So the Panthers lost to the LA Rams, and the Rams are a team that many pundits and experts out there have chosen to win the entire thing to the Super Bowl so since the Panthers barely made the playoffs it isn't a surprise that they lost the first round wildcard playoff game.
What is a surprise is that this, by all statistical and historical references, should have been a bloodbath in favor of the Rams, but instead it was a mere 3-point victory and that was only decided on the Rams final possession late in the 4th quarter.
It's funny how the media all tries to cover their own butts because almost all media outlets, who have relentlessly picked on Bryce Young all season - hell I picked on him all season - have backpedaled after this final game and using words like "gritty" and "tough" to describe him for the first time since he was in college.
He did an absolutely outstanding job in this home game in front of a sold out crowd in Charlotte, and managed to only turnover the ball one time with an interception and despite being sacked twice, he managed to hang on to the ball.
He was 20 for 40 on pass completions, which isn't fantastic but considering that he doesn't really have anyone super talented to pass to that is good enough.
Ram's QB Matthew Stafford is considered to be a MUCH better QB than Bryce and he went 24-44 with an interception thrown of his own. So I think Bryce can hold his head high in this playoff game that was about as lopsided as playoff games get in the history of the NFL and Los Angeles was a massive 10-point favorite, which is almost unheard of in the playoffs in American football.
I was sitting there in absolute awe as the Panthers scored a late touchdown to actually take the friggin lead with just 2 minutes and 39 seconds remaining in the game. I'm sure everyone was amped as can be and the stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina was deafening for the final two and a half minutes of the game where the people were about to witness one of the biggest upsets of all time take place in front of them. Unfortunately for Carolina fans, it took the Rams a mere 7 plays before they scored their own touchdown while leaving a mere 43 seconds on the clock. The Rams hadn't played with the clock a great deal during this possession because they were no doubt very worried about the fact that they very well could lose this game if they didn't hurry.
They didn't use a single running play on that drive and completed all but one of their passes.
I talk frequently about how Bryce Young has nobody to pass to but I'll give credit where credit is due: Jalen Coker truly shined in this game as he repeatedly made space for himself and would run for great extra yardage after catching the ball many times during the game. He averaged nearly 15 yards be reception and had a long of 52 yards. Absolutely outstanding performance on his part. Maybe I had him pegged wrong and he has an opportunity to grow. He has only been with Carolina for 2 seasons and is a mere 24 years old. The best, as they say, could be yet to come.
I can't believe that I am actually sitting here thinking that the Panthers very nearly made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs when they really didn't deserve to be there at all. The 4th worst team of NFL playoff history put on one hell of a display in their final game of the season. LA wasn't taking it easy on them out of sympathy, the Panthers just showed that there actually is some talent there, I just can't understand why they seemingly refused to tap it for 90% of the season.
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current playoff picture. NE Patriots game is on now, but they look almost sure to win as well
That was the perfect sending off for the Panthers. They have managed to gain some respect, which I did not see coming at all.
The other good news is that the Philadelphia Eagles got beaten by San Francisco. My two favorite teams in the NFL are the Carolina Panthers and whoever is playing against Philly.