Though the offense provided some highlights of their own this is easily a game to tip the hat to the defense. The Panthers held the 10-4 Texans to 13 points largely due to 3 forced turnovers. Texan fans may try to take this one away pointing out they started a rookie QB and had numerous other injuries but the Panthers were doing the same. With 15 players on IR we hardly want to hear another fan base cry about injuries.
Instead lets heap some exaltation on those players that instead rose to the occasion. Here's the top 5 defensive plays in the Panthers 28-13 victory over the Texans.
Play #5: Playing tight man coverage at the line, CB Brandon Hogan drives WR Kevin Walter to the sideline (legally) getting him to step out of bounds. Walter then catches a pass for a TD but it actually results in a penalty for illegal touching. That's a pretty smart play by a rookie CB getting his first NFL game action.
Play #4: On 3rd and 5 from the Panther 7 yard line CB Chris Gamble steps in front of a short pass intended for Kevin Walter and nearly intercepts it. The Texans settle for a FG and the Panthers defense stops a drive that started on their own 35 yd line.
Play #3: On only the 2nd play of the game RB Arian Foster takes the hand off but is drilled by LB Jordan Senn and fumbles the ball. LB James Anderson falls on it and the Panthers take over on the Texan 26 yd line. The Panthers score four plays later to take the early lead.
Play #2: On 3rd and goal from the Panther 9 yd line with 7:34 remaining in the game and the Panthers nursing a 15 point lead QB Yates throws into the end zone targeting Jacoby Jones. LB James Anderson instead jumps in front of Jones and intercepts the ball and kills the Texans last chance at a come back.
Play #1: On 3rd and 13 from the Panthers 43 yd line and 6:38 left in the 1st half, LB Jordan Senn dropped back into coverage. QB TJ Yates threw left to Kevin Walter but did not get enough on the pass to get it over Senn, who reached up and plicked the ball out of the air and returned it 21 yards to the Texans 48yd line. It would lead to another Panthers TD on the bumerooskie play.
There are your top 5 Panther defensive plays of the week.