Lea: Panthers offense needs to step up after poor start to the season
Posted September 25, 2022 5:19 p.m. EDT
Updated September 26, 2022 9:55 a.m. EDT
371 days.
That's how long it had been since the Carolina Panthers won a game at Bank of America Stadium as they took the field to host their division rivals, the New Orleans Saints. The Panthers won 22-14. Oddly enough, that win came against the Saints, 26-7.
In that game, Sam Darnold completed 26 passes for 305 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Today, Baker Mayfield's stats weren't as impressive. 12-25 passing for 170 yards.
90 of those 170 yards came on just two plays for newly acquired Laviska Shenault, Jr., who the Panthers traded for just before week one and who wasn't activated for their first two games.
Even though the Saints defense technically gave up less yardage, it was the Panthers defense that came up with the turnovers. Carolina forced three turnovers and took care of the ball on offense.
In the first quarter, Frankie Luvu stripped Alvin Kamara. Marquis Haynes, Sr. picked up the loose ball and returned it 44 yards to the house for the first touchdown of the game. That was also the first defensive score for the Panthers this season. That play injected the life the Panthers needed. Late games interceptions from Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn sealed the game.
Now it's time for the offense to do their part.
Big picture, the Panthers offense struggled to move the ball and stay on the field only converting 4-14 on third downs. The team is only 10-37 on third down through the first three games of the season. With poor conversion rates like that, you need a saving grace. That's been the Panthers' defense.
With weapons like Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Robbie Anderson and now Laviska Shenault, Jr., along with a re-tooled offensive line, the Panthers should not be struggling to move the ball like this.
Head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo have some soul-searching to do with such a poor start to the season. Besides rushing yards per attempt, the Panthers rank in the bottom half of the league in most major offensive statistical categories before today's game.
28th in yards per game.
30th in net yards passing per game.
29th in third down efficiency.
That won't cut it.
Brian Burns says he will celebrate the game tonight with his feet kicked up and a glass of Hennessey. Luvu will do the same, but with Teremana Tequila. They both earned that.
Hopefully Rhule and McAdoo will forego the bottle and work on what's bottle-necking their offense because the defense won't be able to save the day every week. It's time for Baker and company to prove they can also win games for the team.
