Game Over - Panthers Season Over

by Revshawn on Jan 11, 2009 12:03 AM EST Comment 33 comments

The season is over. #2 seed and home field advantage? Out the window. The Panthers lost their first playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals, 33-13.

I don't have much to say about this game. This game leaves me brokenhearted. I'm tired. I'm frustrated. I threw the whole day away just so I could watch the game on a flat screen. What a waste of my time.

All I want to say is this: When Jake Delhomme pulled off a heroic victory at San Diego, I was there. When we were slaughtered by the Tampa Bay Bucs and came back the next time we faced them to beat them, I was there. I was there when we made that big draft day trade and got Stewart and Otah to revive the running game. I was there when we went 12-4 to bring back hope to the Carolinas.

We were hopeful. The Panthers would finally stake their place in NFL History. Team records were being broken. The city was so excited, all 7,000 of the tickets released to the public were sold out within a few minutes. We were believing once more. The Cardiac Cats are back! The Panthers were going to the Super Bowl. Nothing can stop us!

And then in this game, in a twinkling of an eye, all of our hopes, our dreams, all of the emotional pride we invested in the Panthers came to a bitter end. Jake Delhomme lost all confidence throughout the Carolina's and the NFL by throwing 5 interceptions and fumbling the ball once. Jake Delhomme lost the game for us, and I wouldn't be lying if this wasn't his final game of his career. It should be the last game of his career. If it isn't, then the fan base should have a pretty big riot in front of the stadium.

I'll be back tomorrow to post the keys to the game. Why we lost the game and what future holds for the Panthers. For now though, I'll reserve my right to remain silent. Have a good night sleep everyone. We'll have better days, I assure you.

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According to Fox, Jake will start next year.

by jamieclayton on Jan 11, 2009 12:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Revshawn

I feel ur pain…Jake is no longer the answer. JC… I hope ur kidding about Fox!!

by Davejinxer on Jan 11, 2009 12:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jake has got to go. I think they should trade to get Brian Brohm from Green Bay. He really has no trade value right now so we could probably get him for cheap.

by rrichards85 on Jan 11, 2009 1:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is Brohm any good though?

I mean, he struggled his last year in college (and that’s being nice), and he obviously didn’t impress last year… it’s the only way to explain why he has no trade value. Is he really going to be the answer?

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i disagree

Well, I agree Jake lost the game, who could argue that, but there was more to it than that. It goes back to mental toughness, and the fans showed they lacked the toughness, too, by booing Jake in the 2nd quarter. At what point was the defense going to get some stops? Why did D-Will only get 12 carries? If I called the plays instead, Jake still probably would have lost the game for us, but the other players have to take some responsibility…and the coaches, too.

I say we trade up and get Tebow, give Jake the starting nod next year and let him train up Tebow, and then we’ll be on our way to some superbowls. Jake finished our argument for us that started in the Jake for team MVP post. We need another QB, and I don’t think McCown is the answer. If Matt Moore can’t do it, then we need our first pick to be a QB. We also need to resign Peppers and Gross. I’m not sure how much of a difference they made in this game, though.

As for the rest of the team, I feel we will enter next season as the most talented team in football again. Now we just need a mistake-free QB and to bench Lucas in favor of Richard Marshall.

by usana_gaines on Jan 11, 2009 5:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure about the Tebow part

but something has to happen with the secondary. Cover Fitzgerald dammit! OK, someone else is covering hiim, but they get rubbed off, leave you man and cover him. Shoot – reach out and hold him if you have to. 5 yards is better than 25. Too many blown assignments. I don’t see Mike Gilhammer getting job offers any time soon.

I bet Matt Moore is out in the back yard this morning throwing to some neighbor kid, trying to get some reps in. I would be.

by panthersnbraves on Jan 11, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree about Tebow

first, he won’t be declaring (I don’t think), and second, I really don’t want him as our QB.
I’d much rather we go with McCoy or Sanchez next year… trading up this year will be a pain because we have no first rounder.

That, or someone like Chase Daniel or Graham Harrell in the 3rd/4th round this year, where he can sit for a year before being asked to start.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tebow probably won't even be a QB

With his body type, it seems like he’d convert to a fullback or a tight end. Something like that.

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

by Revshawn on Jan 11, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tebow is a winner I'll give him that

He’s going to try and play at QB if someone hims him a try. The Panthers? I doubt it.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 11, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's going to do his best to prove that's his position

You hear he already committed to Florida for next season? With two national championships, aHeisman, and countless awards, he has a chance of being one of the best college players of all time.

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

by Revshawn on Jan 12, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn

I’m a Jake Delhomme fan, ever since he outplayed Tom Brady in the Superbowl. You guys are fucking crazy to put this one on him. He screwed up 2 throws really, in the others he was really unlucky or the WR messed up the route. But really, this should not be the point. Williams and Stewart couldn’t carry the ball to save their lives. Did Steve Smith ever play the game? The defense was awful. But I guess it’s easier to blame the older man.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 11, 2009 11:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If he wasn't throwing into coverage...

he was throwing these high-arcing ducks. Even on the INT from a tip it was his fault. He forced the ball into too tight of a situation and totally telegraphed it. Hey, I was just defending Jake this past week, called him the team MVP. He played his worst game in years, worse than the Oakland game. He could have had 2-3 more INT’s that were dropped by the defense. The first 2 INT’s his fault for sure and that totally deplated the team as the defense couldn;t stop them.

How can you blame the running game, they had 15 carries total? I agree the defense was awful as they totally exploited our zones. Tyrgovac had no answer for Fitz on the crossing routes which is pathetic. What happened to our defense in the second half of the season is another big question that needs answers.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 11, 2009 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

'deflated' the team

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 11, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't mean to blame the running backs, even if that's what sounded I did

Mainly, my thing was with the game plan. It was awful. Why stop running to start throwing? I saw Williams more than once being tackled for a loss at a bad time, like in a 2nd down or so. Can’t say if it was his fault, or the O-line.

Delhomme had a bad game. I’m pretty sure you know more about him than I do, I just like the guy. Funny how the local commentators (I currently live in Argentina) were calling Jake a ‘bad-to-average QB’, and I went crazy on the TV. He latter made me look stupid, but I think it was a team failing to win more than a QB failing to deliver. Just my thoughts, of course.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 11, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

the gameplan (on both sides of the ball) was just horrible.
No idea what they were thinking when they came up with it…

Give up on the run very early, and let Delhomme air it into good coverage.
Leave Fitzgerald open play after play… while not blitzing, giving Warner plenty of time to find the open guy.
etc.

Total crap.

As for the losses… the Cards partially seemed to be expecting run, and the run blocking really wasn’t that good last night.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Panthers might have underrated the Cardinals

They mailed it in like at the half of the season, but they were pretty good before winning the division. The gameplan was just bad.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 11, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Avoid those turnovers and the game is at least close

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 11, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The run was abandoned

because they were playing from behind. Don’t totally agree with it, but running takes time off the clock which you don’t want to do when ur behind on the scoreboard. Jake was pressured to throw and made poor decisions forcing the ball. The turnover near the cardinals endzone that was batted out of Jake’s hand( like the first game against the cards) was a real game changer. Other than the first drive… the offense looked uninspired.

by Davejinxer on Jan 11, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That second drive

it was tied. No reason to air it out starting then.
And it’s only really a problem if you’re down big… down 1 TD or even 2… not too much of a problem to run and get your offense going.

At least that’s how I see it.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

The Panthers gave up on the run on the first haft, there’s really no excuse. Late in the game I get, but in the first half?

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 11, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...

Smith played, but you can only do so much when the ball never makes it to you. After the PI call early, the ball didn’t come close to Smith again until the interception on the bombed screen or whatever. That’s partially on Delhomme for bad throws, partially on the OL for not blocking well, and partially on the OC for not running plays to get it in his hands (reverses, quick screens, something). The one screen they did run was thrown into triple coverage and picked off.

The running game… D-Will had 12 carries for 63 yard (5.3 ypc) and Stewie had 3 for 12 (4.0 ypc). I obviously don’t see where the RBs are at fault… the team went away from the run to put the game in Delhomme’s hands… and it killed them.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, as for the defense

completely agreed. No idea what they were thinking… on the FOX pre-game show, someone (Jimmy Johnson, I think) even mentioned that the Cards coaches had told Warner to look for Fitzgerald no matter what, and throw him the ball even if he’s covered.

The Panthers made that a lot easier by not even covering him.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cardinals only had one game

Fitzgerald, it was this simple. Breaston is a slighty overrated WR. Fitzgerald is one of the best WR in the game but he was left alone or with single coverage every single time, it was frustrating. It was sort of painful to see the Panthers being beat that bad, I was rooting for them because of my mancrush on Delhomme and because I thought Williams should have won the MVP.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 11, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

it was disgusting to watch.
Everyone knew the Cards were going to go to Fitz early and often… well, everyone except the Panthers coaches, it seems.

Breaston is alright, but he’s a 1000 yard receiver in that offense… and while we contained him (in relative terms), he was open at times too. We couldn’t keep up, and the soft zone was a horrible decision.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Jan 11, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"The soft zone was a horrible decision"

So true, Caroline had no defense all day. Except when the Cards were trying to run down the clock with that awful running game.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 11, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree it's easy

when right in the middle of it. But yeah there’s plenty of blame to go around.

by LittleKing on Jan 11, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you can't be serious

That game was as bad or worse than Favre’s 6 picks against the Rams in 2001. At least the Packers weren’t 10 point favorites playing at home. And all of those picks were Jake’s fault. The only way Steve Smith could have caught a ball int he first half is if he had put on a Cardinals jersey.

Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb

by verno329 on Jan 11, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tebow or not

I think Tebow would be great, but the truth is that it seems there are about a half dozen or so good QBs coming out. I think with Jake running the team next year, we win it all with more of a pass rush and better secondary play. Jaxon always called me optimistic, but what I’m saying is that we shouldn’t need Jake to throw the ball twice as many times as we run it. And the truth is that if we need a quick score, it’s more likely to happen on a D-Will run than a throw to the other team. We can watch all that unfold next year as our rookie QB draftee is learning on the sideline. Maybe Matt Moore can get it done. After another year of sitting, by this point, he should be even better at recognizing defenses and throwing the ball to guys on our team. Either way, the truth is that even if Delhomme played a little better, he’d still be 34 and past his prime. The rest of the team is getting younger, stronger and faster (except WR), so it’s time to do the same at QB.

by usana_gaines on Jan 11, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs