Panthers Top 6 Plays of 2008: Fan Vote
by Jaxon on May 21, 2009 10:57 PM EDT
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PrintI've identified my Top 6 plays of the Panthers 2008 season and want your vote for which was the #1 play of the year. My criteria is simple, I was looking for key, game changing plays and I'm sure its no surprise 5 of the 6 are offensive plays. I've included video where I could find it.
Play #1: Jake to Rosario 14 yd last second game winning TD vs. Chargers
Just about everyone in the country figured this game was a sure "L" with the Panthers (including myself) on the road against the highly rated Chargers without Steve Smith. TE Dante Rosario shows tremendous concentration to focus and catch that pass under pressure on the last play of the game. You can not ask for a more exciting finish if you are a Panther fan. For the Delhomme bashers out there I have to point out at the .55 sec mark, from the end zone camera angle, that Jake pump fakes first to the corner but then quickly flicks it to Rosario for the winner. It's that type of veteran play that makes Jake such a winner at QB. Remember too this was his first game back from Tommy John surgery. This play set the tone for the Panthers season as they had to know they could win any game.
Play #2: Jake to Smitty 38 yd TD that opened the gate to the route against the Bucs at home On Monday Night
You could just feel the tension in the air after the Bucs had just scored after intercepting Delhomme. The Panthers needed to answer the Bucs and they didn't wait long. Delhomme hit Smith perfectly on a deep post just inside the left front pylon. Though the Bucs mounted a brief comeback this play swung the momentum in the Panthers favor and they never hesitated from there as the offense just buried the hapless Bucs defense. This video of Smith's 2008 highlights included all three of Smitty Top plays (Bucs, Packers, Cardinals)
Play #3: Jake to Smitty 54 yds to the 1 yard line vs. Packers
Just when it looked like Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had engineered an impressive come-from-behind victory on the frozen tundra Jake and Smitty hooked up again. Smitty went up high between two defenders and reached back behind himself to make a spectacular catch. On the next play D-Will plunged in for the winning score with only 1:30 on the clock. I firmly believe the method in which this game was won lead to the blow out versus the Bucs the following game. Honorable mention for Jon Beason's subsequent INT to seal the victory and end the Packers last gasp comeback. The video of this play is included in the Smith highlight video above.
Play #4: Peppers sack and FF of Shockey at Saints 46 yd line
Peppers charged from the opposite side of the line to tomahawk TE Jeremy Shockey from behind for a game changing sack, strip and fumble recovery. Four plays later RB Jonathan Stewart scored from 18 yards out to grab a lead the Panthers never let go. I couldn't find a video of the play but this highlight video of Peppers 2008 season does include a sack of QB Drew Brees from that game. You can't but hope Pep comes back after watching this video.
Play #5: Jake to Smitty who tight-rope walks the line to 65 yd TD vs. Cardinals
When I first saw this play live I thought there was no way he didn't step out of bounds. Yet on the replay his heel was over the line he never touched it down. Just another miraculous play by one of the best WR's in the league. This TD put the Panthers up by a point at the end of the 3rd quarter and it turned out to be all they needed. Unfortunately the Panthers had no similar magic the next timed they faced the Cardinals.
D-Will 69 yd TD vs the Raiders staked the Panthers to a 14-0 lead
You could argue this play was just as much poor tackling by the Raiders but I think it is still amazing Williams keeps his balance. On this play Williams is spun around while running full speed but keeps his feet to complete the long score. You have to give him props up front for the beautiful cut back to the middle on the off tackle run, one of the Panther running games bread and butter plays. I find it amusing the video is billed "Raiders LB Howard runs down Williams...ALMOST!" Close but no cigar loser!
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Perhaps a 7th option?
Although the above plays were monumental/game changing, my favorite play from 2008 was the pounding Julius Peppers gave Aaron Rogers. Although it went down as a penalty it still kept me up at night worrying about Aaron Rogers. I don’t think that little feller has got a wink of sleep since. He keeps having nightmares of that dreaded # 90.
That’s the Peppers we need on the Panthers; someone that finishes every play.
While putting this up I was thinking...
I should do a post on Best Video of the Year. That one of Pep nailing Rodgers would be on the list for sure
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Absolutely
That was one of my favorite defensive plays. I remember yelling at the tv “Get Him Pep!!” :)
by boywonderncsu on May 22, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the list is too short
All of these were gamechangers, but you left out Smith’s catch vs the Saints, Beasons pick vs Arizona to seal the game, even the dirty shot Delhomme took vs the Bears. I voted for the Chargers game, simply because that set the tone of the season. But the play that had my hart pounding was the Packers one. I remember listening on the radio and thinking he was going to get sacked, then Eugene Robinson practically exploded. That is one good part of not getting Panthers games televised here, I get to listen to Eugeneisms. : )
those are all good plays
except the hit on Delhomme. It was a game changer I agree but more of a dumb move by the Bears
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I have to go with...
…the comeback win on the final seconds in San Diego. Just the adversity the Panthers faced from the very beginning of not having Steve Smith and everyone questioning whether we should even take the field…of all the media scrutiny and attention over Smith’s training camp assault of Lucas…and all the pre-game hype for the Chargers expectations of making a Superbowl run…the schedule we just all assumed we’d be facing in the early going if we lost to both San Diego and Chicago to start out 0-2…and then to be trailing in the 4th quarter…it all just seemed like we were going to come close, but still leave with a loss…and then have to endure more media speculation as the talking-heads decried Smith’s behavior and suspension all over again as the reason we lost. I think all that’s going through everyone’s mind in the closing moments of that game.
And then, Jake pump fakes…fires a bullet over the middle…and little known Dante Rosario is johnny-on-the-spot, making an unbelievable grab while surrounded by three defenders to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Panthers never looked back after that. It was such a confidence builder for the entire team. I think it gave them the fortitude to keep pushing themselves for the rest of the season and the momentum to tackle another tough team in Chicago the next week. I also think it gave the Panthers a much needed dose of accountability for every player to better their game (because of Steve’s absence)…and that’s something they’ll benefit from for much longer than that one game or just last year’s regular season. I think we’ve got players on this team now that aren’t expecting Steve to bail them out…or to be the only Superman on the field…i.e., they all want a piece of that action now, all the way down to last year’s rookies.
But that’s just my two-cents,
—Neil
Smith's Catch Against Packers
Really for me, its what’s the best play of the season other than the Rosario catch. I would have to say Smith’s catch at the one yrd line. I was going crazy at that point. It was really a good game all around.
I think Godfrey sniffing out the fake field goal should be an honorable mention.
Worst play of the year was Winfield sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and touchdown right before halftime. That play just left me speechless.
Back to the Rosario play, it will be up there with the Sam Mills interception, last second Proehl TD, and Foster playoff TD as one of the great panther moments for years and years to come.
That was my vote
Beyond the fact it was just an amazing catch but also the fact it was the absolutely only way we could have won that game. The Packers were looking and waiting for it and they still couldn’t stop it. The Panthers defense couldn’t stop the Packer offense at times and truly the Pack deserved to win…until we had another classic Jake to Smitty connection
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I have to admit...
The Packers play is probably my second favorite. It was another game-changing play that ultimately led to the Panther’s winning and it came at a key moment in our season, I believe. If we’d lost that game, things wouldn’t have gone well afterward. The division would probably have fallen to Atlanta. A lot our momentum might have dropped off…and maybe we wouldn’t even have made the playoffs.
However, despite all that, I still like the Rosario catch better, because it was the definitive game-changing and game-winning play from last season. It came in our first game. And it set the tone not only for the rest of the season, but I think a good measure of that confidence and never-quit-attitude carries over to this season, too. I’m not sure that one connection from Jake to Smith against Green Bay has quite the same lasting power.
Two words.
Daunte Rosario. The Chargers come out against the Panthers and expect an easy win. No Steve Smith. The Chargers jump out to an early lead, the Panthers slowly crawl back and pull off an amazing 2 minute drive to win the game in the final seconds. What a way to start the season.
You get all the momentum on your back, driving the team week in and week out. That play didn’t just win the game for us, it inspired the team and gave them that fire to beat the crap out of every team they went up against. What a way to start the season. I hope Rosario does it again in 09.
"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
I listened to the last 3 minutes
of the SD game on the radio.
I think it was even better. I was so pumped….ahhh…good times.
Also, the Chargers expected us to just roll right over, they expected us to accept defeat. But then…we sorta PWND :)
34 - N.J.A - R.I.P
Maybe not the #1 play, but the best defensive play of the year
Chris Harris’s strip of the Bear’s running back (might have been the TE) in the 2nd half and subsequent recovery by Chris Gamble. How did that ball stay in bounds!? That play definitely changed the complexion of the game after the Panthers were down as much as 17 – 3.
My alternate Defensive Play of the Year would be Kemo’s hit on Edgerin James causing him to fumble. I believe we scored on the next offensive play with a Jake / Smith hookup. Beason’s int in that game was huge as well.
Those were good plays for sure
I did notice that most of my options were offensive. The Harris strip was huge as was the hit by Kemo. He totally rocked Edge’s world.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Could someone do
a post about the Panthers top ten hits? My internet is limited here.
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