NFL Week 18 Announcement is Terrible Look for Panthers
![Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers] head coach Dave Canales talks with referee Dave Hawkshaw against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4075,h_2292,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F256%2F01jgf5r10mh50zx0fjvk.jpg "Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers] head coach Dave Canales talks with referee Dave Hawkshaw against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images")
The 2024 season is almost over, which is good news for the Carolina Panthers. They will be missing the playoffs for the seventh straight season but there was improvement in the first season under Dave Canales.
They doubled their win total after securing just two wins in 2023. The Panthers have their work cut out for themselves in the offseason. They need to find more talent and raise the floor of this team.
As Carolina looks down the line to 2025, two former Panthers went off in Week 17.
The NFC Players of the Week! (Week 17) pic.twitter.com/6G2TBILyEd
— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2024
Baker Mayfield and Ihmir Smith-Marsette both won NFC Players of the Week for their performances last Sunday.
Mayfield joined Carolina in 2022 after he was let go by the Cleveland Browns. The Oklahoma product played in seven games for them, completing 57% of his passes for 1,313 yards with six passing touchdowns and six interceptions.
He had a quick stop with the Rams before landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since signing with the Bucs, Mayfield has been an elite quarterback. In 33 games with the Bucs, Mayfield has tossed for 8,323 passing yards and 67 passing touchdowns.
Ironically, Mayfield lit up the Panthers in Week 17, en route to NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He went 27-of-32 for 359 passing yards with five passing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Smith-Marsette played for the Panthers for 17 games in 2023. Before the 2024 season kicked off, Carolina waived the 25-year-old, and he landed with the New York Giants.
In Week 17, the Giants knocked off the Indianapolis Colts 45-33, and Smith-Marsette played a huge role. To start the second half, the Iowa product opened things up with a 100-yard kickoff return, putting New York up 28-13. That helped him secure NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
It's funny that two former Panthers played big-time roles in their team's victories in Week 17. It's good that they were able to land elsewhere and be productive, but it's certainly a gut punch for Carolina to see this happen with other teams.
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