Let’s play a game, Panthers fans!
This game is easy. It will remind you of Wheel of Fortune, but the caveat here is that the puzzle is already solved. The object of this game is to find clues as to how it was solved. The only prize at the end of this game is an expense-paid trip to a clear mind and a healed heart until the next game.
Now, with that said, let’s get into it…
How did we get here?
After a forceful spin of the wheel, the needle raced across teal, black and, silver panels before landing on teal revealing the first clue and point of blame.
Third Down Conversions
One of the keys to the game was Carolina’s ability to be efficient on third down. When a team completes on ‘ third and ____’, it gives the defense more time to rest by winning the time of possession. It worked against Atlanta last week. However, it didn’t work today. The Panthers were 3-11 on third down. To make matters worse, the defense was unable to stop the Patriots’ offense on a couple of third-down situations late in the game. The Patriots went 6-14 on third down and won the time of possession by six minutes.
After another spin, the needle landed on a silver panel, revealing a second clue and point of blame.
Joe Brady and His One-Dimensional Play-Calling
You did it, Joe! Once again, you did it! Joe Brady seems to only know one set of plays: run or feed CMC. It didn’t matter that Christian McCaffrey just returned to action today and probably needed time to find his footing. Brady, once again, resorted to over-relying on CMC (granted, head coach Matt Rhule has been cautious in his approach on offense to cut down on turnovers). However, overcommitting to the run only resulted in two futile and irrelevant field goals. NFL on CBS announcers Greg Gumble and Adam Archuletta said the same things I’ve been saying when it comes to the offense. Today, they wanted DJ Moore and Robby Anderson more involved in the offense. They wanted Sam Darnold to target them and test the Patriots’ secondary. But that didn’t happen. Other than a surprise pass to Chubba Hubbard in the middle of the third quarter and a token pass to Moore, most of the plays featured CMC running or Hubbard running for 78 yards to nowhere.
A third spin made the needle scamper and bounce to a black panel revealing a third clue and point of blame.
Darnold
Sam Darnold tricked y’all man. He played y’all. He had some of you out here believing that he was at least competent and decent enough to manage and win. His early-season success at least earned him the benefit of the doubt. But now, Darnold removed that benefit and all that’s left is doubt. Doubt that he is the solution for Carolina under center. Doubt in his abilities as a quarterback. He finished the game going 16-33, 133 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and 1 pissed off Robby Anderson on the sidelines.
The 4-5 Panthers will travel to Glendale to face the Arizona Cardinals next week.