3 issues that could derail the Panthers as the heat turns suffocating post bye

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young | David Jensen/GettyImagesThe Carolina Panthers enter the final month of the 2025 season firmly in the playoff hunt. And things got even better during their bye week.

Dave Canales’ team sits at 7-6, level with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they lost to the New Orleans Saints. The Panthers have two head-to-head matchups against former Carolina quarterback Baker Mayfield ahead that could swing the NFC South race in either direction.

But while the flashes have been real, so have the growing pains. And with four games left, Carolina’s young core is staring down the defining stretch of their early careers. And to finish the job, the Panthers must answer…