Five things we learned from the Panthers’ disappointing 24-6 loss to the Patriots
The Panthers’ win over the Falcons last week was supposed to be one Carolina could build on.
Quarterback Sam Darnold played under control, they were getting running back Christian McCaffrey back, and the offense had finally found its running game.
But Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the Patriots was much of the same. Bad offense and too many turnovers from Darnold. The Panthers (4-5) have now lost five of their past six games.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
1. Christian McCaffrey came out healthy
McCaffrey played in his first game in five weeks after suffering a hamstring strain in Week 3. There were questions as to how much he’d play Sunday in his first game back with Chuba Hubbard and Ameer Abdullah playing well.
McCaffrey got 18 total touches for 106 yards (54 yards receiving, 52 yards rushing) in the game. He had some good moments, and the best part was he came out healthy.
Hamstring injuries can be tricky. McCaffrey tried to come back three weeks ago, but apparently he wasn’t ready. Team doctors decided he needed to go on the injured reserve prior to Week 6.
McCaffrey gives the Panthers an element that has been missing — a receiving option out of the backfield. He’s also a home run hitter and he’s capable of breaking a big one. He had one reception for 21 yards in the game.
As he continues to practice more, his touches will likely increase. It’s incumbent upon Darnold to find him, though.
2. Matt Paradis out for season
Paradis may have played his final game with the Panthers. An MRI revealed Sunday evening that the center tore his ACL in Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the New England Patriots, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said.
He will miss the rest of the regular season.
Paradis suffered in the injury with 9:48 left in the first quarter. The Panthers ran the ball with Christian McCaffrey up the middle and Paradis appeared to get caught up in the pile.
Patriots and Panthers players immediately motioned to the sideline for trainers to come to the field. Paradis had to be helped to the sideline.
The Panthers signed Paradis in the 2019 offseason and he has not missed a game in three seasons. His contract expires in the offseason.
The Panthers have two options at center for the rest of the season. They can start backup Sam Tecklenburg, who played most of Sunday, or Pat Elflein, if he is healthy next week. Elflein, who plays guard, can slot in at center.
3. Sam Darnold not over turnover issues
Just when it seemed like Darnold had turned a corner, he hadn’t. Darnold didn’t have any turnovers last week against the Falcons in the Panthers’ 19-13 win.
But Darnold reverted back to his old self, throwing three interceptions, all in the second half.
Two of his interceptions happened in New England territory and cost them potential touchdowns.
Both Darnold and coach Matt Rhule said it had to do with decision-making.
One of those interceptions came when he was trying to throw on the run. The Panthers had second-and-10 from the New England 20-yard line. Darnold was flushed out of the pocket, scrambled left and threw it to tight end Ian Thomas while his feet were not set.
The pass sailed over Thomas’ head into the hands of Patriots safety J.C. Jackson, who took it 88 yards the other way for a touchdown.
His third interception happened on second-and-6 from the New England 14 with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter. The Panthers had a chance to score, but Darnold’s pass to wide receiver DJ Moore was intercepted in the end zone by Jackson, again. And again, Darnold’s feet were not set.
“If you have an interception, if it’s a third-down interception, that’s one thing,” Rhule said. “A first- or second-down interception, can’t happen.”
At some point, Rhule must consider benching him.
4. Penalties costing the Panthers
Aside from Darnold’s struggles, the biggest thing holding the Panthers back were their penalties. They committed 10 penalties, which cost them 83 yards.
The most egregious penalty occurred in the second quarter when Thomas was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Panthers had the ball in the red zone and were threatening to score.
But the penalty cost the Panthers 15 yards and moved them to the New England 31-yard line. That also put the Panthers in a second-and-23 situation.
The drive ended in a field goal.
“We have a chance to go score and we decide, it’s not a mistake, we decide to get — we kind of get separated and then we take a swing at a guy or whatever it was,” Rhule said of Thomas. “This team has to grow up. You can’t do those kinds of things.”
5. Stephon Gilmore the real deal
The Panthers defense did enough Sunday to win. It was the offense that didn’t give them any help.
The Panthers forced two turnovers on defense — a strip sack by Brian Burns and an interception by Gilmore against his former team. Gilmore has two interceptions in two games this season.
That’s tied for the team lead with Shaq Thompson. Gilmore’s interception occurred with 6:31 left in the second quarter and could have changed the complexion of the game.
“I was going against Jakobi (Meyers) and I know how he releases off the ball,” Gilmore said of the interception. “So, I gave him room and beat him to the spot. You know he kind of ran into his own player, but I was going to beat him there anyway. So just film study and knowing who I am going against.”
Gilmore once again played in a limited role (16 snaps), but he’s shown that when he is on the field, he’s a difference-maker.
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
