What all went wrong for Panthers against Saints? And will it be fixed for Bucs?
By Alex Zietlow and
Mike Kaye
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 14: Derrick Brown #95, Bryce Young #9, Austin Corbett #63 of the Carolina Panthers wait in the tunnel prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on December 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Chris Graythen
Getty Images
The Carolina Panthers had a simple path to the postseason a few days ago.
Now, the question sits: Where do the Panthers go from here?
Charlotte Observer sports reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow consider every angle of that question in the latest episode of Processing Blue.
They discuss the myriad ways the Panthers can make the playoffs as they and the Tampa Bay Bucs — this week’s opponent, no less — play twice in their final three contests. Kaye and Zietlow also dive into other ways in which this Panthers loss can inform their future:
How, exactly, did the Panthers’ offense stall against the Saints?
What was there to notice from Dave Canales and his play-calling?
And this reeling Bucs team ... they’re still quite good, right? Can the Panthers realistically beat them twice?
Listen to the latest podcast episode at the embed in this story, or download it on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out the show on YouTube.
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.Support my work with a digital subscription
Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription
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