What Matt Rhule said about why the Panthers struggled in their loss to the Buccaneers
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the difference in the Panthers 32-6 loss to the Buccaneers Sunday was their inability to protect the quarterback.
Quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Cam Newton, who shared snaps Sunday, were sacked a combined seven times and pressured more.
The Buccaneers dominated the Panthers from start to finish. Newton and Darnold combined for 251 yards passing and completed 48.1% of their passes with one interception.
The Bucs pressured the Panthers all game — often sending safeties and extra blitzers. And the offensive line failed to pick up their pressure. Defensive end William Gholston led the Bucs with 2.5 sacks.
“I think when you have seven sacks — we’ve been talking about the offensive line all year,” Rhule said. “You get behind in a game like this and you’re having to throw on every down. We’re just not quite built for that right now.”
Quarterback and offensive line has been among the Panthers’ biggest hindrance.
Rhule took responsibility for the quarterbacks’ struggles this season.
“I haven’t done a good enough job as the head coach to allow Cam, Sam, and PJ to be successful because they don’t have 200 yards rushing next to them, they don’t have a clean pocket and all those things,” he said.
The Panthers have lost five consecutive games and six consecutive at home inside Bank of America Stadium. At different points during the game, fans booed, including when Rhule put quarterback Sam Darnold in the game.
When asked about the booing, Rhule said he wasn’t upset, but he did feel bad for Darnold.
“I come from Philadelphia. To me it shows that people care,” Rhule said. “We’re not winning. I have no problem with that. People spend their hard-earned money to watch us play. I would much prefer passion over apathy. I would much rather prefer pressure over nothing.”
Rhule apologized to the fans multiple times for not winning. He said while he understands the booing from fans, he also said that the process is working.
“I’m not going to apologize that we’re not there,” he said. “I see the improvements. I see the growth on special teams. I see all these things. I see the way the guys overcome it.”
He said when Panthers owner David Tepper hired him, he told him it was going to be a process, and it would take time. He said he never expected the team to be great in Year 2. But he said things will get better.
“I’ll say this, the people in Tampa Bay were frustrated where they were two years ago,” Rhule said.“We’re not them yet. We’re aspiring to be that.”
The Panthers have two games remaining — versus the Bucs and Saints on the road.
This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 5:28 PM.
