San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers: BREAKDOWN

The best way to describe the Carolina Panthers high-scoring 46-27 victory: Jekyll & Hyde.

There was a lot to take away from Sunday's game that would make any Panthers fan happy.  But for many of the hardcore fans, it was a disappointing victory.  Sure, we won.  Sure we scored 46 points.  But that was expected against the 49ers.  What wasn't expected was a 2nd play interception, 5 dropped passes, a Ted Ginn Jr. "I'm just going to let the ball touch my leg on a kickoff.  Then I'll stand around & wait for the 49ers to recover on their own 1 yard line", or our defense to let Blaine Gabbert look like Joe Montana.

I'm really trying to put it delicately, so here's my best attempt:  When we play at our best, we are better than what we showed on Sunday.

The 17-10 score at halftime reflected how we reverted back to the John Fox era of playing down to our competition.  The Ron Rivera Panthers do something else.  It's called dictating the pace of every game.  That is what got us to the Super Bowl last season.

Cam Newton gave a speech to his team at halftime that seemed to stoke the fire of the most talented team in football.  Like a true leader, he wouldn't let his team into the locker room until he spoke to them.  That MVP mentality is still there.  Even with a 7 point lead, it seems Cam saw what I saw: A team that was NOT playing their best football.

The 31-10 score halfway through the 3rd quarter was a reflection of that mentality.  We kicked the ball to the 49ers, got a quick 3 and out, then scored a touchdown.  After that, we did it again.  Now THAT is what I am used to seeing this team do.  It was like we played 6 bad quarters just so we could get that way of playing out of our system.  The 2 scores gave us serious momentum & 24 unanswered points.

Then we started brain farting all over the place.

Sloppy defense, bone-headed plays & complacency sunk in & the score was quickly 31-20 with the entire 4th quarter to play.

But we got our groove back & aside from a long touchdown pass due to broken coverage, we played Panther football & shut it down getting the 1st victory of the 2016 season & extending our home winning streak to 14 games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Cam newton threw for 353 yards on 26/40 passes with 4 TD's & one early (2nd play of the game) interception.  Bouncing back from a first throw interception to a "player of the week" performance speaks volumes about the maturity & progression of a young guy like Cam.  The guy is only 26-years-old!  He's still got potential for growth & is likely going to get better folks!  Now that's scary!  He also broke franchise records for most 300-yard passing games & most passing TD's (121) previously held by Jake Delhomme.  Newton also had 6 carries for 37 yards.

3rd year wide-receiver Kelvin Benjamin had some unbelievable catches.  He finished the game with 7 grabs for 108 yards & 2 TD's.  All I can say is welcome back KB!

Veteran tight-end Greg Olsen had the best catch we have seen in a long time with a 78 yard grab for a TD which was also his 50th career touchdown catch.  He finished the game with 5 grabs & 122 yards.

When starting running-back Jonathan Stewart got injured early in the 1st quarter, Fozzy Whitaker stepped in & had the best game of his career!  He finished the game with 16 carries for exactly 100 yards (a career high & also his 1st 100 yard rushing game) plus 3 catches for 31 yards.

On defense, 2nd year linebacker Shaq Thompson recovered a fumble early & ran it for his 1st career touchdown.  That early turnover/touchdown put us up 7-3 & we never looked back.  All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly got tangled up in coverage & beat downfield for a 70+ yard touchdown only to bounce back & get an interception on the 49ers next drive proving why he is the best defensive player in the league.  Plus rookie cornerback James Bradberry got his 1st career interception to close out the game....So welcome to Panther Nation Mr. Bradberry!

What To Take Away:

The Panthers were able to show what they are capable of.  They had 529 yards of total offense which is nothing to shake a stick at.  But if we would have played consistently throughout the game, that number could have been up in the 700 yard range.

Our defense also let a Blaine Gabbert-led 49ers team obtain 302 yards of offense.  Chip Kelly may be their head coach, but we are the best defense in the league.  However, we seemed to get it together, then lose it, then get it together again to finish out the game.

The Carolina Panthers showed glimpses of their capabilities throughout the game on Sunday.  Then they showed glimpses of the mistakes they could easily make.  But, the crazy thing to me is we NEVER lost the lead.  From the time we went up 7-3, we held the lead.  Considering how bad we were at times, that's pretty impressive.

But, if we were playing another team, that probably would not have been the case.  A good team would have seized every opportunity & taken back the lead.  So this team has to be aware of that.  I'm sure coach Rivera is very aware of it & will get these guys firing on all cylinders by next week.  If not, this could be a very long & disappointing season for Panthers fans.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

Click the link below for a YouTube recap of the game:
https://www.youtube.com/Panthers&49ers


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Broncos vs. Panthers: Week 1 BREAKDOWN

Where to begin?

As a Panthers fan, I am obviously disappointed in this loss to the Denver Broncos.  Our last two games ended up being two losses to the same to team.  And with both games being primetime games on top of everything, it's just a bitter pill to swallow.  But I am more disappointed that the game was as close as it was.  I am mostly disappointed with the referees.

With the new "Concussion Protocols" and the NFL commissioner acting like he cares about player's health, we better see some fines for the players & referees after what occurred during the game; a game which the entire country was watching.  The referees, in particular, should be penalized for not protecting Cam Newton after some brutal hits.  There were multiple, illegal, helmet-to-helmet hits that could have left Cam concussed or worse.  If it wasn't a big guy like Cam Newton, if it was an average NFL player, I think in all seriousness someone could have been paralyzed by those hits.  And nobody on that referee crew seemed to care.

The only flag thrown for roughing the passer was negated because as Newton threw the ball, he was hit & the ball did not get back to the line of scrimmage which is, technically, intentional grounding.  So the penalties offset each other.

I honestly think that Cam's career will be shortened if the referees & the NFL in particular doesn't start paying more attention to these hits.  I guess they figure he's so big & strong he can take it.  But that's not right.  Rules are rules.  And I am pissed!

Now, let's get to the actual game:

The Panthers defense had a great game.  They caused 3 turnovers (2 interceptions & 1 fumble) after letting the Broncos offense drive to within their own 30 yard line.  So we basically gave them hope then took the wind out of their sails on 3 separate occasions.  But the offense was only able to get 7 points off of 3 takeaways.  We just didn't capitalize on the opportunities given.

The best drive for the Panthers offense was an 86 yard touchdown drive in the 2nd quarter which ate up about 8 minutes with over 15 plays.  We methodically ran & passed for enough yards on every play to warrant a lot of 3rd downs converted to 1st downs which ended up gaining the Panthers 7 points.  That deflates & wears down defenses.  But after that drive, it seemed like Mike Schula (the Panthers Offensive Coordinator) was too busy patting himself on the back to call the rest of the game because it was our last touchdown scored.

We threw the ball when we should've run, a lot.  One occasion led to a tipped pass & interception by the Broncos.  An interception that quarterback Cam Newton is all too familiar with....One that wasn't his fault.  But on a drive where the run & clock management should've been our weapon of choice, Schula decided to pass on 2nd & 5 which led to a wide receiver letting the ball go through his hands, up in the air & inevitably intercepted within scoring distance for the Broncos.  The score at that point was 17-14, Panthers.

The defense did what they could with such short yards behind them to defend.  But the power running attack was too much as the Broncos went ahead 21-17 with a touchdown run.  A touchdown run which I feel could have been prevented with better playcalling & coaching.

The game was somehow still close although the Carolina Panthers only played one solid half of "Carolina Panthers Football".  We got a field goal drive leaving the score at 21-20 & had a chance to win the game with a last second field goal.  But Graham Gano's kick sailed wide left & we lost the game.

What to take away:

A lot of people want to blame Gano for missing the kick.  But it should have never come to that.  We went in to the half with a 17-7 lead & let the reigning Super Bowl champion Broncos back into the game.  It was a mix of bad play-calling & lazy plays on both sides.

The offensive line was phenomenal for 3 quarters.  When we went down 21-17, they crumbled & let Cam get hit a lot.  The defense was up & down, but mostly up.  We were just too inconsistent.

In an earlier blog I wrote, I already said that this season was not going to go well if we don't play four quarters.  Last season's Super Bowl team went 15-1 through the regular season but at least half of the wins were games where the Panthers were up by 3 scores & let their opponents back into the game winning only by a slim margin.  WE CAN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR!

If we expect to win a Super Bowl or even make the playoffs, we have to play four quarters of good football!  Not just one half, not 3 quarters.  Every single game, from here on out, the Panthers must play 60 minutes of their best football in order to win.  Everybody knows how good we are & have us marked on their calendar.  They want to beat us if nobody else.  Especially with our MVP Cam Newton making flashy plays, dancing in the endzone & on 1st downs.

Not for nothing, but our newly acquired punter Andy Lee had a great debut setting a Carolina Panthers record for the longest punt with a 78 yard boot.  Also, Kelvin Benjamin had 6 grabs for 91 yards & a touchdown in his return from an ACL tear which left him sitting on the bench all of last season.  And tight-end Greg Olsen made some clutch, 3rd down catches that kept drives going.

Also, "Superman" Cam Newton had 248 total yards including a passing & rushing touchdown.  He also broke Steve Young's record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 44.  He also broke the record for having the most games with a passing AND a rushing touchdown in the same game.  Cam is still very young, not even in his prime.  So that number could easily hit 100 before he retires from football.

Final Analysis:

Look, I'm not hitting any panic buttons.  We have 10 days to prepare for the home opener & we are playing the 49ers.  In those 10 days, our two-time NFL Coach of the Year Ron Rivera will get this team ready to move forward & win games.  They will learn from their mistakes.  I feel that this close loss was actually better than if we would have gotten a close win.  A close win would not place a sense of urgency into this team.  But a close loss which we should have won will officially put a big chip on the entire team's shoulders.

BUT!  If we lose to the 49ers, close or not, start worrying!  Hit ALL the panic buttons you can find!  With a 10 day rest & preparation time frame, we better come correct or this season is going to be long & hard to watch for Panthers fans.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

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R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

It started like this!

It ended like this...

The UFC202 Main Event was a bout between two elite fighters who absolutely despised each other.  Nate Diaz (pictured on the right above/left below) was set to fight the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor (Pictured on the left above/right below) for the 2nd time in a much anticipated rematch.  Diaz beat McGregor, much to the surprise to UFC & MMA fans, in their 1st bout at UFC196 in which McGregor was submitted by a rear naked choke.  The loss was McGregor's 1st defeat in the UFC.

Luckily for McGregor, it was a Catchweight bout at 170lbs. so he didn't lose his Featherweight (145lb.) Title.  The rematch at UFC202 was set for 170lbs. as well leaving the Featherweight Title out of the picture.

The lead-up to the fight was entertaining all by itself.  Both Diaz & McGregor are trash talking machines so, needless to say, the words were flying for months.  Then at the pre-fight press conference, the two fighters sent water bottles flying at each other as well.  McGregor insisted that Nate Diaz got lucky & "won the lotto" in their 1st fight so he was looking to avenge his loss in a big bad way.  But nobody could have predicted the fight that would come.

Nate Diaz & Conor McGregor spent 5 rounds (25 minutes) in a bloody, knockdown filled, adrenaline fueled fight that brought out the best in both fighters.  Strikes were thrown by each fighter on multiple occasions that would have ended any other fight.  But both fighters had too much heart to quit or accept defeat unless they had been declared clinically dead.  By the end of the fight, disdain turned into a mutual respect for one another.

In the end, everyone who saw the fight knew one thing: these two fighters were destined to fight each other.  They were made for each other much like Ali & Frazier.  By the end of the Main Event, the two fighters knew it, the whole world knew it, and the sport of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) gained a few thousand more fans.  A lot of people who grew up with boxing were on the fence about MMA until they saw this fight.  Now ESPN analysts & hardcore boxing fans are starting to pay attention because this fight that played out like the 1st "Rocky" movie.

When all was said & done, McGregor fell over from exhaustion & Diaz came over to give him help up.  Hand extended, Diaz picked up his opponent who was breathing heavily on the mat & gave the man who made his face look like shredded steak a handshake with a hug.  That's called RESPECT!

Notice that I never told you who won the fight?!  It's because it doesn't matter.  (For those that REALLY care, Conor McGregor won by unanimous decision with 3 judges scoring the fight 48-47, 48-47, & 47-47.  A lot of people still dispute the decision with some saying Diaz should have won the fight.  Most said it should have been a draw.  But, as I said before, much like "Rocky" it didn't really matter who won.)  What does matter is this:

Two guys started out hating each other intensely, wanted to kill each other.  But, at the end of all the drama, all the fighting, all the threats, ended up respecting each other by doing what they do best.  A lesson can be learned here.

Now, unless you are a professional fighter, I don't suggest/promote fighting or violence to solve your problems.  However, I do think that if these two could find respect for one another, anyone can.  But you got to do what they did by stepping up bravely & exhausting yourself to work toward a resolve....if you really want to.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

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Still Trippin'

The Rams football franchise spent 20 years in St. Louis, MO where they won a Super Bowl with Hall of Fame players like Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Issac Bruce & were given the moniker of "The Greatest Show on Turf".  However, before the move to St. Louis, they were a longtime L.A. franchise with Hall of Fame players like the great Eric Dickerson.

So I don't know why it's weird to me they moved back to their original city.

Los Angeles is one of the biggest cities in the United States.  But they have been without a professional football team for a long time.  They have two NBA teams, two MLB teams, an NHL & MLS team, but went years without a team that participates in the USA's most popular sport: football.  I understand the move back home.  I also remember when the Rams were in L.A. & how passionate their fanbase is.  But at the same time, I don't know if it's passion or status that Los Angeles is really longing for by getting the Rams & professional football back to their city.

Since I live in Charlotte, NC I know what it's like to have a team you love move to another city.  The Hornets franchise moved on us to New Orleans.  I also know what it's like to have that team return, the excitement in the air that feels like a hurricane of adrenaline surrounding the city.  So I get it.  But for us, it's still in the air.  I don't know if it will be the same for L.A.

If the Rams suck, they have basketball AND hockey season to look forward to (we all know the Lakers & Clippers are perennial playoff favorites for basketball and the Kings are always a good bet to make the playoffs in hockey) .  If that's a dead-end for some reason, then baseball is right around the corner.  And now that the Rams are back, if the Dodgers or Angels (both top notch, playoff caliber teams as well) aren't making any noise in the playoffs, then the WHOLE cycle starts again with football season.  Must be nice.

When the Hornets left Charlotte, all we had was a minor league baseball & hockey team plus a professional football team left.  So our loss was greater.  Not to discount the gain for the true fans of L.A. that are pictured here:

But, to be honest, I don't think these fans will stay this passionate especially if their team doesn't win consistently.  From my understanding most L.A. fans are fair-weather at best.  They show up in the 3rd inning & leave during the 7th inning at Dodger games.  They expect championships from the Lakers every year and have Hollywood's elite sitting courtside.  So I guess it's hard for me to take pity on a general fanbase that probably doesn't have the passion that a mid-west fanbase has.

St. Louis still has an MLB team & an NHL team (which is finally doing well) but now their football team is gone.  The worst part is, they are loyal to their core.  To have their team go from greatness, then mediocrity, and finally move cities is kind of rough.  I feel bad for the hardcore St. Louis fans.

I know I would lose my mind if the Carolina Panthers left Charlotte, let alone the North/South Carolina region.  L.A. is also rumored to get the Chargers franchise from San Diego next season (which also blows my mind) and the Raiders are said to be on their way to Las Vegas as well.

It's not that I don't like change, I just don't like when loyal fans get robbed of something they love.  This feels like when the Baltimore Colts were ripped away & set-up in Indianapolis.  Then the Browns were stolen from the (in my opinion) most loyal fans in any city, Cleveland, Ohio.  Then, after decades of stagnation, won a Super Bowl in their new city under a new team name ( The Baltimore Ravens) & all the while the same owner was in control of the team.

Those situations were more due to greed though.  This Rams move definitely has a "homecoming" vibe coming from it, not greed.  But it's still just weird.  When I hear the Rams, I think St. Louis.  But if the Chargers & Raiders franchises move too I will probably think of San Diego & Oakland 1st as well.  I don't know.  What I do know is the Rams will kick off their season as the "Los Angeles Rams" this Monday night & they have a fanbase that can't wait.

But I just don't think that a city like L.A. can appreciate what they have.  They already take their other 6 major professional teams for granted.  They act as if going to a game is like going to Disneyland instead of acting like it's their duty as fans to support their team.

But, hey, that's just my 2cents....

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