Carolina Panthers got whooped, Charlotte rain now adding insult to injury

It’s not raining in Charlotte because the Carolina Panthers got ‘whooped’ by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Literally, this is fall in North Carolina and it has been raining like this often lately, so Carolina Panthers fans (yo!) will have to adjust to a 6-3 record along with a constant drizzle. Whether sportswriter or fan, I’m willing to say Thursday night only counted as one loss, and yes, after last night’s 52-21 whacking- with three touchdowns by Christian McCaffrey as a positive– this is still a pretty good team. Lots of winning football left to be played, just don’t think the sky, your Atlanta Falcons fan friend, or alllll those Steelers fans we all know, are raining tears for your Panthers.

Shorthand account, it was a primo start from Cam Newton, McCaffrey and the offense, going 75 yards in nine plays, with the last 20 on a pass to ‘The Weapon that is CMC’. Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster immediately answered, scoring on a 75-yard bomb on Pittsburgh’s first play, then Newton flung a rookie mistake of a pick-six rather than go down for a safety or take one by virtue of an intentional grounding penalty. From there, until McCaffrey’s second touchdown at 5:04— actually through halftime- Pittsburgh over-powered the Panthers, scoring on every possession except an end of the half kneel. And then they continued it, with Roethlisberger putting up a stunning ‘perfect’ game rating of 158.3 during the bashing – 22 of 25 for 328 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Remember Thanksgiving games where it was kids and adults, and you wished for the day their two-hand touch didn’t send you into the bushes? It was sort of like that in Pittsburgh. As a regular guy watching the game, you’d HAVE to empathize with five- or sometimes six-man blitzes, and Newton looking for a gap even as he was taking the snap and ducking linebackers. Without being a homer in the analysis, rookie Donte Jackson‘s rage aside, they didn’t lose discipline. As Troy Aikman opined, “You gotta let that go (burned by Antonio Brown), because playing any length of time in this league, its going to happen.” Jackson was looking for a call versus just falling down, I didn’t see anything in replays, but true– you’ve got to let it go, lot more time left, wasn’t even halftime. Doesn’t look any better on the scoreboard or to anyone watching, but if that’s how you let it out, just don’t bust a hand raining destruction on sideline objects.

The philosophy of a loss, and well-worn axiom, “show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser,” is around for a reason. That Luke Kuechly spoke up in locker room, that’s what leadership is always about.

And then they continued it, with Roethlisberger putting up a stunning ‘perfect’ game rating of 158.3 for the bashing: 22/25, 328 yards, 5 TDs.

More from Cat Crave

Newton’s stats were ordinary under the circumstances, and even minus the distance McCaffrey lugged it (5 catches/61 yds, 2 TD ), still the quick tosses that have been his offensive accuracy’s best friend finishing 23 of 29 for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns. Everyone recognizes that offensive line concerns had been handled with process since the first OTAs and gelling well essentially since left tackle Chris Clark was brought in and Taylor Moton became the tackle Panthers expected last year. Daryl Williams is now available, although even the jail break look that Newton saw last night doesn’t mean any reworking is necessary. Nobody died Thursday night, and McCaffrey scoerd three touchdowns, take a positive where you can. The offensive line got used and abused – still counts as just one loss.

I told a documentation specialist at my mother’s cardiologist appointment earlier in the week that- even if she didn’t know much football- if someone started a conversation and you wanted to contribute just a little, with two thumbs up, say “Christian McCaffrey,” and smile like a fan.

Next. CAR at PIT - Final Report. dark

If today you do it with a wry smile, or feel like adding, “At least they have a lot of extra time to get over it,” that’s okay, and it’s going to keep raining either way.

Home/Carolina Panthers News