Panthers' Passing Woes: Struggling to Take Flight in 2025 Season

As of November 11th, 2025, the Carolina Panthers have been grappling with a significant issue in their passing game. Through 10 games this season, the team has managed to score just 12 touchdowns through the air, with starter Bryce Young throwing 11 of those and veteran backup Andy Dalton contributing one.

The Panthers' passing offense has been particularly anemic, averaging a mere 164.0 yards per game, the third-worst mark in the NFL. Despite having used a first-round draft choice on a wide receiver in each of the past two years, the team has struggled to establish a consistent deep threat in their passing attack.

In fact, the Panthers have produced just one play of 40-plus yards through the air this season, which came back in Week 2 when Tetairoa McMillan turned a short pass into a 40-yard gain. This ties them for the second-fewest such plays in the league after 10 weeks of play, with the Cleveland Browns being the only team without a 40-yard pass play.

Analyst Josh Norris of Underdog suggests that the Panthers' reluctance to take more shots downfield may be a contributing factor to their passing woes. In their recent home loss to the Saints, Carolina's longest pass play was just 26 yards, while the Saints' rookie quarterback Tyler Shough burned the Panthers' defense for gains of 62, 52, and 30 yards, two of which resulted in touchdowns.

With a wealth of young talent at the wide receiver position, the Panthers' inability to consistently generate big plays through the air has been a puzzling and frustrating development for the team and its fans. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on whether the coaching staff decides to open up the passing game and unleash the team's deep-threat potential.