Cat Scratch Reader
The Panthers unfortunately just could not get anything going on offense, despite a strong effort from Mike Jackson and the defense. The offense spent most of the day with its longest play going only 8 yards. Mistakes were the theme of the day, but unfortunately the Seahawks made less of them than the Panthers on this particular Sunday.
The game started off with the Seahawks winning the coin toss (very important), deferring and Carolina receiving the kickoff. They answered with a nice run by Rico Dowdle, but stalled immediately after for a punt. Seattle got the ball, and Sam Darnold started to look like Sam Darnold, as he threw a pass that got tipped and likely would have been a pick six for Jaycee Horn had he caught it. He followed that with another pass that could have been picked, a good completion on 3rd down, and then a scramble drill and throwaway resulting in a 21 yard loss as a result of intentional grounding. Seahawks punt. The Panthers responded in kind with a 3 and out on pass and runs by Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard cut short. Seattle took the ball far enough down the field to kick a field goal, 3-0. The Panthers offense again went 3 and out with Bryce Young and Chuba Hubbard having a weird miscommunication over a run handoff and had to punt.
The Seahawks opened their next drive moving the ball pretty well, Mike Jackson decided otherwise and made back to back big stops, with a tackle for no gain on a Jaxon Smith-Njigba screen and a pass deflection. Seattle punted. Carolina managed some semblance of a drive, with a 4th down TUSH PUSH by Mitchell Evans, but the drive stalled in Seattle territory on a second 4th down attempt. Seattle took over, but Sam Darnold had his arm smacked by Nic Scourton, forcing a fumble. Seattle’s defense stood pat and forced a field goal, 3-3 with less than 4 minutes left in the half. We then got a wild series of events, as Seattle didn’t make much of an attempt to preserve clock. Claudin Cherelus made a big hit on Cooper Kupp that fell right into Derrick Brown’s hands, but unfortunately he couldn’t hold on for the interception. Then, Kenneth Walker caught a pass, fumbled short of the first down. There was likely cause to review it for an incomplete pass, but the refs didn’t stop the play. Seattle went for a sneak, but Sam Darnold was ruled short on 4th down, which also seemed questionable. At least the refs were consistent! Bryce Young couldn’t make anything of the field position and the half ended on an incomplete pass.
Seattle managed to drive deep into Carolina territory on the opening drive of the half, but Mike Jackson made a wicked interception to keep points off the board. Unfortunately, Chuba Hubbard had the ball punched out on the very next play to put...
