Weekly Stat Review: Post Week 8 Edition

Welcome to the newest edition of the Weekly Stat Review! Another week, another painful viewing experience for fans of the Carolina Panthers. As is par for the course for Thursday Night Football, it was sloppy and potentially the least entertaining game of the week.

That said, it also marked the last game as the Defensive Coordinator for Ejiro Evero, so this week’s stat review will be interesting to look back upon a few weeks from now to see if the trends shift at all after Evero’s departure and through the beginning of Todd Wash’s tenure.

Let’s take a look.

Offense

Explosive Play Rate

Percentage of plays that qualify as an explosive play. Explosive plays being a carry of 10 or more yards or a pass attempt gaining 20 or more yards.

Week 8 vs. GB: 2.9%

2026 average: 9.1% (18th in NFL)

2025: 8.8% (23rd in NFL)

Pressure Rate Allowed

Percentage of dropbacks with a pressure or sack allowed

Week 8 vs. GB: 19.1%

2025: 30.9%

3rd Down Conversion Rate

Rate of 3rd downs that converted to 1st downs.

Week 8 vs. GB: 27.8%

2026 average: 38.5% (23rd in NFL)

2025: 36.5% (25th in NFL)

Defense

Zone Coverage Rate

Percentage of coverage snaps spent in a zone defense.

2026 average: 80% (7th in NFL)

2025: 78% zone coverage

Pressure Rate

Percentage of pass rush opportunities that resulted in a sack or pressure.

Week 8 vs. GB: 0.0%

2026 average: 11.5% (30th in NFL)

2025: 10.1% (31st in NFL)

3rd Down Stop Rate

Rate of 3rd downs allowed to be converted into 1st downs.

Week 8 vs. GB: 56.3%

2026 average: 46.4% (28th in NFL)

2025: 48.1% (32nd in NFL)

BONUS Stat of the Week

Will Lee III has been called for 4 pass interference penalties that cost a -8.17 expected points added (EPA). This is the 3rd highest amount of cumulative EPA cost by a single player in the NFL so far this season.