The Carolina Panthers‘ unexpected 7-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints on November 9, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium was a shocker for the team as well as for the Panthers’ fans, as they had built a respectable 5-4 record heading into the NFL’s 2025 Week 10. On the other hand, the team that gave the Panthers their fifth loss this season, the Saints, entered with a struggling 1-8 record. This made the divisional defeat feel like a significant and disappointing stumble for the Panthers.

Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales, known for his transparent leadership, offered candid reflections on the team’s lackluster performance. Among the various factors, one regret he highlighted was the decision to grant the players a “Victory Monday” off following their hard-fought 16-13 win against the Green Bay Packers the week prior. ESPN NFL Nation Reporter David Newton shared Canales’ sentiment on social media, writing:

“Panthers coach Dave Canales said maybe having a Victory Monday after the Green Bay win wasn’t such a great idea.”

Canales was careful not to assign blame definitively, acknowledging that a team’s practice intensity doesn’t always translate to game-day results, or vice versa. However, the lack of sharpness was evident against the visiting Saints, who completely dominated the yardage battle, accumulating a season-high 388 total yards compared to Carolina’s meager 175 total yards and forcing a pair of sloppy turnovers.

When pressed for the precise reason behind the dip in performance, the coach admitted the cause was complex, saying, “I don’t know,” he replied. “Could be the game before, the travel. Maybe it was the ‘Victory Monday,’ and maybe that’s not a good strategy for us. But it worked the week before.”

The loss was indeed a confluence of issues: the team committed two turnovers, struggled with a rough offensive line, and couldn’t generate defensive stops, and make use of the best opportunities that could have changed the course of the game. But credit must also be given to the Saints’ excellent game plan, which was executed effectively by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough in just his second NFL start of the 2025 season.

Ultimately, while the “Victory Monday” is a pointed “maybe” in the list of reasons, the game served as a stark reminder that in the NFL, consistency and gameday execution are paramount, regardless of an opponent’s recent track record.

The Panthers have determined the reason for their week 10 loss, but it needs work

The Panthers’ Head Coach Dave Canales didn’t mince words on Monday. He issued a very public challenge to his entire offense, and perhaps more importantly, to himself: they need to start pushing the ball downfield.

It’s an issue that’s been nagging the Panthers all season, but it became glaringly obvious in Sunday’s 17-7 loss to the Saints. The final score wasn’t the only painful statistic; the Saints tallied eight explosive plays compared to Carolina’s meager two. That difference, Canales admitted, was the game. Taking full accountability, he told the press:

“I take on everything that I can, as the head coach. It’s my responsibility, certainly, with the offensive side of the ball and making sure that we have a cohesive offense that makes sense, that has balance, that attacks the defense the right way. So when we have a game like yesterday, I take it personally first and foremost.”

When the Panthers do manage to create those explosive moments, rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan is almost always involved. He has been targeted 12 times on deep throws and has accounted for 20 explosive receptions this season. Despite defenses starting to key in on him as the second-most productive rookie receiver, the connection he shares with quarterback Bryce Young provides a blueprint for the rest of the unit to follow.

The big problem? The overall strategy is stalling. In Week 10, Bryce Young averaged a concerningly low 5.6 yards per pass attempt, a significant drop from his average during the second half of the 2024 season. The team isn’t executing at the level needed.

The intensive work starts now. Canales and the offense need to translate that blueprint into wider success, and fast. Next weekend, they face the Atlanta Falcons, who will likely be preparing their own defensive strategy to stifle any deep passing attempts.

We’ll only know if Canales’ personal challenge yields results once the two teams are on the field. The Panthers’ ability to finally unlock those explosive plays against the Falcons is definitely an interesting storyline to watch.