Sunday, September 30, 2012

Panthers lose a 30-28 heartbreaker to Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons survived a strong challenge from the Carolina Panthers Sunday in the Georgia Dome, coming from behind in the fourth quarter to win, 30-28, in the final seconds in a heartbreaker for Panther fans.

The Panthers led 28-27 in the final two minutes but then passed up going for it on fourth-and-one from the Atlanta 45, instead taking a delay of game penalty and then downing Brad Nortman’s 49-yard punt at the Falcons’ 1. But Ron Rivera’s refusal to gamble there on offense and put the game in the hands of his defense ended up costing the Panther head coach dearly. (The Panthers had nearly had the first down already, but a Cam Newton fumble on third down cost them about a yard although it was recovered by Carolina).

From its own 1, Atlanta had only 59 seconds to get into field-goal range and no timeouts. But on the first play, Roddy White caught a deep ball right over safety Haruki Nakamura’s head for a 59-yard gain to the Carolina 40. (Nakamura would later blame himself for the loss in the locker room, saying he "cost us the game.) A couple of short passes later and the Falcons got a 40-yard field goal from Matt Bryant with five seconds remaining to win.

The Panthers played far better than they did 10 days ago, but it wasn’t enough as they lost once again in the Georgia Dome, which has long been a personal house of horrors for Carolina. Newton was sacked on the final play as he tried to pull off an 80-yard miracle.

After sustaining a 36-7 loss to the New York Giants on national TV on Sept.20, this time the Panthers played one of the NFC’s top contenders to a virtual standstill for most of the game and actually led 28-24 in the fourth quarter. But Atlanta ultimately made more big plays, with overmatched safety Nakamura figuring prominently in several Falcon scores.

The Falcons (4-0) started sluggishly but then ended up beating Carolina (1-3) for the seventh time in their last eight tries.

The Panthers stayed in the game throughout the first half and even held leads of 7-0 and 14-10 on touchdowns by Greg Olsen (a 17-yard pass from Newton) and DeAngelo Williams (a 13-yard run).

After giving up an 80-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession of each of its first three games, this time Carolina held Atlanta to a three-and-out on the Falcons’ first possession and then got an end-zone interception by Nakamura on the second.

But Nakamura, who was obviously being targeted by the Falcons, then gave up a 49-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Roddy White in which Nakamura completely misjudged the ball. And then came another Ryan-White TD late in the second quarter, when the Panthers couldn’t contain White in zone coverage. That gave Atlanta its 17-14 halftime lead.

Atlanta extended that lead to 24-14 on a dump pass to Michael Turner in the third quarter after some very poor tackling by Carolina (including a badly missed arm tackle by Nakamura). But Carolina sliced that margin to 24-21 on Newton’s four-yard touchdown run, which he followed with a Superman celebration that drew raucous boos.

Newton’s four-yard run in the third quarter sliced Atlanta’s margin to 24-21. Then he threw a beautifully executed flanker screen to Kealoha Pilares to beat a Falcon blitz, and Pilares took it 36 yards for a touchdown with 7:55 to go to give the Panthers a 28-24 lead.

The Falcons cut that to 28-27 on a 33-yard field goal with 4:57 to go – they were in scoring range but a key sack from Panther rookie Frank Alexander helped to force the field goal. That set the stage for the final dramatics.

The Panthers ultimately wasted seven sacks of Ryan and 199 rushing yards (86 by Newton) in one of the most crushing regular-season losses in team history.

113 comments:

Anonymous said...

cam & that towel.

Anonymous said...

Our safites suck....What free agents are available at safety and as far as Norman, he is a scrub.....

MadExPanthersFan said...

WORTHLESS...Panthers can't buy a win and I still want my $500 back from the NY game last week...I would have been better off flushing it down the toilet!!!

Anonymous said...

This loss is because of a weak head coach. Why would ever put any game in the hands of this pathetic defense.

Anonymous said...

I don't even understand how it's possible that the Falcons can complete a 59 yard pass from the back of their own end zone. Why do we not have 3 or four guys back to defend that???

Anonymous said...

Note to Cam...again. You might want to save that superman/dance thing until you win the game since it makes you look even more juvenile than ever now.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell me why the officials stopped play on the last play? ATL didn't have any timeouts and if Smith ran out on the field as the announcers said that should have been a penalty. Not that it mattered, but still...

Anonymous said...

What a cowardly call to not ice the game on 4th and 1. No timeouts for Atl and only a minute and change left. Could've kneeled down and run out the clock. Instead, we let our suspect secondary get exploited yet again.

Anonymous said...

someone needs to teach Nakamura to not run backwards when playing in the secondary. He got beat for the first long TD doing that and would have been in position to defend the pass to White if he did that on the last drive. I've seen Duke DBs do that, but never seen anyone in the NFL do that.

Anonymous said...

I am so sick of this defense giving up big plays.

Anonymous said...

How did Atlanta get a timeout on the last play? They had used them all when Carolina had the ball.

Anonymous said...

Panthers will always be failures with Ron chicken **** Rivera as head coach
No spine

todd said...

Note to cam...might want to reconsider that superman/dance thing until you win the game

A angry panthers fan said...

Number 43 fired also def coordinator , also general manager fired for bring in these lame duck players that's barely make the teams they came from squad

Anonymous said...

Scott, why can't you say what needs to be said about this sorry organization, instead of writing another "golly, wasn't that a heartbreaker" column?

Anonymous said...

Panthers played good but because the Panthers have a cancer named
Haruki Nakamura they lost the game. I thought the Panthers signed him to make this team better not worst.

Shane P said...

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Seems to be a common theme around here, play fantastic for 58 minutes then find any way possible to give the game away. This one is particularly sickening, plenty of blame to go around but I won't go there, pointless at this juncture.

Anonymous said...

I'm over it.

Anonymous said...

Funny, not one mention about Cam Newton's fumble on that final drive. He had a first down that would iced the game. Instead his poor ball security led to everything that unfolded. Nice job Cam. Wouldn't be talking about all the defensive stuff if he could hold onto that ball.

Enviro-Equipment said...

This loss was even more painful than last week. Should've closed it out when came dove for the first down. Should've closed it out when we had them at their 1 yard line with a minute to go and no timeouts. Shoulda, coulda, woulda, but failed.

Anonymous said...

This is what happens when you play not to lose, you lose! We could have made the first down. It was only 1 yard!

Anonymous said...

why wont they bench that scrub, I mean he has been getting destroyed all season. I can't stand Nakamura. He screwed us. I can't believe that just happened. THIS MAN CAN NOT COVER ANYTHING.

Anonymous said...

If Nakamura starts next week, he must have dirt on Rivera,

Anonymous said...

18The Panthers have now hit bottom. There is a structural problem in the Panther organization. Jerry call up BofA in the morning and put the team up for sale. YOU and only you has caused this problem.

Anonymous said...

Haruki Naka whatever sucks.
Start Martin.

Peddler said...

The Panthers managed to lose a game they had won. Allowing a 50 yard pass play from the end zone is inexusable and in the end, the Falcons kicked the Panther's butts once again. It is beyond frustration to watch the Panthers play like world beaters for a few plays then turn into a team a DIII team could compete with.

Absolutely no excuse for the loss today, absolutely none.

RsR said...

Panther coaching staff should be benched. PLAY TO WIN!

Panthers should know better! said...

Coach Rivera is a reincarnation of John Fox which maybe the voie of the leadership of the Panthers. There is no sense of play to win. There is only the sense of play not to lose. There is now way the panther do not go for the 4th and 1 in the 4th quarter. No matter how well the defense played today they can't be conted on to hold the Atlanta Falcons. The players played a good game, but coaching failed the panthers today. There is little or no heart in the panthers organization. The Falons could have been an easy win. Lack of proper leadership was shown today. Good luck panthers on winning the superbowl. Thanks Kahlil! A real panthers fan!

Anonymous said...

Norman was the guy getting beat, but if Cam hadn't fumbled, we would have won, and I would have goe for it on 4th and 1. That said, Atlanta on the 1 yard line goes down and kicks a field goal, that should have never happened.

Jake said...

Fire Rivera! How do you. It go for it and allow the ball to be put back in Matt Ryan's hands? End of the 1st half clock management was the worst ever. Fire!!!!!

nohuiam said...

How do you not go for ONE YARD for a first down when the alternative is giving Matt Ryan the ball with that much time? Wimped out at the end.

Anonymous said...

Coaching staff should be benched. PLAY TO WIN, don't play scared!

Anonymous said...

Coaching F-

The rest of my Sundays are now free for the next 13 weeks.

To not even try to get points at the end of the 1st half is not even bush league bad. It's elementary school daddy ball bad.

Same for not going for on 4th and 1, game over, if you make it. It did not matter if you gave the Falcons the ball at the 45 or 1. They were going to score. Get some Cajones.

Bad coaching and clock management cost us 13 points this games.

Like I said, my Sundays are henceforth free.

Anonymous said...

Ron Rivira needs to be FIRED!!!!!! What a gutless coach. Can't manage the clock at the half and doesn't know how to win a game, but he sure knows how to lose one.

Anonymous said...

A safety???? is that what he is....what the hell is he safe at??? getting burned??? he got crushed in every td atl got

Anonymous said...

Panthers blew it on the 4th-1 punt decision. You don't give the ball back to that offense with 1:41 on the clock. Based on how the previous games have gone, you have to take a chance. Isn't that why we pay Stewart and Williams all that money?

I hate to say it, but that was a season changing decision.

Riviera really blew it, I mean a really poor decision...

Anonymous said...

A big part of this loss is on the shoulders of Ron Rivera. Too many times the Panthers looked discombobulated: 13 men on the field to turn around a Falcons drive in the first half, taking a couple of clueless timeouts midway through the second half, etc.. Most of all there was the mind-boggling series of downs prior to halftime. No hurry up, no urgency, and subsequently no points. The Falcons were giving up the short yardage to protect against dropping 7 points going into the locker room. 5-6 well executed 6-10 yard plays with good clock management would have had us in position to kick a field goal. Instead, our lack of game planning and urgency made us leave those points on the field. We sure could have used them in the closing minutes. You just can’t do that with Matt Ryan and the Falcons. Every bit of play from the first couple of snaps pointed to a close game that would probably go down to the wire. I don’t know why that was ignored and why the game wasn’t managed like every tick of the clock and every point would be vital. It’s like Ron Rivera was watching a different game and forgot who he was playing against.

And note to Cam Newton: Superman protects the ball on critical, game-winning third downs.

Anonymous said...

I did notice that the Atlanta players (esp. their quarterback) did not dance, nor fake tear open their shirt after great plays. They just went about their business, beating the Panthers.

Unknown said...

If someone is not benched, cut or fired, then this sham of a finish means nothing. Realize that the secondary is over matched every game. Do something about it. It can only get better. Status Quo is miserable. I feel like Clubber Lang punched me in the face!unegyU 15

Anonymous said...

It is time for Ron Rivera to go. He cannot manage the clock or make a decision on the field.

Anonymous said...

Well, at least the panthers were in this one...

Phil In Ft. Worth said...

Once again, the blame has to be placed on the Panthers' coaching staff. Not going to be able to stick with these guys unless they learn and mature VERY soon. We have talent, just the wrong people leading. Oh and Hurney needs to go to, just because I don't like him.

Anonymous said...

Worst coaching I have ever seen in a final 4 minutes of a game. The staff demands excellence from it's players and they deliver. The staff can no longer demand excellence when they themselves cannot live up to their standards.

Anonymous said...

Rivera should have gone for it on 4th down.

Anonymous said...

GREAT GAME by the players!!! WORST COACHING EVER!!!!

Anonymous said...

Don't be so hard on your team fellas. They played one #ell of a game against the best team in the league and nearly pulled it out. Be proud of the all out effort. Your team has made strides. The Panthers are headed in the right direction. Signed, Day One Falcon Fan.

Anonymous said...

Chud, you'll never be a head coach. Rivera, you won't be one for long. #43, you are a horrible safety and deserve to be cut off this game alone. The coaches lost this game Grow some balls!

Anonymous said...

They replaced John Fox with John Fox.

Anonymous said...

Jerry Richardson is to blame for this loss. His decision to keep Hurney around is beyond me. But guess what? Polian is available and if Jerry Rich had any sense he'd be begging him to come back here. This losing around here will continue until all panther fans let JR know we wont stand for it anymore by not going to ballgames. In addition I can't even say that this team is "2 to 3" years away because I don't have the faith that we will evaluate draft talent successfully and get quality free agents. JR is fine with being a loser unfortuneatly. Until he holds himself accountable this will continue. BTW Hurney didn't give himself an extenstion. Just think of that.

Anonymous said...

First of all...lay off Cam and let the kid have fun. Everybody wants him to be a soldier because he had a bad game. He played well...let the man have fun while he's out there. Now, to the coaching. Can somebody call Ron Rivera out publicly, already? this guy makes more stupid coaching decisions than any head coach I've ever seen and his excuse is "guys didn't make the plays".....Rivera puts people in position to look bad and get beat. He keeps saying the team is searching for the IDENTITY...honestly, that's the coaches job and if you notice we play the same lackluster football as our lackluster coaching. This guy is not a good coach, point blank

Anonymous said...

Newton had another pouty post game news conference....he should just pre-record them.

Anonymous said...

Riviera aka John Fox Redux:

We play to lose

Example 1: clock management before halftime
Example 2: punt to Atlanta on 4th-1 with 1:41 left

Anonymous said...

Clark Kent's fumble did us in, not the coaching decision to go for it.

vince said...

Surely that dance has to go. The only thing it does is fire up the opposing team's fans and players.

Anonymous said...

Worst clock management at end of the first half and timid play at end. Never, never give up the ball to Matt R. Newton's fumble was awful and he will some day end his play with a severe neck injury. He does not protect himself going in to the end zone

Anonymous said...

Panthers, please get rid of/fire/leave on a desert island FS Haruki Nakamura. Yes, I'll admit he made a couple good plays (1 INT+4 tackles+2 PD), but the negatives far outweigh the positives. He was personally responsible for giving up three TD's, (2 to White, 1 to Turner) because he was out of position and not athletically talented enough to defend the pass. He also gave up a long gain to White which set up the game winning field goal. Please get him off the field!

-Concerned Panther Fan

Anonymous said...

Why are we paying stewart and williams if we aren't going to use them on 4th and 1......


#firehurney

Anonymous said...

Sherrod Martin has 7 interceptions in 4 seasons. Haruki Nakamura has only 3 pd in 5 seasons. hmmm... We should have won this game.

Anonymous said...

Anyone that thinks that Cam is the problem is just a hater. The defense should have stop a team with now timeouts that was on the one yard line. The fumble Cam had the Panthers still had the ball. There are a lot of jealous people of Cam.

Anonymous said...

An0nym0us at 4:53....BING0! If cam d0esn't fumble...it's GAME 0VER!

Anonymous said...

No one play, player, or coaching decision wins or loses a four quarter game.

If Rivera had gone for it and they had not gotten, he would have been criticized for not putting the game in the hands of the defense--which had played aggressively all game long.

I hated this loss as much as anybody on this board, but the team played hard and with spirit, as did Atlanta. There is no comparison between this Rivera team and the doldrums of Fox's last years--which truly were the pits.

Time to get the towels off your heads Fair Weather Fans and show some appreciation for the many exciting and competitive things the Panthers did today.

Anonymous said...

Coach goes for it and fails = coaches fault

Coach punts and loses = players fault
coach = self preservation

Anonymous said...

Newton and Nakamura lost this game...PERIOD...

Anonymous said...

Too much inexperience at db and safety positions...too much celebrity at qb...too much uninspired coaching...too much losing....too much cussing at my house....too much losing again...not much enthusiasm for Panthers...might start rooting for my Pre-Panthers era team...if I can remember who it was!

Anonymous said...

Rivera made the right call. You don't risk giving the opposing team the ball on the 45 yard line when its a 2 poinL game. Special teams did what they were supposed to do. Blame this defeat on Newton or the secondary. If the panthers had not made the first down you would have ripped Rivera to shreds for giving Atl the ball on the 45.

Anonymous said...

Charlotte's Panthers
I think Charlotte should follow the lead of the Miami Marlins, formally the Florida Marlins, and step up and take ownership, in name, of the Panthers.
By associating the Panthers with the name "Carolina", an embarrassing disservice is being done to the entire states of North and South Carolina, the Carolina Gamecocks, the Carolina Tar Heels as well as the Raleigh area's Double-A Minor League Carolina Mudcats. I would make the same suggestion to Raleigh and the Carolina Hurricanes, but that's hockey and no one cares. The Panthers. You can have 'em, we don't want 'em.

Anonymous said...

Defense lost that game, not Cam, nor the offense. If Special Teams successully put ATL on the 1 yard line, no time outs and the Defense allows them to get in FG range? Simple to me.

Anonymous said...

Bad teams find a way to lose games like this.

Props to #95 for a great game. Let's see that effort every week.

Anonymous said...

Cam, thanks for losing ANOTHER game due to arrogance and immaturity. It never should have been 4th and 1 in the first place. This West Charlotte sandlot BS needs to stop! As for the secondary, maybe the Lingerie League has a couple free agents available.

Anonymous said...

No way should they have went for it on 4th and 1, if they don't make it they give Atl ball at mid field. AND if Superman would hold on to the ball we could have took a knee for the remainder of the game.

Anonymous said...

Newton haters having fun...but did you forget Smith's lost fumble that gave Falcons a FG....and those creative calls when the Panthers had the ball with four minutes left that gave the ball back.

Putting the game in the hands of the defense....yeah that's good...the same defense that gave up 37 last week and nearly that many again today.

Anonymous said...

Should have gone for it on 4th down.Lets get rid of the play not to lose mentality and start playing to win.

Luke Cage said...

PANTHERS lost this game.

Anonymous said...

If Nakamura starts next week we know we need new coaches. I didn't think anyone could be as bad as Sherrod Martin was last year but Nakamura makes him look like Pro Bowl material. Nakamura can't tackle, can't cover and especially can't judge pop fly bombs which is critical in the safety position. Bring back Sherrod...please!!!

Anonymous said...

I am a Falcon fan since 1966. However, the decision to not go for it on fourth and one was just dumb. I'm glad he did it, just could not belive our good fortune. Newton will really be something when he grows up.

Anonymous said...

Should have gone for it on 4th down.Lets play to win Rivera.

Anonymous said...

As a Falcon fan, I could not believe you did not go for it on fourth and one. Our good luck. The Panthers played a heck of a good game, and Newton will really be something when he grows up.

Anonymous said...

The punt was the right decision. The problem was giving up a 50 yard pass when the other team has no time outs and obviously can't run or throw it short. Nakamura's been beat up enough, but Norman could have broken up the pass too. Clearly the secondary is the weakest part of the team. Got to make it better.

Anonymous said...

omg..everyone calling for rivera's head because he decided to punt rather than go for it needs to quit watching football. there was less than a minute left on the atlanta 45. they don't get it, then all atlanta has to do is gain like 25 yards against a less than mediocre defense. and YOU'D STILL CALL FOR HIS JOB! less than a minute left, pin the falcons deep (which they did at the 1) is the MUCH BETTER call! any coach in the nfl not named bill belicheck punts the ball and puts it on their defense. this is NOT a bad call, it was the right call in that situation. darned if you do, darned if you don't.

Anonymous said...

Jerry Richardson and the entire Carolina Panthers organization should literally hold a public press conference and apologize to their fans. This is pathetic, I'm tired of spending my hard earned money on Panthers memorabilia, games, concessions, etc. only to receive this nonsense in return. It's a complete embarrassment to the city of Charlotte, I want my money back!

Anonymous said...

Without Cam, they are not in the game. With Cam, they lose the game because of his fumble. You have to punt from where they did because if you don't and don't make it, the game is definitely over. The fumble sunk the team.

Anonymous said...

This loss was all Rivera's fault. A pathetic excuse of a coach. With the kind of game Newton was having and only one yard to go, was a no brainer not to let the Falcons have the ball back. Also, for a defensive minded coach, he flunked this game. Very poor coaching and he shows he isnt head coach material

ceemoore said...

The biggest problem was the conservative plays on the last 2 offensive series. Stop playing the clock and play the opponent. Also the provent D with the ball on the 1?!? Bust 'em in the mouth and go for the safety!

Anonymous said...

Alot of people deserve the blame! However, if you can't convert a 3rd and 2 when a game of this magnitude is on the line then you don't deserve to win. That was the kharma play. The 59 yard reception from the 1 was the icing of the cake. I don't know how this defensive coordinator allows Nakamure or anyone else to let Roddy White get behind them at ALL. They should have been perched on the Carolina 40. And why not blitz when they are on the 1 yard line. Oh yeah...here is a good idea... don't pressure ryan and give him enough time to throw a bomb.
You can blame Nakamura but the lionshare of this loss is the profound idiocy on the sidelines.

Anonymous said...

By the way - I hate the new lazy eyed logo

Anonymous said...

This and the Ryder Cup. Superman has found his kryptonite. Lex Luthor is smiling .. wryly.

Anonymous said...

Ok, we lost a close game against a Division rival.. one in which we could have easily won. Very disappointing, yes. But this was against one of the best teams in the NFL at their house.. one in which we always have troubles.

We were vastly improved in most areas in just 10 days post the debacle against the NY Giants. IF we don't let this huge disappointment unravel us, we should have a nice remainder of 2012 if the team continues to perform and improve as they did today. Winners take losses and learn from them. The next few weeks will show the character of this team.

Anonymous said...

Somebody needs to lose their job.

macfleetwood said...

Ryan took a beating and won,the offensive line got beat most of the day and won, the defense got beat all day and won..the question remains why in hell can we NOT play the whole game like we did the last 50 or so seconds??????
We got that puny 10 point lead and tried not to lose..not play agressive and win!!
Ron Riveria..this game lies sorely at your feet!! Any dam team that is 1-2 and has less than 1 yard to go for the 1st down to "ice" the game & has a QB the size of a mack truck..needs to have his "kahoonas" iced for the rest of the year!!!!! Go Falcons!!

Anonymous said...

Please will someone fire Ron Rivera already he is clueless and has no idea what it takes to be a coach let alone a head coach. Can someone tell me why we would hire someone who was fired from Chicago and lead an average San Diego d-fense? I know the answer because Jerry is content will being mediocre its sad to say but its the truth.

Anonymous said...

Yea if Cam doesn't fumble it's game however Cam didnt give up a 60yd completion from the one yard line either. The team played their hearts out and got burned by a 1 in 100 play.

Anonymous said...

Super Cam loses another one for the Bad News Panthers with one of his infamous turnovers. Let's see that loser dance there Cammie.

Anonymous said...

I was near tears when they didn't go for it on 4th and 1. I put no blame on the defense or on Newton. Maybe a bit on the 2ndary...Rivera...as one earlier poster so bluntly phrased it...'has no spine.' #nospineRivera.

Anonymous said...

Cam best thing to ever happen to Charlotte sports period!

Brandon said...

This loss definitely goes on Rivera, and I wished he would have taken some responsibility for it in the post-game press conference. The strategy at the end of the first half was awful, and the call to punt on 4th-and-1 at midfield when 1 yard would have sealed the game was just as bad. I don't think that's a hindsight call either; I felt like we should have gone for it before the play was made.. do we really have no faith in our offensive tools between Cam, Stew and Tolbert to get that 1 yard?

Play to win, don't play to not lose.

Anonymous said...

And ol' Jerry thinks the town of charlotte shold give him 80 million bucks?

Anonymous said...

What a great day. As they say, the best team won. And kudos to Superman and 89 for their fumbles! Good work! BTW, nice dance in another losing effort QB. Ha-ha-ha! Pussycats are bad!!!

Anonymous said...

I am totally speechless at this loss..except for what I said.

mgilmartin said...

I wish our coach was Jim Harbaugh. Rivera is awful. Both men have coached the same number of games. One's team is a top contender. The other's takes defeat from the jaws of victory.

Anonymous said...

Too many loses like this one to even care anymore. Done with it.

Anonymous said...

How could anyone be excited about a team that's owned by the Atlanta freakin Falcons?

Anonymous said...

@6:41 you are wrong when you say the coach would have been ripped for "giving them the ball" at the 45. See, when you punt you give them the ball. When you go for it on 4th you make them earn the ball. And you don't voluntarily give the ball to the hottest QB in the NFL when they only need a field goal and are playing at home....indoors. You say we will get this yard and WIN. I guarantee you that every Falcon fan watching was hoping we would punt. That guarantees their team a chance. Think about it.

seamac3 said...

One of the best special teams play in Panthers history gets wiped out by a bone head defense scheme at the end.

Anonymous said...

Look, the only #43 we need on the field is "The Hitman" Chris Harris! He is a proven veteran that will fill a major gap for the Carolia defense! The last time I checked he is still available and in tip top shape. Come pantheres fans we need to get something done! Bring back the " The Hitman"!

Anonymous said...

Got them backed into their endzone, no timeouts and a minute to play. Whats their only chance? Throw it deep and hope for interference and we can't even defend what we know was coming. Sickening!!

Anonymous said...

You people are the dumbest fan base in america. Rivera made the right call. Your defense had sacked him 7 times and was putting pressure with just four. Players did not execute. If he went for it you stupid people would be saying he should have punted. Superman is the reason, fumbles after he had the first down. What dance did Superwoman do after the game? Did he open his eyes during the press conference?

John said...

This was on Rivera. 4th Qtr play calling was absolutely dumb!

Anonymous said...

How can anyone -- any Defense -- let a WR get behind them when the other team has no timeouts and the ball at their own 1. The Panther could give up the middle of the field underneath coverage and let the Falcons throw there and the clock would run out. But to let a guy get behind you deep? The safety should have lined up at the 50. I have seen it all now in ways for the Panthers to lose. you put the ball on the other teams 1 yard line with a minute to go and they have no timeouts...it doesnt get much better than that....and you blew it???

Anonymous said...

Let me start by saying I will be watching next week. Based on the way we played up until the decision was made to punt or go for it on 4th and 1 - there is no way we should not have gone for it then. Cam, anyone of the RBs, or even the FB - the way that they ran today could have ran for the 1 yard. Compacted on that was the fact that ATL did NOT have any more timeouts and we could have run the clock out after gaining the 1 yard. I think it was a gutless play and wonder who in the heck decided it was the right play. And the decision to set up and then try to get the Falcons offside vs. go for it was even more of a itch call. The fans have more confidence in the offense than the coaches do. You just CANNOT give the ball back to one of the best offenses in the league with that much time on the clock. I believe the coaches were shook after the fumble and therein lies the problem. They did not have the guts to go right back at it and scramble to get that 1 yard. Signed very dissappointed fan who will be watching next game.

Hang in there True panthers fan

DieHardCatXX said...

Note to Rivera:

Always play to your strengths. Never rely on your weaknesses to finish what your strengths set into motion. Always finish strong. Even if you lose, you know that you offered up the best you had.

Anonymous said...

Blah blah blah! Fans get an F for buying into the hype (yet again) and supporting an owner who employes a sports writer as a GM. WAKE UP Panther fans. You are fools believing this team is any good. It starts at the top and fools down hill. As long as You continue giving your money away to Richardson, why should he spend anymore getting quality coaches and players? Sheep to slaughter = Panther fans.

dcboy60 said...

I have to agree with Nakamura that he cost them the game. He went for the interception when he should have had his eyes on White. He could have easily broke up that pass had he kept an eye on White. I mean he was running backwards for the ball. He really looked confused on the long touchdown pass earlier in the game . He has looked pretty decent in run support, but they need a safety who can play pass defense. Allowing the 60 yard pass from the one yard line was inexcusable. Hopefully Nakamura will Lear and improve from his experience in this game . I agreed wothnRovera's decision to punt. Then they downed it on the one yard line. Rivera and his staff had the Panthers pumped up and ready for this game. I don't understand the complaints.

Anonymous said...

falcons owned roddy white is nasty and corner got murdered on a double move falcons are amazing sorry panthers we found the real superman