It was deja boo all over again Sunday. For the third straight year, Carolina lost a low-scoring home heartbreaker to Seattle.
This time the final score was 13-9, following 16-12 in 2012 and 12-7 in 2013. In every case, the Panthers had their chances, and in every case, they ultimately failed to close the deal as Russell Wilson and the Seahawks simply made more plays at the end. The picture above shows Kelvin Benjamin's drop of a TD pass -- Carolina's best chance to dent the end zone Sunday.
On Sunday, Carolina played defense like it was 2013 for most of the afternoon. A team that averaged 27.9 points per game allowed the first seven weeks had given up only two field goals when Wilson got the ball back with just under five minutes left and trailing, 9-6, after Graham Gano's third field goal.
But then came a nine-play, 80-yard march ending with the game's only touchdown -- Wilson's 23-yard strike to tight end Luke Willson with 0:47 to go. The Wilson-Willson tandem beat rookie safety Tre Boston on the play. Wilson has thrown a second-half TD pass in all three games that has proven to be the game-winner.
Carolina needed a miracle touchdown then, but after not scoring one all day, they weren't going to go 80 yards in the final 42 seconds. The Panthers went nowhere, and Seattle left Charlotte once again with a victory. The Panthers' offense under Newton has now scored only one touchdown in 12 quarters against Seattle over the past three years. "I think we left 21 out there," offensive tackle Byron Bell said, referring to Carolina's three trips inside the red zone without a single touchdown.
To be fair, Carolina played a whole lot better this week than the Panthers did in that beatdown they took against Green Bay last week. And the Panthers (3-4-1) are still in front in the NFC South, with Atlanta losing again Sunday and New Orleans yet to play.
But that's little consolation Sunday after a lot of good football goes to waste. Carolina played well for a lot of the game, but Newton had two really bad turnovers, the defense had a bad letdown in the final five minutes -- and the Panthers left the field to a chorus of boos after failing to complete a single pass on their final series, including an ill-fated screen pass on 4th-and-25.
"I have to be better, and I will," Newton said. He better be -- New Orleans is in town Thursday, and the Panthers are now 1-4-1 over their last six games.
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29 comments:
Cam is just awful...awful. He can't throw and makes poor decisions. He cost us this ballgame. As usual, after he screws up he just puts the gatorade towel on his head and sulks. What do we have to do to let Derek Anderson play?
Ugh
The truth hurts. Newton is, on average, an average player on a poorly coached team. Pre-season computer sims had Panthers going from first to worst this season.
Who can debate that now? The rest of the division also sucks so they are not really the worst of the worst.
Cam Newton... still making rookie mistakes trying to force the ball into coverage.
Im not going to point fingers ,Atleast we showed up to play and fought hard.
This means relying on Cam is dangerous. Why won't he pass the ball in the red zone? Been there three times and can't score, which means they must be protecting Cam. This is a problem, this guy is suppose to take this team to the Super Bowl? I'll believe it when I see it, I don't see that happening. They better do something fast, cause the defense may just throw in the towel. Why waist tearing up your body for a bunch of nonsense!!!
Okay inorder for any QB to have success, they need to have time to throw the ball. Cam is a fantastic QB but our o-line is just terrible. I think its wrong to point out all of the coaching staff because Defensively we played IMO our best game. Rivera and McDermott had a great plan. BUT, the offense was just way off today. Cam didn't have time, he wasn't making good reads, but he also wasn't being set up for success...aka the play calling. We had great field position all the game and an solid run game but almost every freakin pass was a bubble screen.
I enjoy watching Cam Newton when he is playing well, but when the game is close, he is not the guy that will get you that key win in the closing minute or two. It's also time to make some salary cap space, starting in the backfield. Let's just hope we don't get embarrassed again Thursday by the Saints.
C. Newton is not the answer for the Panthers. I would like to see D. Anderson have a shot, he's proven that he can win with a quality team. Sit C.N. before it's too late.
Mike Shula needs to be fired. No one has really said anything because his poor play calling was made up for by a great defense last year and has been overshadowed by a horrible defense this year. But every game you hear announcers puzzled by his poor decisions on 3rd down and in the red zone.
Has no one ever wondered why Cam excels so much in no-huddle? It's because it allows him to take the reigns and build confidence in himself--something he isn't able to do when he's being babied by Shula. Shula fails to make adjustments at the half, doesn't put Cam in any rhythm, calls unoriginal and sometimes downright horrible plays, and doesn't get his best players involved. All week we've heard that the Seahawks struggled against tight ends and big men, and yet Greg Olsen was targeted only once and Benjamin would have had only mediocre numbers if not for that 51 yard catch he made in the 4th quarter.
Chudzinski might have been too complicated for Newton in his early years, but Cam is more mature and accurate now. Mike's conservatism and simplicity are hindering the offense now rather than helping it. Now that Cam is developed, its time to let him loose. With the weapons we have we should be performing at a higher level than this.
You guys really need to knock it off with the Derek Anderson refrain. Only the most casual of fans would think Anderson gives the team a better chance to win. If he did, he'd be playing!, just ask Matt Flynn, who got the big contract to be Seattle's QB and got outplayed in training camp by one Russell Wilson. Before you throw Cam under the bus, the front office has to go first for putting him behind a CFL caliber offensive line. The guy is above average as a QB when he has time and targets (the occasional overthrow and lack of touch-throw polish aside), but he ain't Superman -- not when he is Surrounded by offensive players who'd never start anywhere else in the NFL
Cam has his flaws, for one I hate how he holds the ball too long waiting for a play to develop when our line is incapable of withstanding a good defense that long but to all the people saying play Derek Anderson...that's just plain damn silly, he's a lifetime journeyman for a reason and while he may be a better pocket passer with extended playing time he has proved in his career to be average at best and has nowhere near the play making ability of Cam once the line breaks down....which it will
I agree Cam didn't have a good game, but the play calling was terrible. All these screens were going nowhere at the end. As for Cam not being the guy when the game is close, ask the Patriots and the Saints what they think! He doesn't have an O-Line to help him.
Lets get out some Real Truth Truth here!.......Ron Rivera is one of the Worst coaches and his staff are a Freekin Joke!....Poorly prepared Red Zone offense's are the norm....Great defensive effort today...echos of how dominating they can be! ....But Cam Newton is a flash in the pan...done ...over...cant be fixed...get it?....can we please not resign himand get us a quarterback who can lead by doing the things real quarterbacks do!..The fans are sick and tired of Jerry's Yes men!!!!!{Ron Rivera..Gettleman...Shula...Newton}...can we get a real changeover...and get these Losers outta here and bring us some coaches that coach and have Fire and Heart...Along with a QB that has a desire to excel and win!...and is not worried about how his capri pants are selling at Belk's....The panthers for the fans ...IS THE BIGGEST LOSS ON AN INVESTMENT THAT I CAN THINK OF!!!!!CAN WE FIRE THE OWNERS..MANAGEMENT...AND STOP THE MADNESS?....WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE CAROLINAS AND OUR FANS...CITY..ETC
Time to let Cam go win or lose Anderson or Webb could do better as a matter of fact they have.Cam sorriest thing to come from Georgia.
I knew this game was lost in the first quarter when the Panthers blew 2 opportunities to score touchdowns instead of field goals. We are not a good team. We can't afford to not put touchdowns on the board when we are within the 5 yard line. I'm a Cam fan, but it is time for him to stop the silly first down gesture after he picks up a first down. I can't help but notice how Russell Wilson leads his team and carries himself. It's time to mature Cam and stop craving the spotlight. Did you hear how Russell Wilson said the Seahawk turnovers were on him. He deflected the blame from teammates and put it all on his shoulders
Can needs to do less showboating and do more showing up.
Once again the O-Line cost us the game. Could not give Cam protection when it mattered. KB dropped a TD pass, poor play calls in the redzone, and overall poor pass protection. We need to draft a new left tackle and some guards.
Putting Derek Anderson is stupid. Get off of it. Cam is a good quarterback that makes a few mistakes yes, but the play calling was atrocious. Greg Olsen should have been targeted in the red zone. We need an offensive line and a better secondary.
Losing hardy destroyed the chemistry we had last year. Not to mention all the secondary and our o line is porous like a sponge.
I see 6-10 this year, but as always for Carolina fans...always next year,then next year, then next year, then next year, then next year, then next year..........
Thank god for the hornets baby! They are back!
Cam could be better but not until he stops that stupid superman stuff and jumping up and pointing first down get back to the huddle and get ready for the next play. It is time to grow up
Look, if the coaching staff will take the training wheels off of Cam Newton, the guy will amaze you. Only 22 passes in today's NFL with the rules all set up for passing down field. It is crazy!!! If the coaches would put in a passing offense, practice a passing offense, and starting using a passing offense, Cam Newton will be talked about in the same way as Andrew Luck. The difference is that Luck is in a PASSING OFFENSE!!! They practice long passes. They practice intermediate routes!! They practice these things over and over until they are ingrained in the mentality of their players. You can't focus on run, run, run and then think the quarterback is going to save you. It does not work like that. Whatever you focus on, that is what you will have to depend on when the chips are down. Panthers, GO TO A PASSING OFFENSE AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT CAM NEWTON CAN REALLY DO!!!!
Please, please, please, please don't give Newton a 20MM dollar contract. He's not worth it. He's a good looking guy, good face for the franchise and all that garbage but he hasn't developed into a top level QB yet. When he does, he should get paid. Not before. Shoot, he'll make up the gap in endorsements. Like I said, he's a good looking, camera likes-him guy. Not that great at football. What's with his head first slides? Looks like Bernie Kosar, all awkward and gangly. Also, one more thing. Cam needs to stop the physical antics and posturing ALL THE TIME. Less is more in that kind of deal son. Be discreet and show your cards when you have some cards. Don't be a punk.
I have read zero of these posts…i Know that there are so many Panthers haters out there…many who are so uneducated.
If we try to throw downfield sometime…it might make our offense unpredictable. Otherwise the read option and runs up the middle won't do anything.
4 and 23…screen pass?????
It's time to thank Luke and Thomas for their heart out there. The rest of you morons can go watch women's basketball. Maybe you'll be able to find a competent analysis off that considering the only people who comment are straight morons.
Im not going to do my norm ,I do beleive we showed up at least this week but as I said last week its not looking good for us on Thursday night,I do beleive who ever wins Thursdays game will control the division, Hope its us.Cam shake it off bring your A-game Thursday....GO PANTHERS
Should've kept John Fox. Smitty too.
it was annoying to watch cam showboat after his first down runs. he's more worried about his image than the game itself.
I am disappointed beyond belief at the outcome of this game. We had the Seahawks on their heels and failed to execute in the redzone. I get the impression that for some reason Ron Rivera and staff don't have confidence in Cam's ability to throw when we get in the redzone and I don't know why. Jonathan Stewart did a good job of softening up the Seattle defense so I'm not sure why practly everything was a run once we got into the redzone. If we had a better O-line then perhaps we could depend on playing offensively the way we did last year but we have a crappy O-line so we can't. If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. It's time to allow Cam to run a no-huddle, up-tempo offense more often than not with short passes, runs, and then some long bombs and play action mixed in. Our offense is not creative or varied in a way that would make us at all dynamic. True, Cam needs to use his head and as he says, be willing to take what the defense gives him. But until the team is willing to invest in some quality players for the O-line and secondary and give Cam at least one speedster at the WR position I don't even know where we expect to go this season. And please stop all the Cam bashing!
ya know.... quick show of hands... when it was 3rd and 22 with 34 secs or so left in the game, how many people thought : "Ok, this is 4 down territory - this is 2 plays at 11 yards each, we can do this!"...?
Then....
dun-dun-dun-daaaaaaaaaaaaaaHHH!!!!
SACK!
(TY Offensive Line, you are truly offensive)
Then you're thinking..."oh man...4th and 25, this stinks... but we've got 25 seconds...Hail Mary? Deep Route? Hit Benjamin up the side!..."
then....
dun-dun-dun-daaaaaaaaaaaaaaHHH!!!!
SCREENPASS!
(d'oh!... with 25 yards to makeup? Really? WTH?)
Ready to hang up the season yet?
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