Carolina Panthers season mercifully comes to a close
The Carolina Panthers concluded their 2019 season on Sunday.
In what was a rather fitting ending to the 2019 Carolina Panthers season, the team just did not have it on Sunday. Defeated by the New Orleans Saints 42-10 , the Carolina Panthers could never get into a groove on offense.
The New Orleans Saints reeled off 35 straight points before a Joey Slye field goal with 32 seconds in the second quarter made it 35-3. Alvin Kamara scored the first two touchdowns for New Orleans, while AJ Klein and Tre’Quan Smith each recorded touchdown grabs. Jared Cook also recorded a touchdown grab prior to the Panthers field goal, and the team went into the locker room with a 35-3 deficit.
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Things did not get much better in the third quarter. At the 4:24 mark of the third quarter, Taysom Hill caught a 45-yard pass from the arm of quarterback Drew Brees. That made it a 42-3 game in favor of Carolina, although there would be some positive momentum at the end of the third. Christian McCaffrey scored from a yard out to make it a 42-10 game. Nevertheless, the Carolina Panthers could not game any offensive momentum in the fourth quarter as they were shut out. To be fair, the Saints also did not score any points in the fourth quarter. However, thanks to their work in the first three quarters, they didn’t need to.
This was just an ugly game overall. The Panthers could not stop the rushing attack defensively as they allowed 115 yards on the ground to New Orleans. In what is a rather interesting tidbit, the Panthers out-past the New Orleans Saints by a 288-264 margin. Kyle Allen went 25-of-41 on the day, throwing for 295 yards and an interception. Averaging 7.2 yards per pass, he really struggled in this game. The usually dependable McCaffrey had a rough game as well. He carried the ball nine times for 26 yards and that touchdown.
In the meantime, Drew Brees had a fantastic day. He went 19-of-30 through the air throwing for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray provided a great one-two punch. Murray carried the ball 17 times for 61 yards, while Kamara carried the ball eight times for 61 yards and two touchdowns. On the receiving end, Smith recorded five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown to lead the team.
The New Orleans Saints had everything going Sunday. The Carolina Panthers had nothing going Sunday. As the 2019 season closes, Perry Fewell hasn’t really done anything to show that he is worthy of the vacant head coaching position for Carolina. Thus, a long winter is upon us and it’s going to be a long seven months without football.