Despite the frustration, the face-palming, the screams and agony. Through the disappointment, doubt, apathy and anger -- I've grown to love this season. I love it the same way I love pugs, in all their glorious ugliness. At this point you can either push back and get angry about the reward being a one-and-done playoff berth, or you can enjoy the madness and drink the tears of angry fans who will be irate the NFC South winner gets a place in the postseason.
The win over Cleveland on Sunday was a terrible football game, it's just that simple. The Panthers tried their best to give away the game on a platter, but ultimately it became a contest of who could suck slightly less -- and that was Carolina. At this point we need to give all the props to Atlanta for handling the Saints, because nothing makes me happier than seeing Sean Payton and Co. pushed out of the season. That is the last time I'll give the Falcons props this week, because the wet noodle fight is on.
Call it intuition, but next week's game will once again be a battle of who can suck slightly less. It's going to be weird, it's going to be amusing, hopefully it will also result in the 7-8-1 Panthers heading to the playoffs.
Let's backtrack a bit.
Cam Newton started strongly against the Browns and it didn't look like he missed a beat just a few days removed from his car accident. He stepped on the field and threw with confidence, while simultaneously lead an excellent opening drive. Then the deadzone kicked in. My only fear about Carolina making the playoffs is that Dave Gettleman and/or Jerry Richardson will consider the season a success and choose to keep the same staff wholesale. Right now the Panthers are winning in spite of its offensive line and playcalling, not because of it. That was prevalent on Sunday.
When you're having success running up the middle and Jonathan Stewart is tearing up yards after contact, why are you then flipping the script to outside runs and fade throws that Newton has always struggled with? It made no sense. Early on it felt like the team's biggest boon was having Johnny Manziel in the game, because he was terrible. That isn't some sweeping indictment of Johnny Football, I haven't seen enough of him this season and it could just be rookie lumps -- but at this stage he is a terrible quarterback. It's weird that Colin Jones could have been the guy who ended Carolina's season by virtue of making a play, but knocking Manziel out of the game allowed Cleveland to claw back in.
If Brian Hoyer started the whole game I think Cleveland would have won. The offense was so much better with him under center, but losing almost a full half put the Browns behind the eight ball. Of course Carolina did its best to help him with weird turnovers, including Cam's ludicrous interception -- which could have been his worst of the season. Scrambling backwards 10 yards was bad enough, the pick was simply the icing on the bad-tasting cake.
Newton was only sacked once on Sunday, which feels like more of a testament to how bad Cleveland's pass rush is than the protection. Cam scrambled really well against the Browns, and showed an innate understanding of when he needed to find an outlet vs. tuck the ball and run. It was nice to see, and a continuation of the genesis we've seen this season. He's become a better quarterback by being forced to play differently due to injury.
On the other side of the ball the pass rush really showed up. Charles Johnson continued his impressive run, while Kony Ealy got constant pressure. Ealy in particular has racked up a series of really good games this year, and shows potential as a long-term starter at defensive end. I don't think the Panthers would have been drastically better with Greg Hardy this year, so getting him reps will be a major boon for the future.
What I liked ...
Jonathan Stewart
I didn't just like J-Stew, I LOVED J-Stew's game on Sunday. I'm probably forgetting someone, but I'd put Stewart in the running for comeback player of the year nonetheless. Sure he hasn't hit 1,000 yards this season, but among running backs with over 100 carries he's in the Top 10 in yards-per-carry, all while running behind one of the worst offensive lines in football.
Stewart's contract has been chided for years, and rightfully so -- but maybe now it's time to appreciate the player he's become. With a decent line he could easily be a Top 5 back in the NFL.
Adarius Glanton
Who? I know, right. This was the man who took over when A.J. Klein wasn't able to start, and he played totally okay! That sounds like feint praise, but it would have been easy to lay a duck and I'm not sure we would have blamed him too much.
Instead of crumbling the 24-year-old stepped into an established linebacking corps and recorded six tackles, including one for a loss. Glaton's game personified the ideal of "next man up," and I wanted to make sure we called out his game.
Brad Nortman
Yes, I know what I wrote. It's easy to overlook a punter, but field position was paramount in a weird, close, tense game like this. Against the Browns he averaged 49.8 yards per punt, and continually flipped the field when needed. Many drives could have ended in field goals with poor position, and that would have been enough in a game that was settled by a few points.
More kudos: Bene Benwikere, Kawann Short, Kelvin Benjamin, Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson
What I didn't like ...
Roman Harper
What's new?
Philly Brown
He's young, he'll be okay -- that fumble almost killed the season.
What does next week hold?
Honestly, it's a win-win. Obviously I'd like to see the Panthers find a way into the playoffs, because it would be fun and weird -- perfect for this team. If Carolina loses then they get a higher draft pick, and while I'm not too hung up on that idea it would mean potentially getting a better player. All in all, things are good.
Now let's crush Atlanta.