Panthers PFF grades: Best and worst from Week 17 vs. Saints

When it comes to Carolina Panthers rookie Brady Christensen and his future at the left tackle position, it’s seemingly Matt Rhule vs. everybody. While the former refuses to cement his third-round pick on the blindside, the latter continues to yearn for it.

Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, however, may have scored a point for everybody—at least according to Pro Football Focus.

Best of the offense

AP Photo/Butch Dill

1. RB Ameer Abdullah (73.1)
2. RT Taylor Moton (71.1)
3. LT Brady Christensen (70.6)
4. QB Cam Newton (68.2)
5. RB Chuba Hubbard (66.5)

Carolina’s top two sources of offense came out of the backfield. Abdullah totaled 52 yards from scrimmage while Hubbard rushed for a game-high 55 yards and a score on 17 carries.

The most intriguing inclusion, however, is Christensen. After a solid showing last Sunday, the rookie once again manned the left tackle spot rather well—having relinquished four pressures and zero sacks for a 77.3 pass-blocking grade.

Oh, and Newton’s lone play of the day—a 5-yard run—was apparently good enough to get him back in PFF’s good graces.

Worst of the offense

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

5. RG John Miller (50.9)
4. C Pat Elflein (50.4)
3. QB Sam Darnold (40.4)
2. LG Michael Jordan (39.8)
1. TE Colin Thompson (36.3)

And here’s the rest of that offensive line. Miller, Elflein and Jordan combined to allow nine pressures of Darnold.

Darnold himself wasn’t sharp either. He completed 17 of his 26 throws for 132 yards with a pair of turnovers.

Best of the defense

AP Photo/Derick Hingle

1. LB Frankie Luvu (91.3)
2. DT DaQuan Jones (80.7)
3. DE Yetur Gross-Matos (77.3)
4. LB Shaq Thompson (74.1)
5. DE Brian Burns (70.6)

Seeing Luvu atop this group should come as no surprise. The fourth-year backer registered a game-high nine tackles with six stops.

Gross-Matos, like the aforementioned Christensen, continued to gain some steam. He, off the strength of a pair of stops, earned himself an 81.7 mark in run defense.

Worst of the defense

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5. DT Derrick Brown (59.2)
4. DE Morgan Fox (58.3)
3. S Myles Hartsfield (46.4)
2. CB Keith Taylor Jr. (43.8)
1. LB Kamal Martin (28.0)

Other than the occasionally used Martin, Taylor and Hartsfield bring up the rear on defense. Together, they allowed 132 yards on nine receptions over 13 targets.

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