–WR Devin Funchess had uncharacteristic drops in the loss at Detroit, where a year earlier he excelled against the Lions. So it was a puzzling performance for the former University of Michigan standout.
Funchess had started to look like the top-line receiver for the Panthers because he was developing consistency. The Panthers have no choice but to suggest they haven’t lost confidence in him.
“We’ll keep throwing the ball to him,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “The guy has made plays for us.”
The message for the receiver will be basic, Rivera said.
“Keep your head up and keep working,” he said.
–The Panthers also have to wonder what has gone awry for kicker Graham Gano.
“This is not an easy game,” Rivera said. “Things aren’t automatic.”
Gano missed a field goal and an extra point in the Detroit game. The wayward field goal from 34 yards out marked the end of his league-leading and franchise-record streak of 28 straight made field goals in the regular season.
Rivera said it’s important to pick spots when approaching kickers.
“I’ll talk with him when I think it’s appropriate,” he said. “Let’s not forget he hit a 63-yarder to beat the Giants. So let’s all calm down.”
–The Panthers have slipped off the pace in the NFC South, with the New Orleans Saints threatening to repeat as the divisional champion. But the good news for Carolina might be that the Panthers have two meetings remaining with the Saints.
But in the meantime, the Panthers don’t want to fall behind any more in the race for first place.
“We’ve got to understand, it’s really about what we do,” Rivera said. “They can do whatever they do.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 157 – That’s a franchise single-game record in receiving yards for a rookie set last week by DJ Moore during the loss at Detroit.
