What happened: The Carolina Panthers reviewed side-by-side tactical alignments following Sunday's 26-21 defeat against the Denver Broncos. The loss marked Carolina's third consecutive defeat during the 2026 regular season.

Why it matters: The slide drops Carolina to the 11th seed in the NFC playoff standings as the team approaches midseason. Consecutive setbacks have heightened scrutiny on the roster after front-office evaluations and recent depth additions.

What to watch: Carolina enters Week 10 aiming to snap its three-game losing skid.