Black and Blue Review
If you’re still not sure how to feel about Sunday’s tie, you’re not alone.
“Still trying to figure it out,” head coach Ron Rivera admitted Monday, when asked to share his feelings on the first tie in Panthers’ history. “We had a chance to win this game. I know Cincinnati’s saying the same thing, but we had opportunities.”
Rivera would need more than two hands to count Carolina’s missed opportunities against the Bengals. His short list included receiver Jerricho Cotchery dropping what would have been a game-winning touchdown in overtime, quarterback Cam Newton overthrowing tight end Greg Olsen in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, and an 89-yard touchdown sprint by Bengals running back Giovani Bernard that featured blown gap assignments and a missed tackle.
That play set a Panthers’ record for their longest rush allowed. The previous mark was set in Week 3 when Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell broke loose for an 81-yard gain. The two plays are the longest runs in the NFL this season.
Yet somewhat strangely, Rivera was extra defensive when asked about his leaky defense.
“It was just one play,” referring to the Bernard touchdown. “It was one running play that went 80-some yards. Other than that, our gap integrity was outstanding. That’s the unfortunate thing. The big play kind of blows the numbers out of proportion and people think, ‘Wow, they got run over.’”
But except for the second half of a Week 5 win over the Bears, the Panthers have been getting run over. They are giving up 140.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks them 26th. And the issues go beyond just stopping the run.
Over the last month, the entire unit has been unrecognizable from a group that finished 2013 as the 2nd-ranked defense in the league.
After their Week 2 win against the Lions, the Panthers had allowed the NFL’s 2nd-fewest points (10.5) per game and 5th-fewest yards (293.5). Four weeks later, Carolina is 24th in points allowed (26.2) and 26th in yards allowed (392.5).
The tailspin coincides with the absence of Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy, who was placed on the league’s exempt list in Week 3.
“It’d be asinine for me to sit up here and say his loss has no impact on us. But at the same time, it is the next man (up) mentality,” Rivera said.
“It’d be easy to just sit here and say that, but I’m not going to cause you’d start letting a lot of people off the hook, me included. The truth of the matter is, these guys are professionals, and they need to play well, and they need to play better.”
Even if he wouldn’t admit it, Rivera’s defense is likely keeping him up at night. And sleep probably won’t come easy this week with a trip to play the potent Packers up next.
But Rivera is at peace with a decision that helped lead to Sunday’s tie.
Instead of going for a potential win on 4th-and-1 from the Bengals 18-yard-line near the end of overtime, he elected to send his field goal unit on for a field goal that evened the scored at 37. And while Riverboat Ron played that hand conservatively, the math could work out in his favor when the playoff numbers start to settle later this season.
“I’m still confident because we’re still in a good position. The half game could end up being the difference,” Rivera said. “I’m not going to look back; I’m just going to look forward, and we’re going to build off this.”
MORE FROM RIVERA
Injury updates:
- Running back DeAngelo Williams will be out “a couple more” weeks with a high ankle sprain.
- Running back Jonathan Stewart, who’s missed three games with a knee sprain, is expected to practice Wednesday.
- Left guard Amini Silatolu shed the walking boot he was in Sunday night. An MRI on Monday revealed a calf strain, but his timetable is unclear.
- Cornerback Bené Benwikere is “probably doubtful” to return from a high ankle sprain this week.
- Cornerback Josh Norman is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, so more won’t be known until Wednesday.
On the offensive line, which didn’t allow a sack after he challenged them early last week:
“I thought they responded very well. Their preparation was great. In fact, I commended them Thursday morning saying they had set the tempo for practice.”
On playing at Lambeau Field
“This time of year, the weather’s perfect because it’s not way too cold. Their fans are great. I can remember having been a player, and losing a game 14-13 to them, and afterwards having some of the fans come up and offer you a beer and a brat.”
BBR NUGGETS
- Seeing and hearing Greg Olsen talk about Vontaze Burfict is more powerful than reading the words. A passionate and perfect response from Olsen. — BBR
- This is not the 2013 defense. — BBR
- Snaps counts from Sunday. — BBR
- Even the 4th down bot couldn’t make a clear call on Rivera’s overtime decision. — Advanced Football Analytics
- The specialists are big time. — PRWeb.com