National Football League

Four Downs: Panthers' deficiencies on full display as Packers roll

Published Oct. 19, 2014 9:06 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

In what was their worst performance of the season, the Carolina Panthers traveled Sunday to Green Bay and got embarrassed 38-17 in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated.

Here are four observations from the loss:

It truly is somewhat amazing to consider that exactly one season ago, the defense of the Panthers was one of the most feared in the NFL. It earned that reputation by being second in the league in scoring defense, having more sacks than any other team and being one of the best run defenses, too.

Now, calling it a defense is actually being generous, as a defense creates resistance. The Panthers (3-3-1) rarely do that.

That was never more evident than against Green Bay (5-2).

The Packers scored touchdowns with relative ease on their first three possessions and on four of their first five. With just under six minutes left before halftime, Green Bay led 28-0 and the game was essentially over.

Carolina entered the game ranked 26th in yards allowed per game, 27th in rushing yards allowed per game, 24th in points per game allowed, 30th in completions percentage allowed and last in yards allowed per carry.

That is all quite remarkable considering it's exactly the same front seven that dominated the NFL last season, minus Greg Hardy, who was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List following his preliminary conviction of assault on a female and communicating threats.

The difference between last season and this one was on fully display against the Packers.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw just three incompletions, had a quarterback rating of 154.5, 255 yards passing and three touchdowns. Just for good measure, the Packers also had 30 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

It was a complete dismantling in every sense of the word.

If you want to know just how difficult it's been for the Panthers to muster any sort of momentum running the ball this season, then look no further than three perfect examples of what occurred against Green Bay, which isn't exactly knows for its rushing defense.

Carolina faced a third-and-one with just under a minute left in the first quarter at its own 33, running back Jonathan Stewart ran off the right guard for no gain. The Panthers, trailing 21-0, were forced to punt.

Then on the opening drive of the second half and in desperate need of a score, the Panthers were again faced with a third-and-one, this time at the Green Bay 42.

Stewart ran up the middle for no gain to bring up fourth down. Carolina had little choice but to go for it and opted to try quarterback Cam Newton as the ball carrier. It was no better as he ran up the middle and was also stopped for no gain.

This is an offense that prided itself on being able to run the ball last season. This year, the running backs are averaging right around three yards per carry.

What made it worse on Sunday is that the Packers entered the game ranked last in rushing yards allowed per game at 154.5. Carolina managed just 108, with nearly all of it coming late when the game was already decided.

Luke Kuechly, the current NFL leader in tackles and last season's Defensive Player of the Year, was ejected with about two minutes left in the third quarter after back judge Steve Freeman deemed the middle linebacker had committed the cardinal error of making contact with an official.

However, it was such an odd ejection that even the announcers for FOX thought he was erroneously tossed.

Kuechly was in a pile going for a fumbled football when Packers tight end Richard Rodgers grabbed him and pulled him by the upper body out of the pile. Kuechly bent backwards and took exception to being pulled.

There was a commotion between him and the Packer when Freeman grabbed Kuechly from behind to try and separate him from Richard Rodgers. Kuechly, not knowing who was grabbing him from behind in the heat of the moment, swung his arms wildly to get away from the official.

Upon seeing that it was Freeman, Kuechly immediately calmed down. It made no matter as Freeman tossed the flag and then Kuechly from the game.

With Newton, it's rare that he displays the same type of play from quarter to quarter, let alone game to game.

Newton has a propensity for throwing balls without following through with his lower body, or falling backwards. As a result, the ball often sails on him and ends up overshooting the targeted receivers.

Newton will go series to series where he'll make one of the more incredible throws anybody has seen. Two plays later, he'll overthrow a receiver on a simple bubble screen pass.

Against the Packers, he was off target nearly all day. If not for the exceptions receptions by his receivers, even on those simple screen passes, Newton's day would have been much worse than the one he had, where he went 17-of-31 for just 205 yards, a touchdown and interception.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League