What are the major observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold’s catastrophic performance at the New York Giants in Week 7?
Sam Darnold’s production – or lack thereof – for the Carolina Panthers over the last three weeks has come under severe scrutiny. It was always going to be a constant evaluation for the quarterback, who’s clearly lost the good graces of many following a tremendous start.
Putting things right was absolutely essential at the New York Giants in Week 7. A stadium that Darnold was extremely familiar with after a less than stellar three years at MetLife with the New York Jets.
Considering the number of significant injuries the Giants were trying to overcome, this was a must-win game for Darnold and the Panthers. Instead, the Panthers got blown out 25-3 and the former first-round pick was so poor he didn’t see out the contest.
With this in mind, here are five major observations from Darnold’s catastrophic performance at the Giants.
Observation No. 1
Sam Darnold couldn’t get going early
The Carolina Panthers tried to get Sam Darnold into some sort of a rhythm early on. Sadly, it did not have the desired effect.
He wasn’t helped by some notable drops again through the first few drives. But there appears to be a growing sense of trepidation whenever the signal-caller passes of late.
If there was a microcosm of how things are currently going for Darnold, it was the intentional grounding in the end zone. Carolina’s interior offensive line collapsed like a cheap suit and the quarterback was panicked into a costly mistake.
A sign of things to come.
Sam Darnold’s disastrous first half
If Sam Darnold wanted to make a statement and finally get his season back on track, then the first half was nothing short of a disaster. The quarterback was shaky at best outside two or three solid throws, which didn’t do much to reignite the Carolina Panthers following a poor run of form.
Darnold’s confidence just isn’t where it needs to be right now. And it’s impacting everyone on offense from the line, to the receivers, to the way offensive coordinator Joe Brady is calling plays.
The one solace for Darnold even ended badly. When the signal-caller finally drove the Panthers downfield, an inexcusable throw into the hands of ex-Carolina cornerback James Bradberry halted this fleeting momentum in the blink of an eye.
Darnold’s first-half stats told their own story.
- 63.15 percent completion
- 85 yards passing
- 0 touchdowns
- 1 interception
- 1 sack against
- 51.4 passer rating (ESPN)
The knives were well and truly out for Darnold on social media throughout the first half, which was as disjointed as we’ve seen from the Panthers during the 2021 season.
And that’s saying something.
Sam Darnold deserved to be benched
It was a long time coming, but the Carolina Panthers finally put Sam Darnold out of his misery in the fourth quarter.
Darnold was benched in favor of P.J. Walker and deserved to be. His production was not in keeping with a starting-caliber quarterback and he can have no complaints about how things transpired.
Some serious questions are now facing the Panthers on offense.
The defensive unit did its part once again. But you cannot expect them to keep performing miracles with short field positions and no rest.
It’s not like things were any better when Walker was in the game. But we already know what he is – a backup who can potentially make things happen when plays don’t develop as expected.
As for Darnold, we now know what he is too.
A player that got a pass for his failings on the New York Jets, but simply isn’t good enough to lead an NFL team to the promised land.
This was an embarrassing day all around. One of the worst in franchise history.
There are many who deserve blame. However, the quarterback carries the can and Darnold now has a mountain to climb to salvage his career in Carolina.
Time is running out for Sam Darnold
After just seven games under center for the Carolina Panthers, Sam Darnold is officially on the hot seat. Something not many saw coming after the first three weeks of the season.
Without Christian McCaffrey, Darnold has gone back to his old self and the evidence suggests he’s simply not the long-term answer for the Panthers.
The protection has received some justified criticism this season. But they managed to hold up pretty well and Darnold was still unable to make the most of additional time in the pocket.
If the first read isn’t there, Darnold goes to pieces.
And that’s been the story throughout his career.
Whatever it is the Panthers thought they saw in Darnold, it’s just not there. And there didn’t appear to be a great deal of fight from the former USC star or the players around him.
Once a quarterback loses this confidence, it’s incredibly hard to get back.
Darnold didn’t ask to be here. Carolina’s primary decision-makers also need to be held accountable for seeing something in the player that obviously is nowhere to be found.
If the last month was a test of Darnold’s character and resolve, we’ve also found out plenty about that, too. He’ll get another chance at redemption at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 – although the speculation linking the Panthers with a trade for Deshaun Watson will undoubtedly grow as a result of this inept performance.
There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding Watson and his status. But desperate teams do desperate things and David Tepper is known for being pretty impulsive.
He reportedly got talked out of drafting Justin Fields by Matt Rhule, so the benefit of the doubt is no longer there.
This was a crossroads game for Darnold. And he failed to cut the mustard.
Now, he must live with any upcoming consequences.