Brian Burns earns top Pro Football Focus grade for Panthers Week 11

The Panthers hit a home run when they picked Brian Burns in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. Now all they have to do is remember to play him.

Burn’s snap count has been declining ever since Bruce Irvin returned from his groin injury early in the season. This past week, he only played 16 defensive snaps. Nevertheless, Burns made an impact. He stopped the Falcons from scoring on this two-point try by stripping Matt Ryan.

Good to see Brian Burns get home again. This is the end zone view of the 2-point try. Uses a club move to turn the corner on LT Jake Matthews and knocks the ball out. pic.twitter.com/l8ixXwiOYc

— Max Henson (@PanthersMax) November 19, 2019

For his efforts, Burns earned the highest grade of the week for the Panthers from Pro Football Focus, followed by Gerald McCoy.

NFL Week 11 Top 5 Defensive Grades@Fire_Burns99 – 90.0@Geraldini93 – 86.5@PoeMans_dream – 76.2@TreBos10 – 74.1@E_Reid35 – 73.6

— PFF CAR Panthers (@PFF_Panthers) November 20, 2019

Burns is one of several young Carolina players who deserve to be on the field more down the stretch.

As for the offense, right tackle Taylor Moton earned the highest grade this week at 74.0.

NFL Week 11 Top 5 Offensive Grades@tmoton72 – 74.0@idjmoore – 71.7@run__cmc – 70.6@C_Manhertz – 67.1@GVR64 – 61.0#KeepPounding

— PFF CAR Panthers (@PFF_Panthers) November 20, 2019

Again this calls into question coach Ron Rivera’s personnel decisions. Moton was taken out of the game in the first quarter to get him “settled down,” according to Rivera. Daryl Williams replaced him in the lineup and immediately gave up a sack.