Oregon head football coach Chip Kelly should get a shot at an NFL coaching job.

Can the spread offense work in the NFL?

My answer: I don’t know.

My argument: Kelly should be hired either way; he would be worth a fortune.

Investing in Chip Kelly

What does a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars really have to lose by hiring Kelly? If nothing else, he’s a marketable asset.

How long has it been since Jacksonville was in the media spotlight? I think hiring Kelly could give the franchise some life.

Remember when Miami was abysmal and then they started the “wildcat” trend and suddenly people cared about watching Dolphins games again?

The same concept applies for Kelly. He won’t have to be the best coach in the NFL to sell tickets or hike up a team’s television ratings.

And what if the spread option offense does work in the NFL? That would be quite the added bonus.

An NFL Spread Offense

It seems like a lot of people have written off the idea before anyone has tried it.

My gut tells me it won’t work, but my gut told me Cam Newton would not start in the NFL. I have been wrong before, and I will be wrong again.

One thing is for certain: we won’t know if the spread offense will work in the NFL until someone gives it a try.

However, giving it a try might be harder than it sounds. Stanford head coach David Shaw has seen Kelly’s offense a few times.

He said switching to a spread offense in the NFL would take “an organizational commitment.”

Everybody has to buy into the system.

The franchise quarterback has to be willing to put his body in jeopardy.

The owner has to allow his $20 million quarterback to put his body in said jeopardy.

The defense has to be willing to be on the field more often with the fast pace of their offense.

Just like with college recruiting, Kelly’s organization would have to go after a certain type of player that would fit his unique system.

Good Fits for Kelly

The Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles would be the two teams with the easiest transitions into Kelly’s offense.

Both head coaches, Ron Rivera and Andy Reid, are on the hot seat. I wouldn’t be surprised if both organizations are looking for a new head coach in a few weeks.

Why not Kelly?

Carolina has the aforementioned Mr. Newton at quarterback. That’s a fine place to start building a spread offense.

Running back Jonathan Stewart played his college football at Oregon and Kelly was his offensive coordinator.

The transition wouldn’t be instantaneous, but some pieces are there.

The Eagles might have an even easier transition. The organization has been drafting smaller, quicker athletes for years.

Vick would not be a long-term solution, but he is a decent place to start while Kelly develops some other young prospect the Eagles draft.

The team’s roster is also the second youngest in the league. Their group would be more likely to buy into Kelly’s system then a group of veterans whose careers are on the decline.

A Winning Wager

It seems to me some teams in the NFL have nothing to lose by hiring Chip Kelly. It makes good business sense.

He might be a total bust in the NFL, but wouldn’t he at least keep things interesting?

I can’t remember the last time I eagerly anticipated a Jacksonville Jaguars game. If they hired Kelly, that would change quickly.

Seems like a golden opportunity.

AB

Fresh off a career best 16-tackle performance against the Falcons, linebacker Luke Kuechly was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week by the National Football League. The 21-year-old rookie out of Boston College has a league high three games with at least 15 in a game and leads the NFL in tackles with 130.

(Credit, Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

According to the coaching staff’s weekly film review, he had 147 entering the Atlanta game and is within striking distance of the team’s all-time mark of 174 held by James Anderson which was set last week.

“If there’s a better defensive rookie in the league, I haven’t seen it,” said defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. Week in and week out, he’s number one or two on the tackle list for us, and he’s lining the defense up. The things he does for a rookie is very impressive. He’s got a bright, bright future. This organization is fortunate to have a player and a person like Luke Kuechly.”

Kuechly was instrumental in helping the Panthers shut out the Falcons in the first half of their second meeting last Sunday, something no other team has been able to do in either half of any game this season.  

With three games remaining, the Panthers are just one player away from averaging an Injured Reserve entry for each NFL regular season week. After aggravating a groin injury in last Sunday’s win over Atlanta, safety Haruki Nakamura is the 16^th man to see his season come to an end earlier than expected.

With the addition of the fifth year pro out of Cincinnati to the IR, the Panthers are two short of the franchise mark set two seasons ago. It was a hard decision for head coach Ron Rivera but knew it had to be done.

“I think that because it is so late (in the season), there was no way he would be back in four weeks,” he said. “You know if this happened in week two or three you might use that injured reserve where you can bring the guy back. But it is tough because Haruki has done a lot of nice things for us; he’s really picked it up. The low point for him was the first Atlanta game and the high point was the second Atlanta game. He did a lot of good things, he’s helped a lot of young players and he’ll be missed.”

That seems to be a regular refrain for Rivera as he is forced to dig further into a talent pool that had lost a lot of its depth. To take his spot on the 53-man roster the Panthers signed safety Anderson Russell off their practice squad.

Nakamura was just one player as there were many more to talk about like the laundry list of those who missed Wednesday practice because they were given the day off just to rest, like linebacker Thomas Davis, and those who were nicked up.

“I didn’t realize we had this many guys,” Rivera said. “Dwan [Edwards] is still dealing with the wrist injury, Jeff [Hangartner] with the sprained foot, he got it stepped on so we hope that will calm down, Brandon [LaFell with turf toe] actually did some work yesterday and wasn’t any worse so we’re pretty excited and optimistic, Louis [Murphy] was more precautionary because of his hamstring and we wanted to see him get some rest, Jonathan [Stewart] did a little more movement so we’re optimistic there.

“James Anderson is coming off the back that he had last week and the eye has gotten better, Jeff Byers actually practiced an awful lot, a little bit more than limited as did Charles Godfrey. It’s good to have [Godfrey] back on the field. He’s a football player.”  

That was nine players, but by the end of the week when the Panthers take off for San Diego to play the Chargers the only one that could possibly be left behind is Stewart as he is still dealing with left and right ankle sprains.

“I think he took a step today but we’ll see,” said Rivera. “I mean a lot is how he reacts to things and see how he is in the morning.

For more Local Football Bloggers and the latest Panthers news, see CBS Sports Charlotte.

Ted Fleming is a freelance writer covering all things Carolina Panthers. His work can be found on Examiner.com. [javascript src=http://www.examiner.com/sites/all/libraries/cbswidget.min.js]

It is amazing how a few wins have been able to put the brakes on all the claptrap surrounding the Panthers’ dismal season. It’s understandable how it all began, but now that the head coach has shown he is not as stupid as some would have had you believe just six short weeks ago, and that Superman has broken out of that claustrophobic phone booth he was locked in, maybe it is time to peer into the future.

No one is quite sure how the early season failures will ultimately play into Ron Rivera’s future in Charlotte, but it is quite clear he was able to take his franchise quarterback off that slippery slope he was on regarding his performance on the field followed by some rather absurd postgame press conferences.

(Credit, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Today, Cam Newton is about as relaxed as he has ever been in both arenas and it has resulted in a 3-3 record. He has told his teammates that he accepts the responsibility for the team’s poor play when the team was one up and six down, a sign of a maturing 23-year old.

The Panthers could very well match their record from a year ago, and while that is really nothing to brag about, it is still light years from where they were headed.

Owner Jerry Richardson has to look long and hard about making a change at head coach. To do so would set the franchise back at least one year, because many of the so-called miracle workers are spoken for. One name that has been bandied about is Andy Reid, and he would be a perfect fit if the Panthers were a step or two from going deep into the playoffs. They are not.

First, Reid is still employed; for how long, no one really knows, only it looks like he won’t last more than a day or two once the regular season is over. Second, the Eagles are also an underachieving bunch and there have been questions about whether some of the players simply quit on their coach.

The Panthers, on the other hand, were going in the same direction, but no one even hinted that anyone had quit. In fact, just the opposite.

The Cats have had their fair share of injuries and when the losses began to pile up, Rivera simply plucked another player from the “Next Man Up” pile and found some gems and some diamonds in the rough. Rivera and his coordinators have done a solid job keeping the wheels from completely falling off, and the fact he wasn’t let go when GM Marty Hurney was may turn out to be the best move Richardson didn’t make.

The Panthers are not as bad as their record would indicate and a move here and there could put them back on the fast track. Richardson’s priority is finding a general manager who can begin the process of unleashing themselves from one of those big running back contracts while taking some of the savings to build up the offensive line. Adding a top flight receiver to complement and eventually replace Steve Smith is a given, because the jury is still out whether Brandon LaFell in the type of impact player some see in him.

The biggest surprise is the defense. There were so many question marks entering the season and despite being crushed under the weight of injury after injury, no one could have thought they would keep the Panthers in so many games. Sure, there were some late game meltdowns and missteps along the way, but here is where Rivera should get the attention of his owner.

No one will suggest the current defense is championship material. That comes with time, some good draft picks and free agents, but the nucleus is there for the defensive minded head coach. Most everyone believed Luke Kuechly had the ability to be a star, only he started the season out of position and didn’t move into his more natural middle linebacker spot until an injury opened it up. Now there is talk he could win top defensive rookie honors, and that is just one of the success stories that have come out of a miserable year.  

If there is anything learned from the last six weeks it’s that Ron Rivera can coach. He is not over his head as some have suggested. He doesn’t need a vote of confidence from Richardson – that is usually the kiss of death anyway – he needs his owner to tell him he will return for a third season.

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Manny Pacquio, Mark Sanchez and Ron Rivera need a lawn mowing business. They can call it 3 amigos.

Mike Tolbert, FB #35
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 245
Age: 27
Hometown: Douglasville, GA
College: Coastal Carolina
Experience: 5 years

(Credit, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

He doesn’t play a sexy position and usually has the dirtiest uniform, not to mention the most bumps and bruises of anyone in the backfield. You have to be built like a fireplug, be able to pick up blitzes faster than the quarterback and try to stop a charging lineman that, in most instances, outweighs you by 100 pounds or more. You don’t get paid like the glamour boys at running back, but occasionally the coach will call your number to actually know what the old pigskin feels like.

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What you have just read is the job description of one Mike Tolbert, a fullback for the Carolina Panthers. From a fans’ standpoint, he may be one of the most under-appreciated players on the roster. Tolbert has touched the ball just 54 times, 30 rushing and 24 receiving, which are not exactly the kind of numbers that will burn his name in the minds of those who watch on TV or from the stands–that’s unless you dig deeper into what he means to the team.

After a solid career at Coastal Carolina where he rushed for 1,670 yards averaging 6.0 per carry and 21 touchdowns, Tolbert was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted rookie in 2008, where current Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera was as the defensive coordinator. He made the team and in four years with San Diego rushed for 1,410 yards. With good hands he caught 109 passes for 1,012 more, and Tolbert knows where the end zone is, hitting it 26 times.

When he became a free agent, Rivera remembered him as being athletic for his size, a hard worker who had one of those personalities you don’t forget. The Panthers called and he signed a four-year deal to play just 3½ hours from where he played in college. He is just one of four players from Coastal Carolina University to play in the NFL joining Jerome Simpson (Bengals), Quinton Teal (Panthers and Chargers) and Tyler Thigpen (Chiefs and Dolphins).

Tolbert could have stayed with the Chargers for more money, but the close proximity to his home in Douglasville, GA factored into his decision as well as his familiarity with Rivera. He also enjoyed playing for Rob Chudzinski, who is now the Panthers offensive coordinator. At $700,000 for 2012, he is clearly a bargain.

It was supposed to be a dream backfield of Tolbert, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but things have not worked out the way many expected, with Williams and Stewart having career worsts in yards per carry and Tolbert having his lowest output since his rookie season when he had just 37 on the ground. However, to watch him play, the 5-foot-9, 245 pounder is enjoying every minute of his time with the Panthers doing whatever is asked of him.

And when the Panthers finally turn things around, maybe the fans will get to know Tolbert a little better.

For more Local Football Bloggers and the latest Panthers news, see CBS Sports Charlotte.

Ted Fleming is a freelance writer covering all things Carolina Panthers. His work can be found on Examiner.com. [javascript src=http://www.examiner.com/sites/all/libraries/cbswidget.min.js]

Andy Reid got such a hearty hug on the sideline from Howard Mudd that the 70-year-old assistant with the artificial hip actually lifted the burly head coach off his feet.

Norv Turner received a game ball from the team president.

Reid and Turner were just two of four coaches on the hot seat who celebrated wins on Sunday, joining Ron Rivera and Pat Shurmur.

Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles (4-9) snapped an eight-game losing streak when rookie Nick Foles threw a touchdown pass with no time left to beat Tampa Bay 23-21.

Turner led the San Diego Chargers (5-8) to their first regular-season victory in Pittsburgh in 15 tries. A 34-24 win over Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers kept the Chargers mathematically alive for a wild-card playoff berth.

Rivera watched his Carolina Panthers (4-9) build a 23-0 lead against NFC South champion Atlanta and hold on for a 30-20 upset.

Shurmur is actually getting used to winning in Cleveland. The Browns (5-8) beat Kansas City 30-7 for their third straight victory to also keep slim playoff hopes alive.

But, is it too late for any of the four coaches to save their job?

“Listen, I’m not worried about any of that,” Shurmur said Monday. “I’m not worried about saving, I’m worried about doing my job and that’s it. I just want to do my job.”

He could’ve been speaking on behalf of the other coaches, too.

“That’s not the thing that’s on my mind,” Turner said about his job status. “We’re trying to get ready for Carolina and trying to build on what we did. That’s where I’m at.”

Reid and Rivera have expressed similar thoughts whenever asked.

Of the four, Reid may have the least security, even though he’s been the most successful among the group and is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL at 14 years.

Reid is assured his third losing season and second in a row. The Eagles entered each of the last two seasons as Super Bowl contenders and failed miserably. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie already gave Reid a directive before the season, saying the Eagles had to make “substantial improvement” on their 8-8 finish from last year.

It’s a foregone conclusion in what-have-you-done-for-me-lately Philadelphia that Reid won’t be back. Local comedian Joe Conklin and his daughter, Casey, put together a video parody of Taylor Swift’s song “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” mocking Reid. It’s called: “We Are Never Ever Gonna Win With Andy.” The video already has nearly 400,000 views on YouTube.

Fans and media have speculated about Reid’s potential replacement and the nature of his departure for months. The only question here is whether Reid steps down or is fired.

But Lurie and Reid are closer than a typical owner-coach relationship. Reid also is due to make about $6 million in 2013. So, it’s not entirely unreasonable to think Lurie could let him finish his contract, especially if the Eagles win the final three games.

Lurie could cite several reasons, including turmoil and injuries. Reid fired defensive co-ordinator Juan Castillo in October and defensive-line coach Jim Washburn last week. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson — the team’s top three offensive players — have missed a total of eight games. The offensive line was decimated by injuries.

There’s also the rookie quarterback factor. Foles has shown signs of being a long-term answer. Reid was hired by the Eagles largely due to the role he played in developing Brett Favre when he was an assistant in Green Bay. Donovan McNabb had an outstanding career under Reid in Philadelphia. Perhaps Lurie would want to keep Foles in proven hands.

All that said, the city might riot if Lurie doesn’t part ways with Reid.

There wouldn’t be upheaval in San Diego if Turner stays. But that’s unlikely. The Chargers are headed toward a third straight year out of the playoffs, and are one loss away from their first losing season since 2003.

Chargers president Dean Spanos is expected to fire Turner and general manager A.J. Smith shortly after this dismal season ends. Reid, by the way, has been mentioned as a potential successor.

In Carolina, Rivera is coaching like a guy who expects to return. He’s playing younger guys and preparing them for the future whether he’s part of it or not.

The Panthers fired GM Marty Hurney after a 1-5 start. At that time, Rivera said he was told by owner Jerry Richardson the team needs to be “trending upward” the rest of the season. The Panthers are 3-4 since, including the impressive win over the Falcons.

Richardson hasn’t talked about his plans. He does have to hire a new GM, who likely would want to bring in his own coach.

“The disappointing thing is that’s what we can be,” Rivera said after the win over the Falcons. “We know that. Based on what we did, how we did it and who we did it with, that’s the disappointing thing. … We’ve found balance, we have. Unfortunately, we didn’t do it sooner.”

Shurmur could make the best argument to keep his job. The Browns are 5-3 after an 0-5 start and they have a roster filled with young players. Cleveland’s rookies have combined to make 72 starts — a league high.

“That’s good for the future because we’re finally starting to find how to win football games with these young players,” Shurmur said.

Whether that future includes Shurmur remains to be seen.

New owner Jimmy Haslam and new CEO Joe Banner may want to hand-pick their own coach to run the franchise. But if the Browns win out and finish the season on a six-game winning streak, firing Shurmur would be hard to justify.

Other coaches who could be looking for employment include Tennessee’s Mike Munchak. The Titans (4-9) have lost five of their last six, and owner Bud Adams put the entire franchise on notice following a 51-20 loss to Chicago on Nov. 4.

Munchak, who has a year left on his contract, fired offensive co-ordinator Chris Palmer two weeks ago and may have to make other staff changes to keep his own job when this season ends.

In Buffalo, Chan Gailey appears safe despite the Bills (5-8) being headed toward their 13th straight season out of the playoffs. Gailey is just 15-30 with the Bills, but general manager Buddy Nix has insisted he has no intention of firing him.

Reid, Turner, Rivera, Shurmur and Munchak haven’t received similar votes of confidence.

AP Sports Writers Tom Withers, Steve Reed, Teresa Walker, John Wawrow and Bernie Wilson contributed to this report.

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Last week the Carolina Panthers lost to the worst team in the league. This week the Carolina Panthers beat the best team in the league. Some things you just can’t explain.

The game started off on the right foot as the Panthers won the coin toss for the first time all season. They decided to receive and then marched down the field for the first touchdown of the game. Cam Newton was perfect on the drive, including a 25 yard strike to Greg Olsen for the score. The offense set the tone early with this drive and the defense followed suit.

The Panthers dominated the first half, but they let the Falcons hang around as they were forced to kick three field goals instead of getting touchdowns. As good as Newton was in the first half, and he was very good, he wasn’t throwing the deep ball very well. He overthrew Steve Smith a couple of times and completely missed a wide open Louis Murphy, who would’ve walked into the end zone untouched The defense was pretty spectacular, shutting out a good Falcons offense for the first half. They were helped by the offense, who put together long drives and kept the Falcons offense off the field, but when the Panthers defense needed to keep the offensive momentum going, they did so. The Falcons had the ball 3 times in the first half and only managed to squeak out 35 yards. The Panthers took a 16-0 lead into the half, but it failed like it could’ve been a lot bigger given how well the team played on both sides of the ball. Plus we all know how the Panthers love to give up fourth quarter leads, so only being up 16-0 against a quick strike Falcons offense definitely wasn’t comfortable.

The Falcons got the ball to start the second half, and I figured that if they scored, the Panthers would probably lose. Luckily they didn’t score. And when the Panthers got the ball back, Cam broke off a 72 yard run for the score to put the team up 23-0. That seemed like a safe lead, but this is the Panthers we’re talking about. The Falcons scored on their next drive, the Panthers went four and out, and the Falcons scored again. Then they failed on a two-point conversion, which looked to be good, to make the game 23-13 with 13:57 left, which is way too much time for Matt Ryan.

The Panthers took 4:40 off the clock on their next offensive possession, but gave the ball back to the Falcons with plenty of time left. The Falcons moved the ball past midfield, but Ryan threw an interception on 4th down. The Panthers scored a touchdown on a DeAngelo Williams screen on the ensuing possession and that was all she wrote. Even though the Falcons put another score on the board, it was too little too late.

I think most people knew that the Falcons weren’t as good as their one loss record, but I doubt many people figured they would lose to the Panthers. It’s not like the Panthers are a bad team, they’ve been in the majority of their games this year, they’ve just failed to win those games. Contrast that to the Falcons, who have won those close games all season. The Panthers were definitely the superior team on Sunday though.

For the fourth straight game, Cam played outstanding, turning in perhaps his best game of the season. He threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 116 yards and another score. Williams had his best game of the season as well. He only had 56 yards rushing, but he had another 56 yards receiving and a touchdown.

The only problem with this win is that it may have saved Ron Rivera his job. While last weeks loss and his track record over the past two years shouldn’t be erased with one win, this was a signature win for him and maybe a sign that he’s turning things around. I still don’t think he should be the head coach next year and I’ll be upset if he is. But he seems like a good guy and if this win helps him land a job elsewhere, then good for him.

Boasting can sometimes come back to bite you, just ask Ryan Kalil. The three-time Pro Bowl center took out a full page ad in July with a headline that blared, “Why the Carolina Panthers will win Super Bowl XLVII,” with the first reason, “Because we have to.” Clearly, the Panthers are not going to win football’s biggest game, they won’t even be there – unless they buy a ticket.

More recently, like this past week, Greg Hardy said something that drew the ire of some and laughter from others, only he might have been on to something when he said that the Panthers were better than the Falcons.

(Credit, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

It was hard to understand the statement, considering Atlanta was 11-1 and Carolina 3-9 before the two squads met for the second and final time on Sunday. If there was a reason for optimism, it might have something to do with their Week 4 meeting. The Panthers had the Falcons’ number that day until a late field goal denied them of a .500 record. As it turned out, it was the second of a five-game slide essentially ending any playoff talk.

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For one week at least, Hardy was correct because the Panthers came away with a 10-point win and it was not as close as the score would indicate. In fact, the 30-20 win might have opened up the possibility that the Falcons are not as good as their record, something the rest of the league might want to look at. If there’s anything Carolina can take some joy in, it’s that they kept Atlanta from walking away with home field advantage in the playoffs.

Here is a breakdown of how the Panthers backed Hardy up:

Coaching: Ron Rivera’s commitment to the ground game has opened up new vistas in the Panthers’ offense, and this might have been one of their best performances ever–475 total yards! It all began with winning the coin flip, ending a streak of 13 straight losses, and they receiving the ball. Chalk up seven points and it was full steam ahead. On the other side of the ball, the defense put the Falcons back on their heels right from the get-go and completely shut down the run. You do that, you win more than you will lose. Today Carolina won. Grade: A

Quarterback: In his first seven games Cam Newton had some ugly stats, five touchdowns against eight interceptions and a 1-6 record. Over the last six he has turned that around is going 3-3 based on a near perfect 11 TDs and only two picks. Newton continues to lead the team in rushing and he added a whopping 109 yards, becoming the first ever Panthers quarterback to hit the century mark. He also ended a 23 game drought of anyone getting 100 in a game. It helped that he had a 72-yard romp for a touchdown, but do not overlook his passing stats–23/35, 287 yards, two touchdowns and a 110.1 passer rating. He has gone four straight without a pick and may be on the best run of his brief career. Grade: A+

Offense: It can be summed up in just one statistic – 475 yards. Is this the 2012 Panthers we are talking about? DeAngelo Williams, subbing for an injured Jonathan Stewart, showed that he is also a double threat rushing for 56 and adding another 56 through the air, 53 coming on a 53-yard TD strike. Fullback Mike Tolbert also chipped in with 20 and 18, but if there was something to crow about it was the offensive line that provided Newton the time to make excellent decisions all game long. Steve Smith was everywhere and it showed catching seven for 109 – he has at least one catch in 88 straight games dating back to 2006 – while tight end Greg Olsen made an outstand grab on the back end of a 25 yard touchdown pass from Newton on the opening drive. It would have been nice if a back ended the streak of consecutive games without a 100-yard rusher, but it ended nonetheless. Grade: A

Defense: This is the area that has shown the steadiest improvement and Sunday may have been the best game this year, because it came against the vaunted Falcons. Quarterback Matt Ryan will pick you apart when things are equal, but things were not. The ground game was stuffed to the tune of just 35 yards. Yes, you read that correctly, 35. Ryan still got his numbers, 342 yards and 2 TDs, but he needed 49 passes to get there. To add a little insult, Atlanta had never been shut out in the first half, or any half for that matter, this year and they trailed after 30-minutes 16-0. Ryan was sacked twice and even with a late game surge the Falcons could not match the Panthers in time of possession, 35:47 to 24:13. Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Luke Kuechly had a spectacular afternoon recording 16 tackles, 11 solo. He now has 130 in 13 games, 79 solo. Grade: A-

Special teams: The Panthers had just 11 field goals entering the game, the fewest in the NFL, until Graham Gano booted three straight in the second quarter to help the team open up a huge 23-0 lead. The final three-pointer came with no time left on the clock in the second quarter, the first time all season Carolina had put up points inside the two minute warning. Three of Gano’s six kickoffs went for touchbacks as well. Brad Nortman had to punt only twice and averaged 44 yards. Armond Smith had three kickoff returns, one going for 26. Grade: B+

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Ted Fleming is a freelance writer covering all things Carolina Panthers. His work can be found on Examiner.com. [javascript src=http://www.examiner.com/sites/all/libraries/cbswidget.min.js]

Some NFL Head Coaches have been able to come into the league and lead their team to success. Others aren’t so lucky. Some coaches just aren’t able to have success in the NFL, whether it be due to lack of talent, inability to inspire, etc. I am a believer that the Head Coach position is a huge part of a team’s success. A Head Coach should do whatever it takes to get his team ready for the upcoming game. If a Coach cannot do that, there is no reason they should stay at that position. I believe a  lot of current Head Coaches have overstayed their welcome. They’ve shown an inability to coach at an efficient level, and it would be best for team to move on.

Norv Turner – San Diego Chargers

Norv Turner started off very well as Head Coach for the Chargers, winning the AFC West three years in a row. The Chargers were also able to win three playoff games, and they even made an AFC Championship appearance in Norv’s first year. However, the last two years have been disappointing for the Chargers. After the beginning the 2011 season with a 4-1 record, the Chargers would go on to lose six straight games. A similar story has taken place in 2012 as the Chargers started 3-1, but they currently face a 4-8 record. With the talent this team possesses, it’s unbelievable the Chargers haven’t been able to perform to their capabilities. That falls on the Head Coach.

Jason Garrett – Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett took over as interim head coach for the last eight games of the Cowboys’ 2010 season, and the Cowboys played well. They went 5-3 under Jason Garrett and were expected to contend for the NFC East in 2011. The Cowboys finished one game away from winning the NFC East, but they could have helped themselves by winning some key games down the stretch. Poor game management contributed to the Cowboys going 1-4 for the last four games of the season. In 2012, Garrett still displays a lack of “know-how” when it comes to making big decisions, and this was most clearly evidenced by the Cowboys’ loss to the Ravens when Garrett should have had a better idea of what he wanted his team to do on the final drive.

Andy Reid – Philadelphia Eagles

This is another example of a Head Coach having enough talent, but not being able to get the job done. After putting together monstrous talent, the Eagles were expected to be a Super Bowl contending team. They are nowhere close. They currently sit at a 3-9 record, and they are on pace for Reid’s worst coached team. The fact that Reid has his job at this very moment is astounding to me.

Chan Gailey – Buffalo Bills

One word can be used to describe Chan Gailey’s run with the Buffalo Bills. Bad. The Bills have been last in the AFC West for the past two seasons and look to be fourth once again. Gailey’s been much help to the offense at times, but his team struggles mightily on defense. He shows no motivation skills and that’s more than necessary when coaching. Gailey needs to get rid of his defensive coordinator soon, or it could be Gailey that’s out the door.

Ron Rivera – Carolina Panthers

Belive it or not, the Panthers have actually regressed from the 2011 season, especially on offense. Cam Newton had one of the best rookie years of all time in 2011, but he’s struggling in 2012. Without the offense playing up to form, I’ve been taking a hard look at the defense. The talent is definitely there, but they just can’t get better. They even at times appear to be worse than they were in 2011, and that mainly falls on Rivera. Rivera has been revered as a defensive minded coach, but when his unit doesn’t perform up to par, it puts too much pressure on the young QB Cam Newton.

Ken Whisenhunt – Arizona Cardinals

There was a brief time when it appeared that the Cardinals were playoff bound. They were 4-0 and recently upset the New England Patriots. Oh, how things have changed. Whisenhunt’s field of expertise is offense, but the offense is what’s struggling the most. There seems to be a new quarterback starting every week for the Cardinals, and the offensive line has been one of the worst in the league. The Cardinals have now lost 8 straight games, and Whisenhunt hasn’t made the necessary adjustments to save his team.

When the Panthers host the Falcons this Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in the second and final meeting of the season, they will be without two of key players, running back Jonathan Stewart, who will miss his second straight game with a high ankle sprain, and wide receiver Brandon LaFell with a turf toe. While Stewart was somewhat expected, head coach Ron Rivera said LaFell was “very” questionable.

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards, linebacker James Anderson and safety Charles Godfrey, all starters, are also listed as questionable, but should be available.

As was the case last week in Kansas City, DeAngelo Williams will step in for Stewart, who did not practice all week, and Rivera said that fullback Mike Tolbert will be more involved in the offense. The Panthers have made a commitment to the ground game in recent weeks with mixed results but clearly better than they were earlier in the season.

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If LaFell is scratched, fourth-year wideout Louis Murphy will start opposite Steve Smith with Armanti Edwards moving in as the number three receiver while David Gettis will be active for just the second time this year since coming off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list a month ago.

With Edwards as the first receiver off the bench that would mean Armond Smith will be the kickoff returner. The 5-foot-9, 190 pound running back was signed off the practice squad and if he sees action it will be his first in a Panthers’ uniform. His previous NFL experience was with the Browns last year appearing in three games. He will wear uniform number 36.

The Falcons have just four players on the injury list and all designated as questionable. Safety William Moore and cornerback Asante Samuel did not practice all week while defensive tackle Peria Jerry and running back Michael Turner were limited the last three days.

Moore is coming off a spectacular game against the Saints where he had 11 tackles, nine solo, and had a pair of interceptions. He was hobbled by a hamstring and with the week off he should be available. Samuel is another story because he did not play against New Orleans and could be a game time decision. If he cannot go, Robert McClain is next man up. Peria has not played since Week 11 so third-year pro Corey Peters should get the nod.

Turner is having an off year with just 675 yards and a 3.8 average, however, he is still the Falcons only real threat on the ground. Jacquizz Rodgers (274 yards) and quarterback Matt Ryan (106) are not much of a threat and have only two touchdowns between them, five less than Turner, so if there is any way the 30-year old can go, he will.

*************

The following is the injury report issued on Friday by the National Football League for the Falcons-Panthers game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday, December 9, 2012:

ATLANTA FALCONS, 11-1 (** denotes starter):

QUESTIONABLE
** RB Michael Turner (elbow), ** CB Asante Samuel (shoulder), ** S William Moore (hamstring), ** DT Peria Jerry (quadriceps)

*************

CAROLINA PANTHERS 3-6 (** denotes starter):

DOUBTFUL
** RB Jonathan Stewart (ankle)

QUESTIONABLE
** DT Dwan Edwards (wrist), ** LB James Anderson (back/eye), ** S Charles Godfrey (back), ** WR Brandon LaFell (turf toe), G Jeff Byers (back)

PROBABLE
** TE Greg Olsen (back)

*************

FOR REFERENCE –

Out: there is no chance the injured player will be medically cleared for the game
Doubtful: a 25% chance the injured player will be medically cleared for the game
Questionable: a 50% chance the injured player will be medically cleared for the game
Probable: a 75% chance the injured player will be medically cleared for the game

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The Falcons play the Carolina Panthers this weekend in Charlotte.  We solicit the knowledge of ProFootballTalk.com’s Darin Gantt for a Panthers perspective.

[audio_link url="http://cbsatlanta.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/12-07-12-darin-gantt.mp3" name="Darin Gantt" artist="Mac And Jason"]

It’s a common refrain for teams with losing records, but in the Panthers’ case, they actually are a better team than what the record indicates. With only four games left before the golf course beckons, there is still a lot to accomplish down the stretch for the players and coaching staff because most of their jobs are on the line.

Possibly buoyed by their growing number of close losses, seven by less than a touchdown, there isn’t much doubt that a few breaks along the way might have seen their current 3-9 mark be closer to .500 or possibly better. Instead they are closer to a top 5 or ten draft pick than the postseason.

As Cam Newton put it, “We are a way better team than what it is [but] the old saying is perception is reality. Let’s not be jaded by the fact that we still have a lot of guys that’s on this team that has won in the past and are capable of winning.” Newton’s biggest critique of himself is his lack of consistency. “I feel like a broken record, always repeating myself with things that I can work on,” he said after practice on Wednesday.

(Credit, Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

From Newton’s perspective, he doesn’t believe those early close losses were a harbinger of things to come. There were always opportunities but as circumstances would have it, a missed scoring opportunity late in the game that would have possibly put it away left just the opening other teams needed to flip the score against the Panthers.

The loss in Kansas City stung because the Chiefs were ripe for the taking even before the tragic events that took place a day before, but it was not to be as a wave of emotion buried the Panthers despite a solid game from their quarterback.

“Last week we did have a lot of success, but still we had more opportunities where we felt like we could have put points up on the board,” said Newton. “We can’t put our defense in that kind of situation. We knew what kind of game it was going into it.”

So with four games remaining, two against division rivals but only one with a winning record – the Falcons – how do the Panthers approach the final quarter of the season? Motivation.

“We know what is going on with this franchise and we know [head coach Ron Rivera] is in search of the formula to win,” he said. “So with people knowing that, you better start putting something successful on film or the hourglass will be cut short for a lot of people. Nothing’s safe, not even for myself. We’re going to have to find something to motivate us to keep us going. We still have a chance to surpass the wins that we had last year, that’s something we have to look for, something as small as that to keep us going.”

The way 2012 has gone thus far, it might be easier said than done.

PRACTICE NOTES: Linebacker James Anderson was poked in the eye early in the loss to the Chiefs and didn’t return to play until the second half, but of more concern is his back. “It stiffened up on him so hopefully we’ll get it loosened up,” said Rivera. “[Jason Phillips] played for him in his stead and did a nice job and we feel pretty confident with [him] if we have to play him.

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Whether he’ll get that opportunity remains to be seen.

With the Panthers 3-9 and coming off a loss to the NFL-worst Kansas City Chiefs, Rivera’s clearly on the hot seat.

“People say, ‘Oh you’re just getting them ready for the next coach.’ Well, I think I’m getting them ready for me,” Rivera said. “I could be wrong but I’m not going to worry about that.”

The second-year coach said his goal is to win the next four games, beginning this Sunday when the Panthers host Matt Ryan against the Atlanta Falcons.

But he’s quick to add “at the same time, we’ve got to be able to do it with these young guys. If we don’t play these guys, we’ll go into next season with the same questions.”

Rivera is well-liked by his staff and employees at Panthers headquarters, but his team has struggled to find success particularly in close games leaving questions about his ability to manage games down the stretch.

The Panthers are 9-19 under Rivera overall and are 1-12 in games decided by seven points or less.

When general manager Marty Hurney was fired after a 1-5 start to the season, Rivera said he had a conversation with team owner Jerry Richardson and was informed the team needs to be “trending upward” the rest of the season.

But the Panthers are just 2-4 since Hurney’s departure and they’ve suffered some tough losses since, including a 27-21 defeat to the Chiefs.

Kansas City entered the game 1-10 on the season.

Carolina also blew an 11-point fourth quarter lead against division rival Tampa Bay and lost in overtime.

Rivera said he’s not had any recent conversations with Richardson, but still expects to at least finish out the season.

“The last time I talked with him things were good in terms of the things I needed to do,” Rivera said. “I understood the situation and the circumstances and he’s been very fair and open about this.”

Richardson was unavailable for comment Monday.

Rivera started playing rookies more after the team’s playoff hopes began to dissipate.

Three rookies — linebacker Luke Kuechly, offensive guard Amini Silatolu and cornerback Josh Norman — have started all season, but in recent weeks defensive end Frank Alexander, cornerback Josh Thomas and defensive tackle Nate Chandler have seen increased playing time.

Second-year defensive tackle Sione Fua is back in the starting lineup and Rivera is giving rookie punt returner Joe Adams a shot after he fumbled away his opportunities earlier in the season.

“We have some good young talent that is playing and developing more and more,” Rivera said. “As we go forward you can say yes, we’ve played a lot of the young guys and seen some good things from them. We know some of these young guys can play as we look forward to next year. So that’s a big plus.”

Second-year quarterback Cam Newton, in particular, has impressed Rivera of late.

In the past three weeks, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has completed 49 of 84 passes for 790 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions.

He had three touchdown passes in the loss to Kansas City.

“His outlook on things, the way he perceives things and the way he’s handled himself the last few weeks has been outstanding,” Rivera said. “He’s played very well and given us chances to win. We have to take advantage of that.”

As for trending up, Rivera said he believes there are some areas that have improved despite the team’s record, but clearly more improvement is needed.

“I think there are some positions that definitely have to be looked at and evaluated,” Rivera said. “… We have an opportunity to play Atlanta and a chance to play New Orleans in our division and that’s a chance to send a message.”

There were many legitimate arguments, both for and against, whether the Panther-Chiefs game should have been canceled or at the very least postponed following Saturday’s tragic events outside Arrowhead Stadium. According to police, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher ended his girlfriend’s life Saturday then drove to Arrowhead Stadium, where he took his own life. 

(Credit, Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

On Sunday, it was the Chiefs’ players and coaches who made the final decision to play. You might say that choice was the first thing that went wrong for the Panthers, because there were others. When the game started they had to tangle with a team that was competing on raw emotions and likely little else.

To some there is a certain number that is considered unlucky and that number came up on the coin toss of all things when the Cats lost it for the 13^th consecutive time, giving the Chiefs the ball to open the game. Kansas City would then proceed to march down the field for the team’s first opening series touchdown of the entire season giving, Carolina fans got a hint of what was about to happen–a 27-21 loss denying the Panthers of their first winning streak while dropping them to 3-9.

COACHING: Head coach Ron Rivera committed to the run even though his number one back, Jonathan Stewart, was left back in Charlotte because of problems with both ankles. While the Panthers had their 23^rd straight games without a 100-yard rusher, the overall total was very good with 165. The offense was balanced – 22 rushes, 27 passes – and of the 19 first downs, eight were on the ground and the other 11 by air, however, it was just the opposite on defense which would ultimately be the difference in the final score. GRADE: C+

QUARTERBACK: It’s becoming a monotonous stat, although a good one, but Cam Newton did not get picked off for the third straight game. He also threw three perfect passes for touchdowns giving him 14 against just 10 picks. The second-year quarterback led the team in rushing with 78 yards on seven carries for a whopping 11.1 average, but 59 of them came on one series rushing four times for 59 including scampers of 28 and 20 on the Panthers final scoring drive. Newton would finish 15/27, 232 yards and a passer rating of 121.2 and the only blemish on his day was that he did not get the victory. Grade: B+

OFFENSE: One area that cannot be considered a Panthers’ strength – at least this season – is the ground game, but it was a strength despite the loss. DeAngelo Williams, subbing for Jonathan Stewart, had his best game of the year with 67 yards and bested his season average of 3.2 per carry by more than two (5.6). Steve Smith led all receivers with 120 yards on just five catches, but he might have cost his team a time out at 1:15 of the third after he got tangled with Chiefs’ DB Jalil Brown and would not disengage. By the time he did there was a lot of confusion and the Panthers had to burn one. Smith wasn’t the only receiver who added to the loss as Brandon LaFell had a perfect Cam Newton third down pass slip through his hands at the five yard line on the first series of the second half. Instead of being in scoring position Carolina punted. Grade: C-

DEFENSE: Where to begin? Under the circumstances you might have expected the Chiefs to be off their game on offense especially with Brady Quinn under center. The Notre Dame alum had started just 19 times in his six-year NFL career and just three times over the last three seasons and all he did was go 19/23 for 201 yards with 2 TDs and a rating of 132.1 better than his counterpart Cam Newton. The defense had major problems stopping running back Jamal Charles who racked up 127 yards and if that wasn’t enough, KC was a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down conversions. In short yardage situations, fullback Peyton Hillis was a killer and to add insult to a personal foul, cornerback Josh Thomas was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct with just 6:51 left in the game which pushed the ball into Panthers territory. The Chiefs would capitalize by padding a three point lead with a 52-yard field goal. It was also the last score of the day for either club. Grade: F

NOTES: Linebacker James Anderson was poked in the eye early in the game and had trouble opening it, missing the rest of the first half. After some treatment he would return in the third quarter.
Safety Sherrod Martin injured his right knee last in the second quarter, was carted off and did not return.
The Panthers were swamped in time of possession 37:13 to 22:47.
Linebacker Thomas Davis led the team with 11 tackles while Luke Kuechly had nine plus his first career sack.
Cam Newton was sacked twice and 30 on the season, just five away from his total for his entire rookie season.
Newton had just 12 yards rushing in the first half.

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The Kansas City Chiefs entered Sunday as the worst team in the league, Brady Quinn as their quarterback, and emotionally wrecked after a murder/suicide tragedy at the stadium the day before. Luckily for them, they were playing Ron Rivera and the Carolina Panthers.

This defense is pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. To allow Brady Quinn to go 19/23 for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns, not to mention a scramble on third and eight to effectively end the game is a joke. The Chiefs offense hadn’t scored more than 20 points since week 4. Brady Quinn hadn’t thrown a touchdown since 2009. None of that mattered against this defense. They never got pressure on Quinn, they couldn’t stop Jamaal Charles from picking up at least five yards on every carry, and they couldn’t stop any receiver from being wide open on every throw. Besides Luke Kuechly, who would win defensive rookie of the year if he wasn’t handcuffed by a bunch of incompetence around him, no one on the defense showed up.

Ron Rivera was brought in because he was a defensive genius in Chicago and San Diego. Last season he got a pass because of the lack of off-season work outs and the fact that he was a first time head coach. I expected big improvements this year from the defense but instead they’ve gotten worse and Rivera has made absolutely no adjustments. He’s an absolute joke and I can’t wait for this season to end so I won’t have to see him on the Panthers sideline any more.

The offense played well, although they failed to put a drive together in the fourth quarter that could’ve put them ahead. I give the Chiefs defense a lot of credit as they really turned up the pressure in the fourth and got Cam Newton uncomfortable, but I also put some blame on Cam for not getting rid of the ball quicker. The biggest play of the game was probably Brandon LaFell’s drop in the third quarter when the team was down 14-17. Had he caught the ball, it would’ve been a sure touchdown to put the team up, and who knows how the game would’ve played out from there. Instead the Panthers had to punt, the Chiefs scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession and went up 24-14, which turned out to be the winning score.

I thought the Panthers season ended when they blew that game against the Atlanta Falcons way back in week four. I was right. This just solidified how bad it’s been this year. The team is playing for draft position now, and I wouldn’t mind if they didn’t win another game so their position gets better. Whatever happens the rest of this year is pretty much moot because I think this team will look a lot different next year. Cam Newton will be back, Steve Smith will be back, and Luke Kuechly will be back. Except for those three though, I couldn’t tell you who else the Panthers will retain. That’s how much of a losing stink these players have on them dating back to two years ago.

The most important thing is that Rivera will be gone. Good riddance to him.

————————————————-

“Why did I agree to do this?”

That was my first thought when I sat down to write about the Kansas City Chiefs/Carolina Panthers football game this past Sunday. As a lifelong Chiefs fan, I can honestly look you in the face and tell you that I had no intentions at all of watching this version of the Chiefs play anymore football this year. That feeling got even worse when I learned of the tragic news involving Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shooting his girlfriend and then driving to Arrowhead Stadium and taking his own life in front of some of KC’s coaches. Not only was my favorite professional football team falling apart in front of my own eyes, but now one of the athletes I’m supposed to be cheering for was responsible for a horrendous act. After hearing this news, I remember thinking that there was no way the Chiefs were playing against Carolina on Sunday. I was wrong.

The Chiefs showed up to play against Carolina on Sunday and they actually were a team playing with a lot of heart, something that hasn’t happened much (if at all) this year. The Chiefs were able to beat the Panthers by simply not turning the ball over and not committing stupid penalties. It also helps that they were playing against Carolina’s defense and that allowed Brady Quinn to come out of the game looking like Tom Brady with 201 yards for 2 touchdown’s and a QB rating of 132. Chiefs fans shouldn’t read much into this game as sometimes it takes a tragedy to really get people up for a game. I honestly don’t see another winnable game on KC’s schedule for the remainder of the year and that’s why this team will end up with the #1 overall draft pick in next season’s NFL draft just months after I had them picked to win the AFC West (OOPS!!!!).

So, where did it all go wrong this season? Well, it starts and ends with the head coach and the absolutely atrocious quarterbacks that the Chiefs currently have on their roster. To this day, I have no idea how Romeo Crennel got the head coaching job for this team. Oh, because last year he motivated the Chiefs enough that they became the first team to beat the undefeated Green Bay Packers? Last year’s Chiefs team hated the former head coach Todd Haley to the point of where they just stopped playing for him. By the time Haley got fired and Romeo was named interim coach, those players were willing to play their asses off for anyone and I mean ANYONE! Yet somehow, Romeo was considered the big “savior” in Kansas City with the win over GB and a huge win over Denver in the last game of the season.

I’ve always thought Romeo was a great defensive coordinator, but the guy is not head coaching material and it’s been proven time and time again. His offenses have always been a dumpster fire and I just don’t see how NFL players can get up and play for this guy every week. It’s not like Romeo’s got the kind of personality that installs fear into his players and makes them play their asses off for the guy on a consistent basis. He’s known as kind of a quiet, soft-spoken, coach that the players respect. Well, that’s not what I’m looking for in my NFL head coach. I want a hard ass who doesn’t care if his players like him or not. There’s a reason guys like the Harbaugh’s, Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, and Tom Coughlin are successful in the league. They all have the “IT” factor and unfortunately for Romeo….he’s never going to have that.

It also helped last year’s team that the Chiefs had Kyle Orton as their QB after Matt Cassel went down with an injury. I know Orton’s not a franchise QB or anything, but he’s a lot better than any QB the Chiefs currently have on their roster and it still shocks me that the Chiefs let Orton go to the Cowboys and decided to replace him with the garbage can known as “Brady Quinn”. I’ve always been kind of hot and cold on Matt Cassel, and this year has fully convinced me that the guy is just not NFL starter material. His only successful season in Kansas City was when Charlie Weis was the offensive coordinator and everyone knows that Weis can get a lot more out of mediocre quarterbacks than most coaches can. For some reason though, every year I would trick myself into thinking that this will be another year where Cassel “figures things out” and has somewhat of a decent year. Wow, was I wrong. Cassel is easily having the worst statistical year of his career with only 6 touchdown passes with 12 interceptions and 9 fumbles. The guy is the pure definition of a junk player and will likely be the backup QB for someone like the Buffalo Bills next year.

That leaves us with the next question. If the Chiefs do decide to clean house and get rid of Romeo and Cassel…..who will they bring in? There are definitely tons of options out there for the Chiefs as far as head coaching candidates go. They could go after someone like Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, Andy Reid (if he’s fired from Philly), Chip Kelly, or even someone like David Shaw from Stanford. Unfortunately none of those guys are probably realistic options and the Chiefs will end up hiring whoever is the offensive/defensive coordinator of one of the team’s playing in the Super Bowl. If I had my pick though, I’d want the Chiefs to hire either Andy Reid or Chip Kelly (if he does leave Oregon, I would prefer he go to my favorite NFL team). Reid has been one of my favorite coaches in the NFL for sometime now and he’s getting a raw deal in Philadelphia. It’s hard for any coach to win with Michael Vick as your quarterback and once Reid gets fired in Philly, I would shit myself if the Chiefs went after him and somehow got him locked up. Put Reid with Matt Barkley and you could end up with something special in the end.

That leaves us with the other question, who will be behind center next year for KC? It would be one of the biggest surprises in the world if KC came back next year with Cassel and Quinn as the QB’s on their roster (god help us all….). Of course, KC will likely end up with the #1 overall pick in a year where there is no guaranteed franchise quarterback in the draft. Unless someone like Matt Barkley comes out and lights up the combine, I don’t see a QB worth taking with the #1 overall pick. As of right now, Mel Kiper has the Chiefs targeting someone like Manti Teo with the #1 pick and selecting someone like Barkley or Tyler Wilson in the second round. Another option for the Chiefs would be to possibly target someone who is no longer welcomed on their current team. Much like the Broncos added Peyton Manning last year, we just never know who’s going to be available in free agency when teams finally decide to cut people, but for Chiefs fan’s sake…..let’s hope someone like Alex Smith or Mark Sanchez isn’t brought in as the new “savior”. We’ve seen that song and dance before (Matt Cassel).

Save our Chiefs? Please do. This team hasn’t won a playoff game since 1994 when Joe Montana was quarterback and Marcus Allen was running back. The fans of this team are long overdue for something good……

The Good: This one is pretty easy, Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly. The two youngsters were basically they only ones that looked like they wanted this one. Newton did continue his excellent play going 15-27 for 232 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 interceptions. He was also the leading rusher with 7 carries for 78 yards. Most of his passes were crisp and on the money. He. let a few get away from and also took a costly sack but overall was very efficient. The 1st round pick from 2 years ago played well enough for this team to get a victory. The latest 1st round pick, Luke Kuechly, once again played at a very high level. He was second in tackles with 9 but lead the game with 3 tackles for loss including the only Panther’s sack. Smith and Davis also played well but it was Cam and Kuechly who looked the best out there.

The Bad: Defense, defense, and um defense. The defense could not get off the field and could not get the ball back. Anytime you make Brady Quinn look like Tom Brady, you know you’re in trouble. Quinn had a 82.6 completion percentage and threw for over 200 yards with 2 TDs and a QB rating of 132.1. Jamaal Charles also took advantage of the sieve that is Carolina’s defense. He rushed for 127 yards on 27 carries.

The Ugly: Brandon LaFell. He had a HUGE drop on a sure 52 yard TD. LaFell also fumbled the ball and only had 2 catches for 14 yards. This was a big time letdown after having a great game on Monday. Many people thought that a true 2nd receiver had been found, I guess the search continues.

More Ugly: The coaching staff. Late in the game this coaching staff found another way to lose the game. Twice we got the ball back with a true chance to win the game, both times they called way too many screen passes and couldn’t move the chains. We also had a 4th and 4 late in the game and the spineless Ron Rivera decided to punt. Never mind that we’re a 3-8 (now 3-9) team with nothing to lose, or that our defense hasn’t forced a three in out all game. When the Panthers finally got the ball back it was too late. Cam did his best to orchestrate a miracle drive but ran out of time and came up 8 yards too short. If his fate wasn’t sealed before this was the nail in the coffin for Ron Rivera.

Bonus: The Questionable: The events that occurred on Saturday are unfathomably tragic. A mother saw he daughter murdered, a coach and a GM watched a man kill himself, and a little girl was left orphaned. The fact that jokes were being made about the whole thing is unconscionable. However, in my humble opinion, the fact that the Chiefs were unflagged until a worthless delay of game penalty late in the game is extremely odd and at the very least extremely coincidental. There were multiple times where it seemed like an obvious hold was overlooked by both the Refs and the announcers. One such example was in the fourth when a pass rusher had a clear shot at Quinn, was pulled from behind, and Quinn found Moeaki for a big gain. The next play Josh Thomas was called for a personal foul after coming to the defense of another player. Both teams shoved but only Carolina was flagged. There were two shoves and while Thomas shouldn’t have reacted the penalty should’ve been called on both teams or not at all. I’m not saying there was a fix but I think the NFL was very lenient on Kansas City today and this hurt Carolina’s chances. The officiating was not the reason the Panthers loss but it certainly didn’t help. Once again just this bloggers opinion.