The things I liked most:
** The Panthers’ 8-2 record. Despite this rather unimpressive win over Detroit, the Panthers' record remains quite impressive. At 8-2, the Panthers are still in first place in the NFC South. The Falcons also lost today to Denver, so now Carolina has a two-game edge on the Falcons (6-4) and a one-game edge over Tampa Bay (7-3) going into next Sunday's game at Atlanta.
** The offensive line. The Panthers pounded the ball for most of this game, with running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both rushing for more than 100 yards. Here’s a shout-out to center Geoff Hangartner, who again replaced injured starter Ryan Kalil and did a nice job. The Panthers ended up with the most rushing yards in team history with 264, averaging a staggering 8.3 yards per carry.
** The sunny side of the stadium. On this nippy day, you saw a lot of fans on the sunny side shedding their jackets, and a lot of fans on the shady side shivering under theirs.
** Charles Godfrey. The Panthers’ rookie free safety took advantage of Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s huge mistake – a fourth-quarter interception thrown directly at Godfrey while Carolina was clinging to a 24-22 lead. Godfrey didn’t score but probably should have. Give him credit, though, for not dropping it, and that pick led to Carolina's clinching TD.
The things I disliked most:
** Jake Delhomme wasn’t as bad as he was last week, but he was inconsistent. Delhomme was actually booed in this game early, after Carolina’s second possession, when he made a bad overthrow on third down.
** The Panthers’ defense. Detroit didn’t have to punt the entire first half, with four scoring drives and two turnovers. Then the Lions had an 8-minute TD drive in the fourth quarter. That shouldn’t happen.
Jon Beason and company did make a crucial stop on the two-point conversion at 24-22, but the officials could have called a facemask on the play (although Fox-TV announcers simply wouldn't let this go -- yeah, we get it, Tony Boselli, you think there was a facemask on the play... could you mention it at least 100 more times?)
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9 years ago
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21 comments:
Uhh...what about the Bucs? Are they not 7-3, one game behind us with a head-to-head tiebreaker in hand?
Also, where were the boos when Rosario and Muhammad dropped balls that hit them in the hands?
Mr. Scott,
After the dismal talk of Peppers last year, I cant believe you didnt mention him in your things I like again today..
I will always give a shout out to my hometown prodigy after another great game by him..
Go Pep!!!!!
The Panthers tend to play up/down to their competition. Here's hoping they can elevate their game next week against the Falcons. After watching todays game, I think the Lions will beat someone this year with Culpepper under center
The Bucs are indeed 7-3 (referring to Michael's comment). That has been corrected in the post -- thanks! As for Peppers, Jennifer, he had 2 sacks (that makes it 5 in the past 2 games) -- one at the beginning of the game and one at the end, but I didn't notice him too often in the middle 55 minutes of the contest. Still, 9 sacks for the season now -- that's a lot better than 2.5 in 2007.
I appear to be the only one who likes the Foxy strategy to play up/down. Why give up what we don't have to? A W is a W and we are not giving up film to the teams who we need to beat. Let all those teams think we're weak.
I Agree with you on Pep Mr. Scott...dont forget the forced fumbles as well...All in all ...great day for Williams and Stewart.
However Im missing Smitty and Moose these last few games :-(
Enjoy your week!!!!
Scott,
As an outsider (a Scotsman) and a football player (look up BAFL), I know that sacks may indicate a player is playing well, but a lack of sacks does not necessarily mean that the player is playing badly. Peppers played an amazing game, and more often that not was troublesome to the Lions pocket, forcing Culpepper to bolt out the pocket.
I've noticed a tendancy of Football journalists to make notes of to many stats rather than watching the game. In fact, someone last week on this site admitted they dont even watch the special teams plays.
Just cause he had a sack early and late does not mean he is being effective.
hipQuest...I hope you are right. Ya..Part of me thinks that we are going Vanilla on purpose, but cmon...are we dropping passes on purpose? Is Jake throwing into coverage on purpose? Is Jake throwing gimmes on purpose? Is he trying to force the ball to Smitty on purpose?...I am not sure...
I am a big Jake guy, but he is the big elephant in the room at this point in the season. No one will say anything, because we are 8-2 and have an outstanding D.
Except for the chargers game(ehhem...I was there by the way), our passing game really needs work. Even when we establish the run, most of the the playaction passes are all going to Smitty. There are other pass catchers, and other receiveres that are open Jake...Some one check Jake's face to see if it's not David Carr wearing a Jake mask....Where is the Jake I know?
We have probably the most complete team in our history, and that's why we are winning in spite of Jake stiking up the joint.
I don't have the exact #s, but the # of 3-and outs, the dropped balls, the straight up quitting when facing good defenses(Tampa and Minnesota).
If Jake keeps playing like this we're one and out in the play-offs. Unless of course, he pulls a Trent Dilfer(Ravens '00)...Which I have no problem with by the way...
ahhh...end of vent
Scott,
I noticed Pep quite a lot today, usually a half-step from getting a sack, but with a lineman's arm wrapped around his neck. Seems like every time we see a replay involving Peppers, he's wearing the LT's arm like a scarf. Why don't we ever see that called?
Jason, maybe because you're exaggerating, or maybe even because the referees have a better view of the field than do you.
Jason, you are right! I don't know how anyone can say you are exaggerating when it's so obvious. I guess people think Pep is supposed to get a sack every series and that's the only thing he does!
No, ronnie...but if he's the best defensive player in the league and deserves the $17+ mil a year he's asking for, we certainly shouldn't be allowing 100+ yards to Kevin freaking Smith.
How many critical drops has Moose had this year? One today on a third down when we needed to run out the clock. Same thing last week against Oakland. Touchdown pass hit him in the numbers earlier in the year, had to settle for a FG. Kemo seems to be getting pushed around, Jenkins is burning it up for the Jets, we kept the wrong big boy.
Please...Kemoeatu has been a force all season. He's not supposed to make plays. He's supposed to occupy blockers to free up other DLs and the LBs to make plays. Still, that FF vs. Arizona helped to turn the tide in that game.
Yeah ditto to what Stu and Jason said...
and JMO ( just my opinion) Michael #90 is worth that 17mil then some!!!
After the last 2 "wins" I see a 9-7record or worse at the end. Who is wearing Jake's jersey? And the LIONS sure had their way with the vaunted defense. Only 1 interception and a missed face mask call away from a tie game.
Atlanta, Green Bay,Tampa, Denver, NY Giants, New Orleans remain. Anyone care to guess what games the Panthers will win?
I am being generous saying they will win one more. Nuff said.
Harry
Harry,
I think we have shots at taking atlanta, green bay, denver and no.
Why...
1. Atlanta - Regardless of how "good" Matt Ryan has been playing, our pass defense is playing awesome, and we showed Mike Turner who was boss as well. Just as long as we manage to score....
2. Green Bay - This one I amnt as sure as I was since they absolutely rolled the bears, but as long as we study the tape and take care of Grant, our pass D should keep things tight.
3. Denver - Their defense just sucks, period.
4. NO - See Denver (above).
does it seem to you that all sports announcers think we are actually not watching the tv, the way they talk non stop like the viewer does not have any sense at all, over and over and over, besides panther football,racing announcer all the worst!
never in a lifetime will the panthers win the super bowl with jake!
all the panther haters please leave the room, including the writer!!
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