Four things we learned from the Carolina Panthers’ 25-3 loss to the New York Giants

It’s interesting how things can change in the span of one month.

A month ago, the Panthers were 3-0 and were first in the NFC South. They made trades for cornerback C.J. Henderson and later Stephon Gilmore because they felt they had the ability to be a playoff contender now.

A month later, and that conversation has changed. The Panthers dropped their fourth consecutive game Sunday after a 25-3 loss to the New York Giants.

The Panthers are now 3-4 and in last place in the NFC South.

Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s loss:

1. The Panthers offense is in a state of flux, and there’s no immediate answer in how to solve it

It was clear after quarterback Sam Darnold’s performance Sunday that he needed to be benched.

The Panthers had no rhythm offensively, and Darnold made the Giants’ defense look like a Super Bowl contender. Darnold, who finished 16-of-25 passing for 111 yards, threw his seventh interception in the past four games.

That’s why the Panthers haven’t won.

Darnold is struggling and looks unsure of himself when his first option isn’t there.

Yet, he’ll be the Panthers’ starter for Week 8.

The Panthers have a problem.

Darnold doesn’t appear to be the answer for the Panthers this season and definitely not the answer long term.

But they don’t have an adequate backup plan. P.J. Walker isn’t a viable answer. He finished 3-of-14 for 33 yards in relief of Darnold. And he’s the only other quarterback on the Panthers’ 53-man roster.

“I think I said it a couple times, when we play really well in every other area, when we’re catching every ball, when we’re stepping through tackles in the run game, when we’re running the football well and when we’re pass protecting at a high level, then I’ll look at one guy,” coach Matt Rhule said, when asked why he thinks Darnold is the right answer. “But I think he just needs a lot of help from a lot of guys right now that he’s not getting.”

Before Sunday’s game, the Panthers hadn’t engaged in recent trade talks with the Texans for Deshaun Watson. However, with Darnold’s continued struggles, that could change.

The NFL’s trade deadline is Nov. 2 and the Panthers’ front office knows it needs to do something.

But even then, trading for Watson is risky. The allegations against him are troubling. He has 22 civil lawsuits from women alleging that he exhibited inappropriate behavior with multiple massage therapists. Watson’s attorney denies any wrongdoing.

But if Watson joins a new team, the NFL could place him on the commissioner’s exempt list while they investigate. He may not play this season.

And it would be a monumental loss, if it didn’t work out. A trade for Watson would likely cost at least three first-round draft picks.

2. Panthers could look at other options at punter

The Panthers need to bring in another punter fast. Punter Ryan Winslow struggled for the second consecutive game Sunday. He averaged 36.9 yards per punt, which won’t get it done in the NFL.

The Giants consistently had great field position against the Panthers’ defense.

It was actually remarkable that the defense held on for as long as it did. It was put in difficult circumstances.

The Giants had only one scoring drive go longer than 32 yards.

Punter Joe Charlton, who was placed on the IR earlier this month with a back injury, won’t but be eligible to return until at least Week 9.

When asked could the Panthers make a change at punter, Rhule wouldn’t rule it out.

“Potentially,” he said. “I mean, potentially. We’ll see. I have to go back and look at the tape. They had 10 up one time. They had no returner deep. I mean, they did some good things. At this point, I don’t want to sit there and say, right now anything’s on the table, anything’s off the table at anything, because we have to go back. I’m never very good at emotional decisions.”

3. Panthers abandoned the run before they had to

The Giants had the fourth-worst run defense in the league entering Sunday’s game.

Yet the Panthers, who vowed the run the football this week, went away from it after the first drive. The Panthers ran it seven times on the first drive and got three points.

It was their only drive that produced points. The Giants scored 25 unanswered points.

What’s interesting is they didn’t have to abandon it as early as they did.

The Panthers trailed only 5-3 at halftime, and still put the ball in Darnold’s hands to win it. That decision didn’t work out.

The Panthers ran it 17 times Sunday and only four times in the second half. Chuba Hubbard, who has run the ball well while Christian McCaffrey has been out, had only 28 yards on 12 carries.

4. Panthers injuries keep piling up

The Panthers were down to their third string middle linebacker. Clay Johnston saw much more playing time Sunday than he had all season.

And so did backup cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver, who came in when Donte Jackson went down twice with lower-body injuries.

Right guard John Miller also came out of the game with an ankle injury before he was carted to the locker room. The Panthers went with Trent Scott at right guard after Dennis Daley struggled.

The Panthers could get linebacker Shaq Thompson back next week if he continues to progress. And cornerback Stephon Gilmore is also close to playing his first game for Carolina.

But the Panthers need those players now because the injuries are piling up.

The next two opponents are the Falcons (3-3) and the Patriots (3-4) before a tough game against the Cardinals (7-0), who are the only undefeated team in the league after beating the lowly Texans.