The Carolina Panthers played another very ugly game at home Sunday, losing 16-12 to Seattle to drop to 1-4 on what is rapidly becoming another lost season.
Much like the season opener against Tampa Bay, the Panthers’ offense ultimately let the team down this time. Carolina’s defense not only kept the game close but also scored the Panthers’ only touchdown, on a 33-yard interception return by Captain Munnerlyn that briefly put Carolina ahead, 10-6.
But the Panthers’ offense was horrible. It couldn’t run the ball and DeAngelo Williams lost a key fumble that eventually led to Seattle’s only TD. And Cam Newton threw the ball more poorly than I’ve ever seen him throw it, generating more boos at Bank of America Stadium than he ever has before. Newton placed the blame squarely on himself after the game -- here's my column about his performance.
Entering the fourth quarter, Newton was 5-for-20 for 55 yards. It was stunningly bad, and Newton fell on the sword after the game, saying he just wasn't playing well enough to win. The Seahawks’ pass rush was great, yes, and Newton had several dropped balls, but still – five completions in three quarters?!
Trailing 16-10, the Panthers got untracked for one last drive and, after several straight completions, had a first-and-goal at the 6 and a fourth-and-goal at the 1.
But on that fourth-and-goal play, Carolina took out all of its wide receivers and then tried to trick Seattle with a play-action pass (Newton also had the option to run). Tight end Greg Olsen was double-covered and Newton tried to guide the ball to his secondary target, Ben Hartsock, who was open for a moment -- "wide open," coach Ron Rivera would say later -- but Newton grounded the ball five yards short.
"The run-pass option worked in our favor," Rivera said. "We had a guy wide open. And unfortunately we just didn’t get it done."
Carolina got one last shot, starting its final drive with 54 seconds left and no timeouts from its own 31 after Seattle took an intentional safety in its own end zone to make the score 16-12 instead of 16-10. The Panthers still would need to score a TD either way.
But 69 yards in 54 seconds proved far too tall of a task, as Newton was sacked and fumbled on the second play and Seattle recovered and ran out the clock. Carolina would end up being outgained 310-190 in this game, and only because of the defense was the game even close. "Our defense needs to know that if they're going to play like that, we're going to win," said offensive tackle Jordan Gross. Instead this game was much like the Tampa Bay game, when the defense also played decently, allowed 16 points and then saw the once-fearsome Panther offense crumble when the team needed points the most. It was nasty, all in all, and the Panthers now have almost two weeks to think about it -- they don't play again until Oct.21st at home against Dallas (a team Seattle beat by 20).
We're moving!
9 years ago
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61 comments:
Bench Cam Fire McDermitt
This is a tough loss for reasons that go beyond the abdominal performance by offense. Key to all the losses is very poor blocking and tackling, basics of football. I'm not sure if there was ever or is today a quarterback that can overcome that.
Panthers need jim leyland! What a joke of a team to be in NFL! Hard to be a panther fan!
The team needs to hear very loudly from many of their life-long fans that the way the are playing this season is an embarrassment. They show a total lack of consistency across the board. There is not one thing that is to blame for these losses other than the entire team and coaching staff. Ron Rivera's uninspired play calling reminds me of John Fox's final years. Steve Smith shows real fire but loses his head and becomes a punk on the field when he needs to be a leader. Cam is showing signs of a sophomore slump. They need to get it together and come back from the bye and play like the fans know the Panthers can play!
Fourth and goal from 2 feet, and we have a QB who is 6-5, 250 but we roll him out to throw the ball. Terrible play call.
The team needs to hear very loudly from life-long fans that the way they are playing right now is completely embarrassing. They are showing no consistency from one game to the next. There doesn't seem to be any motivation to win. Rivera's coaching reminds me of John Fox's last years here. Steve Smith shows that he can get fired up but then he takes it too far on the field sometimes to the detriment of the team. Cam is showing signs of a sophomore slump. They need to pull it back together during the break and come back and play like we know they can.
And with the #1 pick in the 2013 NFL draft....the Carolina Panthers select...
CAM NEWTON IS A B-U-S-T...RON RIVERIA IS A BUST...
2who cares. Carolina Panthers are a joke. My nephew was right years ago when he said Carolina's mascot should be a hamster.
Once again, it has become very tough to be a Panthers fan. Man they stunk today. To play that way at home is shameful.
Soo we got rid of Fox because we never had back to back wining seasons,But now we are on a roll for 3 Losing seasons in a row...Nice job, Jerry and friends ..
They are too hard to watch now. Uninspired, poor tackles, bad plays. What is there to be fan of?
What the heck is going on? It took all the way into the fourth quarter for Newton to even look at Olsen. Are you kidding me??? Thats coaching plain and simple. And DeAngelo and Johnathan did you leave your hands at home? Hats off to the defense who played hard and gave the Panther fans something to cheer about in an otherwise dismal performance.
Everyone in the world should agree with these comments!!
The Panthers and the Head Coach are truly terrible!!
The Panthers playoff hopes were tenative at the start of the season so now fans have to decide if the Coaching plans have failed or has the offensive line given up on Cam Newton.Fans can't just say Cam had one bad game in his second season. Nor can critics demand Cam be traded or benched,yet. But something is seriously wrong with the team's chemistry and we all thought this was a better team than when Jake led it.
Please take this team to LA.
Mr. Fowler, i beg you and the rest of the media to give us fans a hand. You have the power of being heard by the Panther ownership. We need changes; this team has become an embarrassment.
This team either has no talent (so fire the General Manager) or they are totally unprepared (fire the coaches). In either case, it is time to start looking at some of the choices being made in the front office.
I cannot believe that the Panthers don't receive lots and lots of requests from fans - you know, those folks who pay the players' SALARIES - for Cam Newton to shed that ridiculous towel! People don't pay to see the back and sides of a toweled head and no other quarterback, or any other player to my knowledge, uses this college level tactic. Drop it and join the NFL, CAM. If not for yourself, then for your fans!
Well, we are done. I can't blame the players. The coaching staff owns this one. Why do I think this? Because I coach at the next level. I think Chud is biding his time; Jerry should bite the bullet and fire Rivera and Sean, clean up and make the Panthers Chud's team. Hurney? Not sure, not enough real info. All in all, poor leadership.
Am I the only one that thinks someone was enriched to not perform.
I mean, if I told you someone threw the game, what player would come to mind?
Can't wait for Bobcats season to start, at least they'll compete and win a few games.
Time to give Anderson a shot.
Starts with Hurney. He is the laughingstock of NFL GMs. His picking track record has been abysmal. The huge contracts for mediocre talent (DW, JS and CJ) have hamstrung cap flexibility. Sure the coaches called a poor game on offense and missed tackles hurt but this team is nowhere close to being a power and simply has too many deficiencies - lack of O-line depth, rookie o-line draft pick is a bust, secondary is just plain awful, Cam is petulant and simply not a leader. Where do we go from here? Unfortunately nowhere. Fire Hurney. Please.
I guess we now know why Rivera has been passed over for a HC job... SMH!
I think the Panthers problems are the result of about 3 things.
1. Cam Newton has lost his confidence. He's tentative and not making decisions in the pocket.
2. We need to improve the talent level in the secondary.
3. Coaching is a problem right now. There are too many bad things happening on both sides of the ball from game to game and I do not think the team is being managed well.
That said....I really like the effort from the defense. Hell...they scored our only touchdown.
Fire Rivera and Hurney!
Everything was bad but one thing keeps standing out to me. Cam holds on to the ball WAY too long. Offense can't block but for so long!
Why is every loss on the offense? Our defense can't stop an an old lady with a walker, they are pathetic.
I hear the seahawks awarded Cam the game ball. Seriously though I'm going to start recording the games and view later if worth while. If I'm going to spend a few hours of my Sunday watching tv it's going to be something I enjoy. Cams has the physical skills and talent but isn't proving to be a clutch player.
It starts at the top. Jerry Richardson doesn't want to spend any 'real' money to hire coaches or free agents. Then Hurney and Co. make bad draft decisions (a blind squirrel can find a nut on occasion). Riviera is DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR material - not a head coach. But I'm sure he came on the cheap.
Cam...probably not going to ever be an elite QB. So as long as he's here, you can forget about chasing any Lombardi trophies.
Cam Newton ...OVER RATED.. OVER RATED!
The D line is so-so. The linebackers are average (Kuechley could be okay in time). Beason looks small and slow anymore. Davis, playing on a time bomb of a knee. The secondary is atrocious. Starting a rook (Norman), still playing Munnerlyn. Of course Richardson isn't going to spend a lot of money on a shutdown corner or any free agents at all for that matter.
@jdcock: the D only gave up 16 points, you dummy. Sixteen points. And our supposed "strength" of the team can't even score ONE TD. The D scored the only TD. The offense is pathetic and overrated. Defense gve up yards but played tough today. NOBODY played well on Offense today.
Rick Andrews: You're right about Cam having the physical skills, but I'm not sold on the idea that he has QB talent.
I see a lot of comments on opposite ends of the spectrum, blaming this person and that person. The problems are all across the board, though. Pick any area of the organization. On offense, the play calling doesn't even seem like the same Chud from last year who wasn't afraid to take risks. The ball never seems to move vertically anymore, and there is no variety in the run game. This is all made worse by an offensive line in decline. On the defensive side of the ball, the line is inconsistent and the secondary might as well be nonexistent. All this is made worse by poor coaching. Rivera is just not commanding enough to inspire action or discipline in his players. On the sidelines he is emotionless, and he's just as bland in his press conferences. I understand the panthers are a young team that must be experiencing growing pains, but it just doesn't add up. I wasn't one of the fans blind enough to insist that the panthers were heading for a Superbowl this season, but I was expecting excitement and at least PROGRESS. Right now it seems like we're just stuck.
Start ARMANTI EDWARDS!
We need a whole new attitude in Carolina. This coaching staff seems to just roll over once things stop going their way and the players follow. There is no fight left in carolina and there hasn't been for years.
B of A stadium. Where Obama planned to ask for 4 more years to do nothing and fail. And where Panther fans witness the same from their team. What a joke. Obama and Richardson. Hard to tell them apart these days. Empty promises
This team is so terrible coached that there's almost no way to properly evaluate the team. Half the time they don't know where there suppose to be. Blitzers rome freely. Cam holds the ball forever. Our playcalling is terrible. People keep saying this team has no identity. We HAVE AN IDENTITY! IT'S THE IDENTITY OF RON RIVERA AND THIS TERRIBLE COACHING STAFF. Somebody in the media PLEASE SAY SOMETHING!! Somebody's seat needs to be hot
Anddd to those who insist that Cam is our problem, I actually think it's deeper than that. Cam has the potential to be a franchise quarterback with poise and the ability to win games. However, all this is new to the Panthers, and I don't believe the organization was prepared. With the exception of Chud, they didn't bring in a coaching staff that could successfully groom Newton mentally and physically for his role as a franchise player. The panthers are in a strange "in between" place. They need to decide whether they are going to fully invest in Cam's potential and build a star power team around him, or stick with the old notions of the Jake Delhomme age and try to get to the playoffs with a work horse team full of no-names and who simply get the job done. The latter is a mentality that is slowly dying in the NFL and doesn't seem to win games anymore. The panthers need money, talent, good coaches, and a strategy, and right now we're lacking all of the above.
To those who want Cam to remove the towel - not going to happen as he is paid by Gatorade to have it around his head. Am I the only one sick of all the pink garb? I understand the cause but isn't the NFL making it to obvious that the reason for the whole month of October pink-out is to attract the female fan. Follow the money people!
Two weeks in a row, we need short yardage to win and we punt and try to pass... Why exactly do we have a $100 million backfield?
Reminds me of Romney and the Republicans...all they do is talk and when it comes to walking the walk all they do if "fudge the bed".
cams a legend in his own mind,sean blew it at philly,ron doesnt have a spark to him,looks like seifert.secondary leaves open middle of field for years now,chud can do it .one page play book doesnt.other than that were fantabulous
Fire Hurney. He is lousy at picking talent and has hurt the franchise miserably over the years! Management has wasted considerable cap money of players who do not live up to what they are getting paid. When is Richardson going to wake up and see this franchise is failing and becoming a joke in the NFL year after year...
Litlover: like your posts specially the first one. Well said. Problem is Cams potential isn't winning games. He seems to screw up at the most crucial times. Granted he is young and he isn't the only issue with the team but the last two games when he had a chance to shine he choked.
It's hard for cam to move the ball against the number 1 defense
We're just loveable losers anymore. We used to go to a super bowl every few years, losing only b/c of a missed FG.
I'll echo the call above to "start Armanti Edwards". The question after watching this game (and reading this article) is not whether to start AE but where--WR, QB, or RB?
Today he would have helped the team at any or all of those positions.
How to win 101:
Fire Hurney, Rivera, McDermott after the season.
Hire a fresh, offensive minded coach, that and can relate to the players of this era.
The backfield is the centerpiece, but also their curse. $90 million wrapped up in three backs that produce mediocre results.
Dump DeAngelo, Stewart is younger and more productive, and DeAngelo's contract eats a lot of cap space that can be used where other needs should be met.
Carolina desperately needs a suitable #2 WR to be able to compete in this division. Use the money saved from DeAngelo's contract to sign one.
Don't forget if Carolina wants to re-sign Newton, it will be stupid expensive. Like, "Big Money" Johnson expensive, at least. That will be unaffordable with the capspace over the next few years because Hurney's genius re-signed a losing team for another 5-7 years.
Further, cut the players that waste roster space, you know, those players that were labeled expendable by other teams or have had multiple years to progress and similarly don't produce, i.e. Armanti Edwards, Haruki Nakamura (no brainer), Louis Murphy, Jimmy Clausen, and Brandon Hogan (face it he is not going to play).
Since the season is essentially lost, as Atlanta is 5-0, a high draft pick seems likely, so trade it down and use both picks on a CB and safety, shoring up a blind ball-hawking group of pass defenders. With the remaining draft, select an OG, OT, and best available for the latter rounds in that order.
Consider moving Beason to outside and let Gamble compete for his job as #1 CB.
On a side note, Jerry Richardson is also the same man that condescended the shit out of two Hall-of-Fame QB's in Peyton Manning and Drew Brees during the lockout by asking them if they knew how to read a pie chart. This could all just be so badly ran, top down, that it won't be improved until the team is under new ownership.
If you going to run a read option offense Armanti Edwards should be the QB you would have a better chance of winning!
I think the biggest issue is the idea of running from the shotgun. I don't think I have ever seen a team excel doing that and we certainly have not. We need to get back to the basics and run out of the I-formation so we our running backs can actually gain some yards instead of forever being tackled as soon as they hit the line of scrimmage.
Why does every Panther coach since the beginning just stand there and doesn't say anything to the players when they make a stupid play or just do not perform. Panthers need a coach with some fire who will chew their butts out when they do not perform.
How long have I been telling you all that the ONLY viable solution is a CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP?!?!?
Funny thing is that's the only solution for the BOBcats too!!
Maybe we could find one really really rich guy to buy 'em both!!
IMO the Panthers just ran into one of the best defenses in the NFL. Couldn't run it, could barely pass it. Give the Seattle team some credit. They kicked the Carolina Kitty cats rear-ends. Im glas thier offense isnt that good or it wouldve been REALLY REALLY ugly.
Seahawks D dominated the kitty cats. Glad thier offense is so poor.
RUN THE BALL! We are paying untold millions and millions for 3 good RB's, 2 of them pro-bowl material, and yet Williams get's 6 carries, Stewart 4 and Tolbert 1? IN A TIGHT GAME?!? Look at week one, another tight game (and loss) and yet Williams gets only 6 carries. Why pay these guys millions if you don't use them? Crippling our team with all this money that is going nowhere? Trade Stewart OR deangleo, and run the remaining one into the ground, make him earn his money. A good RB cannot get into a grove with 10 carries per game (or less) Coach is always talking about how limiting their carries keeps them fresh throughout the year and extends their careers. WHAT IS HE SAVING THEM FOR? We cant make the playoffs like this, never have, so what is the plan, keep them fresh for meaningless games at the end of the year? Yeah!
i think cam rules!! the purge will play itself out...with class...Less thought guys!
Tolbert is taking away from the backfield
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