Carolina Panthers: Defense shines in big win on Sunday

The Carolina Panthers defense performed well across the pond.

There is no doubt that Sunday was a big win for the Carolina Panthers. Especially when they had to travel all the way across the pond to London, you could expect that the Panthers would be a little fatigued and jet-lagged. That certainly was not the case, especially for the defense. The defense had a great day, and they are certainly deserving of some recognition.

All told, the Panthers defense made life miserable for quarterback Jameis Winston. They recorded 58 total tackles, seven sacks and five interceptions. The leading tackler for Sunday’s game was James Bradberry. He had a turn-back-the-clock type of game. He recorded 10 tackles on the morning, leading the team. He also recorded two interceptions. Gerald McCoy led all players with 2.5 sacks. This was the type of game that the Panthers had expected out of him. He has had a great season so far, and this was just another example of the type of energy he brings to the table.

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I don’t want to get too cocky. However, this performance by the defense on Sunday reminded me of the Carolina Panthers defense of 2015. They had multiple ways to beat offenses. They could sack the quarterback, they could record interceptions, and they were just able to make life miserable for opposing offenses. That year, the defense was fun to watch. It’s been a while since the defense was fun to watch, but Sunday certainly provided entertainment.

They brought every single defensive element to the table. From interceptions, to sacks, to sound tackling, everything was there. Although they gave up 27 points, that is something I can live with when they were able to pressure Winston so well. If they just sat back and did nothing, that I would be more upset about the points given up. However, they were attacking the opposing offensive line every chance they got.

This is the type of effort that I want to see from them every Sunday. I realize it’s easier said than done, especially when you can’t hit the quarterback anymore. At least that’s what it seems like anyway. Next up on their schedule is the San Francisco 49ers. In case you haven’t heard, they are pretty darn good. They have multiple ways that they can beat you, much like the Panthers defense. They aren’t afraid to use their running game, and they have a strong core group of receivers. Sunday’s game was a perfect representation of what this defense can do when they are functioning on all cylinders.

This was a great win. The momentum keeps rolling for the Carolina Panthers. Now, they will have to continue to focus on playing good football. The defense has certainly been playing better and I attribute that to Ron Rivera calling the plays. Rivera himself has had his ups and downs this year, but it appears that things are finally coming into focus.

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