Cat Scratch Reader
The Carolina Panthers managed to grind out one of the more ugly wins in recent history in a 13-6 victory over a wilting New York Jets team. Ugly wins still count the same in the win column, though – and the Panthers don’t seem to be in the business of collecting style points.
While the old heads among us may prefer the phrase “defensive slug fest” and took no issue with the flow of the game, there are a fair few in the Panthers fanbase who took some exception to the method of the Panthers win.
Let’s take a look at what made this hard fought victory so ugly for many a viewer.
In a league where the most lauded games each week are the back-and-forth shootouts between two high flying defenses, the low-scoring defensive bouts almost always get branded as ‘ugly’. When a pair of good offenses feast on a couple of porous defenses it gets labeled the game of the week. When 2 defenses take over a game and stonewall the offenses, the game is called boring. That’s not the only reason this game was called ugly, but it’s not often a game where the total points scored doesn’t eclipse 20 gets the ‘pretty’ label.
The Panthers did manage to double their sack count on the season, have their newly extended cornerback make two of the most aesthetically pleasing interceptions you’ll ever see, and manage to maintain a lead for the final 51 minutes of the game. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
A few more plays go the Panthers way on offense and many fans would be singing a much lighter tune:
Not converting on 3rd or 4th down with 1 yard to go
The Panthers tried to take a play-action shot on 3rd and 1 knowing they would go for it on 4th and 1 if it failed. Aside from the 4th and 1 rush attempt, the Panthers were also stuffed on a 2nd and 3 run. An aggressive play that did not work out.
Jimmy Horn Jr drop on 1st and 20
After a penalty on 1st down, the Panthers once again try to take a play action shot down the field. This time Bryce Young is able to step up to avoid pressure and get the ball out to Horn 35 yards down field. The placement was not perfect by Young, but good enough that it hit Horn square in the hands. The catch was bobbled and Horn was already on his second attempt to clutch the ball before the nearest defender ever made contact. Instead of 1st and 10 at the NYJ 30, it’s 2nd and 20 from the CAR 38.
JT Sanders drop in the redzone
2nd and 5 from the NYJ 30 yard line. With 10 minutes left in the game, Andy Dalton finds Sanders open just inside the redzone and puts the ball on his numbers. Sanders bobbles the...
