The Panthers loss Hurts

by LittleKing on Dec 22, 2008 10:06 AM EST

Emotionally this is a hard loss. In reality though it doesn't change much. We still have the opportunity for a first round bye and at least one home field game in the playoffs. In addition, thanks to Dallas losing Saturday night, we are at least guaranteed to make the postseason.

I don't ~~feel like~~ need to rehash the stats from the game but giving up that many yards on the ground hurts. The D-line was just worn out at the end of the game. We've seen it happen before; just usually to the other team.

Overall there were more positives than negatives during this game. Only three negatives really stick out in my mind.

Negatives

We lost
Gave up 301 yards on the ground
Pass Interference penalty at critical time (but it probably saved the TD at that time)

While DT Maake Kemoeatu injury definitely hurt our rushing defense, I wouldn't pin the loss solely on him being out. After all we did have a chance to win with a field goal.

Positives

No additional major injuries (that I know of)
Defense totaled 3 sacks
Didn't get blown out
Only 4 penalties (albeit one at a very critical time)
O-Line didn't give up a sack
Geoff Hangartner and Jeremy Bridges did a good job at RG
Offense is still clicking putting up 28 points
Jake Delhomme found receivers other than Smith
Dwayne Jarrett is becoming a solid 3rd down option
DeAngelo Williams had over 100 yards and 4 touchdowns
Guaranteed playoff spot (after Dallas lost)

I give us a better than 80% chance of winning next week and getting the first round bye in the playoffs. However, Drew Brees will be gunning for Dan Marino's single season passing yard record and is only behind by 401 yards. Plus any divisional matchup will not be easy. It should be an interesting game to watch.

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Comments

I didn't put much into my recap

last night. I was too disappointed and tired. I’ll take a harder look at the Panthers performance but you can;t get down on anyone person or phase of the game when you had a make-able FG to win it and missed. To think we could now drop to the #5 seed makes my stomach hurt.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Dec 22, 2008 10:41 AM EST reply actions

I finished most of mine tonight. It hurts to write about it v.v

My heart aches.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Dec 23, 2008 2:04 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't worry

It’s the first Panthers game I’ve seen this year and I can say without reservation that the 4 best teams in the NFL are NYG, CAR, PIT, and TEN. Everyone else is a shade below and for 60 minutes last night it was a deadlock.
I wouldn’t worry, I know it’s hard to believe, but you would slaughter MIN/CHI or ARI. Slaughter. You’re in the D-round, just might have to play into it.Props to the NFC south, whoever goes to the bowl is probably going to have to play 2 of’em.
Oh, and I hate Jake Delhomme. And D’Angelo’s sandwiches. Don’t shush the crowd unless the game is in hand.

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 22, 2008 10:52 AM EST reply actions

Too many will blame Kasay

yes, he had to stop, and ended up missing, but the offense needed to have gotten a decent drive in the second half. A couple more first downs, and a littl emore rest for the defense meant the difference of the game.

Well played, and even after taking it to OT, it took two drives.

by panthersnbraves on Dec 22, 2008 11:51 AM EST reply actions

Agreed

Just for clarification I wasn’t blaming Kasey, just pointing out we had the chance to win.

by LittleKing on Dec 22, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Ouuuuuuuch

That loss hurts, but I can only see this as being the kind of adversity that helps build character in a team, at a time when I think we’ll be able to make good use of it. When we face them again in the Meadowlands, I see us playing a better game and keeping their running game in check.

I will say that, while I thought the game was very well called by the officials, homer alert I think the pass interference call should have gone the other way. Lucas was obviously watching and playing the ball, but Hixon held his arm and didn’t let him get turned around to make a play on the ball. If Hixon doesn’t start arm-wrestling him, Lucas gets the pick. Instead, we had a really cheap (and very wrong) call. But the enforcement of the penalty only resulted in a 4-yard gain, not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.

One other thing to add as a Positive to your list, LK, is that none of those long runs we gave up to Ward ended in TDs. We always had someone to stop him before he could cross the goalline. Compare that to any of the defenses we’ve faced this year, and we always see our long runs finish in the end zone. Of course, then it fell to the short-yardage defense to get the job done, and without Ma’ake we don’t stand a chance in that situation. Just something else to think about for the re-match.

by r3 on Dec 22, 2008 7:01 PM EST reply actions