Carolina Panthers face regression after high fourth-down success in 2025

The Carolina Panthers finished the 2025 season with an 8-9 record that relied heavily on successful fourth-down play. ESPN research indicates the team led the NFL in fourth-down conversions with 27 total. Carolina also scored a league-high 129 points on drives involving a fourth-down conversion, outpacing the second-ranked Los Angeles Rams by 26 points. Much of this success is attributed to quarterback Bryce Young, whose performance in high-pressure situations helped secure victories in numerous one-score games. Analysts suggest these results may be difficult to replicate during the upcoming 2026 campaign. Whether the offense maintains this level of success remains a central point of interest for the team's upcoming schedule.

• 12:03 PMYahoo Sports — ESPN's key stat for Panthers could signal big regression in 2026