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Why the Panthers lost to the Bears last week

Bookmark and Share by Steve S.

Carolina has been able to score, but mainly through the air and with outstanding performances from Steve Smith. I even question Carolina's passing attack apart from Smith, because when Smith does not have the kind of day he had here, the other guys really don't step up. I am not even convinced on a good passing attack, but am convinced on a good Smith attack. Even in this loss, Smith had an outstanding day

Carolina is close to the bottom in run offense and they did not get this rating from one bad game in Chicago. So, it was pretty simple...let the one guy who can hurt you have his catches at times when they do not matter. and make an extra attempt to close him off in the red zone. The other receivers have not shown real signs to step up and if Smith is getting his catches, that is all the more reason to see a below average performance from the others. So, with a marginal pass attack, (ie Smith Attack) under control and nothing to fear from the other receivers, it left an obviously poor run offense to carry the team. Since the Bears have an above average defense, it was not difficult to shut down the run on a team that could not run on anybody.

To make matters worse, the Panthers pro bowl middle linebacker went out early with an ankle injury of some sort. We all know the more the other team is on offense, the less the other can perform. To make matters even worse than above, the Panthers fell behind early by 10 points. Even the coach mentioned after the loss that the early deficit affected their game plan. When you have a number of weaknesses as we have discussed above, but have had these weaknesses hidden by the 7-2 start, it may look as a surprise when a Bears game comes up, but in reality it is the first of many like it for the next 1/2 of the season.
Sometimes it is easier to hide in the first half of the season since a number of facts are not as clear as when the real season starts..the second half. Lack of run offense, lack of depth with pass offense and poor balance spells disaster. Throw in a motivated Chicago crowd, early deficit and the loss of a pro bowl middle linebacker, and it becomes a no-brainer.

Since the offense can only score TWO ways, they are going to have a serious problem if one of them (the run) is shut down and they let the one good receiver have catches but without too much damage. When the team gets down early and then loses a defensive stopper, it will only compound the problem. We had a perfect storm develop with the Bears and Panthers, but, we will see it again. Tampa Bay may indeed SHUT OUT the Bears as teams who suspected the above, now know it too be true beyond a shadow of a doubt. When a team cannot run and is not really deep with the pass, a good defensive team will shut them down 90% of the time.

Although Morgan is coming back, is he really strong? Even if he is, the defense is not the problem, it is the offense and there is no fix for the offense. If Cadillac Williams can keep the ball with TB on a consistent level, we will see a repeat of the Bears game. TB 13 - Carolina 3 or 0. I think Carolina might get shut out due to the fact that TB will control the ball longer. If Carolina's defense does not score, or force a good deal of turnovers at key times, Carolina will lose 90% of the time no matter who they are playing.

Carolina is done, you can hide for half the season, but the truth is out..very poor run offense, marginal pass offense with only one real receiver. This is a recipe for 9-7 and OUT.
 
Steven S. in California