The New York Jets (0-6) will host the Carolina Panthers (3-3) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday in Week 7.
Let's take a deeper look at What To Expect from the Jets' Week 7 opponent, the Carolina Panthers.
QB Bryce Young & Carolina's Surging Offense
Off to their best start since 2021, 3-3, the Carolina Panthers (3-3) will come to New Jersey after consecutive home wins, against the Dolphins and the Cowboys.
Three weeks ago, the Panthers looked left out to pasture, dropping to 1-3 after a 42-13 loss to the New England Patriots. Since then, Carolina's averaged 28.5 points per game and registered consecutive games with 400-plus total yards.
The recent production is thanks to the unexpected emergence of their run game behind RB Rico Dowdle and the continued growth of third-year QB Bryce Young.
Entering Week 7, the Panthers' first overall selection in '2022 has thrown 10 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions and has an 84.0 QB rating.
For a player with the high expectations of being the top pick and Heisman tTrophy winner, Young had a slow start to his career, — 6-22 as a starter with 26 touchdown passes and 19 picks through his first two seasons. But, the last two weeks, Panthers HC Dave Canales thought Young (5-10, 204 240) played "some of the best football of his life".
He added: "[Young] is just getting better and better. He has done a lot of hard work to get to this point, and these guys have been working really well together."
And while Young has been sharper, it has been the sudden surge by the run game that has made life much easier for the QB and added a balance to their offense.
Dowdle took over the starting running back role from Chuba Hubbard in Week 5, due to injury, and in two games has rushed for 389 yards, totaled 473 scrimmage yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Hubbard is expected to return in Week 7.
The Panthers are third in the NFL in rushing yards and fourth in rushing scores. The last time they finished in the top half of the league in rush yards was 2019. In recent weeks, they have found a balance on offense they have sorely lacked this decade.
Check out the top photos from the Jets Week 6 game against the Broncos Sunday.
Improved Defense
Carolina's defense has not shown the improvement that its offense has in the past few weeks. They have declined to the 21st ranked defense in points allowed per game this season (24.3).
There is no debating, however, that the Panthers have improved, ranking 19th in the league in total defense after six weeks, a 13-spot leap from last season when they finished the year last.
The Cardiac Cats defense, though, would not be considered the driving force behind the Panthers strong start.
"It's night and day," Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn said of the current state of the defense . "We are getting better but we've got to keep going because it can flip."
Carolina has allowed 31 points per game in the last 3 weeks. The bright spot has been the play of the D-line which has surrendered 51.3 yards rushing per game.
Pro Bowlers NT Derrick Brown and Horn lead the unit. Brown has 2 TFL and a sack through 6 games; while Horn, who made his first Pro Bowl in 2024, has allowed 81 receiving yards in the last 3 weeks.
