Slow start and suspect snaps: Here are 5 things we learned in Panthers’ loss to Browns
The Panthers nearly captured what coach Matt Rhule said would’ve been a signature win.
“I thought the game was won,” Rhule said, “and it was gonna be a huge moment for our program.”
Would’ve been. Could’ve been. But wasn’t.
Entering his third season with the Panthers, a season that could define his tenure in Carolina, Rhule and the Panthers lost their home opener against the Cleveland Browns in heartbreaking fashion. Browns rookie kicker Cade York nailed a game-winning 58-yard bomb with eight seconds remaining.
Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro had given Carolina its first lead with 1:13 to play, making a go-ahead 34-yarder just 65 seconds before York’s winner.
But the Panthers’ defense — aided by two officiating calls Carolina called into question — allowed Cleveland to reach field goal range. Then, York proved why the Browns drafted him in the fourth round.
After the game, several Panthers players mentioned they disagreed with how the final drive was officiated, but quickly added that they “beat themselves” by starting slowly.
“It’s disappointing the way I started,” Mayfield said. “The kind of mistakes, self-inflicted mistakes, in the first half by our offense. (I) take the blame on that. Balls on the ground. Too many times just miscommunication and just things that we can get fixed. It’s disappointing because there are things that we know we can do and we’ve handled before.”
At halftime, Carolina trailed 17-7 and had 95 yards of offense, offset by 76 penalty yards via six flags. With just seven points through the first 30 minutes, the game felt one-sided as Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt had already combined for 113 rushing yards on 16 carries (7.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.
The Browns did not score a second-half touchdown. Instead, three York field goals came off 29 offensive plays that took more than 15 minutes off the clock.
By starting slowly, the Panthers made a potential second-half comeback far more difficult. Even Robbie Anderson’s 75-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was not enough for Carolina to overcome its slow start.
Here are four other takeaways from the Panthers’ stunning loss:
Christian McCaffrey needs the ball
At halftime, the Panthers’ best offensive player had three touches for nine yards and a touchdown. McCaffrey finished with 10 carries and four catches. After the game, Rhule said there were no limitations on their star running back.
“We were not managing him. We were in second-and-12, second-and-15. We were just severely inefficient in the first half. It’s hard to run the football when you are in first-and-12, first-and-those things,” Rhule said. “We wanted to put the ball in McCaffrey’s hands and take the game out of (Cleveland defensive end Myles) Garrett’s hands.”
That’s not what happened.
His four targets are uncharacteristic. McCaffrey caught all four targets for 24 yards. Officially, his longest run was just eight yards. But CMC gained 28 yards after recovering a botched snap by Mayfield late in the third quarter, which helped set up a 7-yard Mayfield rushing touchdown soon after.
The team must get McCaffrey more involved. He’s too dynamic to be a decoy or bystander. More pre-snap motion, more targets and more opportunities are a must.
Next week against the Giants, expect McCaffrey to be involved early and often.
Panthers’ run defense porous
The Panthers allowed 217 yards rushing (5.6 yards per carry). Chubb and Hunt combined for 187 yards. Receiver Anthony Schwartz picked up 20 yards on two reverses. Browns QB Jacoby Brissett had 10 rushing yards on three scrambles and one quarterback sneak, which converted a fourth down.
Browns rushers imposed their will Sunday. Too often, Brissett evaded near-sacks or Chubb bounced off would-be tacklers.
“(Chubb) was excellent,” Rhule said. “I thought at the end of the day, the biggest thing he did was that he broke tackles and got to the edge. We know the type of back that he is. We got them into a lot of third-and 6, 7, 8, 9s and just weren’t able to get off the field to not allow him to pick up his rhythm, pick up his speed.”
Cleveland converted eight of 14 third downs, four on the ground.
The pass rush was not effective, either. Brissett was sacked once and only hit four times. The lone sack came off a delayed blitz from linebacker Damien Wilson in the second half. Too often, Brissett either evaded would-be rushers with his legs or simply was not hurried in the pocket.
That suggests Carolina did not successfully generate pressure rushing four defenders nor did their blitzes reach Brissett quickly enough.
Welcome to the NFL, Ikem Ekwonu
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett nearly ended the game halfway through the third quarter.
Trailing 20-7, Garrett sacked Mayfield by going right around Ekwonu. Garrett dipped under Ekwonu, beating him on the edge with speed. The sack cost Carolina six yards and a down. The Panthers went from second-and-medium to third-and-12.
The next play, Garrett beat Ekwonu again with a similar move, but this time the All-Pro edge rusher reached for Mayfield’s throwing arm and knocked the ball loose. Mayfield recovered, but the message was sent.
“Myles (Garrett) kind of took over there and had a run there of two sacks in a row,” Rhule said. “One of our points of emphasis for the offensive line was that we were going to have to drive them out in pass pro if they were going to try to sit there and mirror the quarterback.”
Jadeveon Clowney had two pass deflections. The Browns’ defensive line totaled five pass deflections. Overall, the Panthers’ offensive line did not protect Mayfield well.
Offensive guard Brady Christensen said he expects the entire offensive line (specifically the interior) to play better next week. Christensen said he was proud of Ekwonu for how he played and responded to the challenging task of blocking Garrett.
“I watched a lot of film on him. I wouldn’t say anything surprising,” Ekwonu said. “I try to focus on myself. I’ll give guys credit on the field, but I’m not going to go as far as to say if someone surprised me on the field. As long as I play my game, I’ll be all right.”
Botched-snap bonanza
The Panthers put four balls on the ground via the quarterback-center exchange. Carolina recovered all four (gaining positive yardage once) but surrendering downs in a two-point game proves costly.
Rhule said Mayfield’s botched snap three plays before Eddie Pineiro’s go-ahead kick shifted their play-calling mentality.
Rather than try for a touchdown (or running the clock out), Carolina became conservative after Mayfield dropped the first-down snap at Cleveland’s 15.
Carolina ran two RPOs next, which were both short McCaffrey gains.
“Obviously the last one at the end of the game, we have the ball first-and-10, they have three timeouts, we think we have a good play and then the ball is on the ground,” Rhule said. “We almost lost the game right there. Almost turned it back over to them.”
Too many odd mistakes — errors that cannot even occur in a Madden video game — cost Carolina the game.
This story was originally published September 12, 2022 at 5:49 AM.
