dave Canales, they’ve yet to look like a legit NFL team in an opener.

They hope to improve their 5-12 record from the previous season, make the playoffs after a 7-year absence, and end their 9-year NFC South title drought. But it seems that they are on their way to repeat their kinks from the past. Star QB Bryce Young seemed to struggle without his ally, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen. He was Young’s most trusted and dependable receiver from the past two seasons. Seems like trading Thielen could cost the Panthers another season. But does it all come to just one guy? Shouldn’t Canales have a little accountability?

After the match, it appeared as if Canales just shrugged it off, saying that’s just “where they are at” in the postgame press conference. But isn’t it the coach’s responsibility to own up to the flaws? The coach is supposed to get the team ready, and most NFL coaches actually use the preseason for exactly that. Him making that his opening statement? It appears as if he is admitting he failed. He was inducted as the franchise’s head coach on January 25, 2024, signing a six-year contract. He has had a disappointing coaching stint since then. Though he improved the team’s performance from 2023 (2–15), the team’s performance since he took over clouds a shadow over his tenure with it.

The 26-10 loss with three turnovers displays how the team is a hot mess right now. Canales needs to address these turnovers, missed tackles, and poor finishes on drives critically. He should also take up leadership roles alongside star QB Young to bridge the gap after the departure of Adam Thielen.

Talent deficiency after Thielen’s departure

The Panthers traded the 35-year-old wide receiver to his home state Minnesota Vikings, in late August. With this, the Panthers not only showed confidence in the remaining receivers on their roster but also in the growth of their third-year quarterback. It was viewed as an opportunity to nurture young receivers for the quarterback at his disposal. But it now appears that the QB-WR tandem suffers from the trade decision.

Thielen was Bryce’s most lethal receiver the past two seasons. He caught 139 of his 315 completions (44.1 percent) for 1,414 of 5,280 yards (26.7 percent). But on Sunday, Young’s rhythm seemed missing. There were individual errors from both the quarterback and his pass-catchers. Young’s throw towards his WR Xavier Legette was tipped before being picked, which resulted in a costly interception. Young also fumbled late in the half. He managed to rack up just 47 passing yards throughout the opening two quarters. Legette also seemed completely unaware of what was happening.

It is surely a wake-up call for coach Canales and Young. There has been a rust on the team’s performance for quite some time now. But week 1 is always difficult to build an opinion around any team. It will not be reasonable to press the panic button right now. It is a long season, and the Panthers have a lot of football left. And for Canales, tailoring the offense better to suit the strengths of quarterback Bryce Young and his receiving corps is the need of the hour.