Carolina Panthers’ run game falters in a critical home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Ten weeks into interim coach Steve Wilks’ tenure it’s clear the Carolina Panthers cannot win without effectively running the football.
On Sunday in front of a sea of black-and-gold-clad Steelers fans at Bank of America Stadium, Pittsburgh stole the Panthers’ game plan, occupied their stadium and beat Carolina, 24-16.
Pittsburgh gashed the Panthers’ defense for 157 yards on 44 carries. By being better than Carolina at its own game, the Steelers out-possessed the Panthers and converted 75% of their third downs. Each of Pittsburgh’s scoring drives lasted at least 11 plays, including a 13-minute third-quarter series that took 21 plays and resulted in a touchdown.
“We didn’t do a great job and that starts with me and our preparation. I thought we were ready, (but) we did not go out and execute the day in so many different facets,” Wilks said. “Third down was horrendous, to say the least, on both sides.”
Carolina entered Sunday averaging 169 rushing yards per game since Week 10. The Steelers limited Carolina to just 21 yards on 16 carries.
With the loss, the Panthers (5-9) relinquished control of their playoff destiny.
“They were more physical than us today,” Wilks said. “Which is not our mantra. That is not us.”
Several times this week, Wilks said he does not consider quarterback Sam Darnold a game manager. Darnold proved him right — his arm kept Carolina in the game. Since Carolina could not establish its running game against Pittsburgh’s stack-the-box defense, Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo turned to Darnold early.
Darnold completed five-of-six passes on the Panthers’ first-quarter scoring drive, which followed a three-and-out on the team’s opening series. No pass was bigger than Darnold’s 40-yard outside vertical completion to receiver Terrace Marshall. The catch converted a third-and-13 and positioned Carolina at the Steelers’ 9-yard line to start the second quarter.
Three plays later, Darnold scrambled right to evade a swirling T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith pass rush. Then, Darnold delivered a 5-yard touchdown strike to DJ Moore, tying the game with 14:12 to play. On the drive, Darnold’s five completions totaled 87 yards and a score. His throws converted third downs of 13, 11 and 5 yards.
The Panthers did not score another touchdown.
“They did a good job of stopping our run game and getting pressure,” Darnold said. “But I think we’re a better team than what we showed today.”
Darnold finished with a season-high 225 passing yards and a touchdown on 14 of 23 passing. But the Panthers’ offensive line failed to consistently protect Darnold. He was sacked four times and hit six times. Steelers pass rushers T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward each had a game-high 1.5 sacks.
It was one of those games where the Panthers’ offense needed penalties to extend drives. Late in the third quarter, Carolina caught a break via Steelers special teamer Marcus Allen committing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Carolina was set up to punt, but Allen was flagged for infiltrating the Panthers’ special teams huddle, which awarded Carolina a fresh set of downs.
The Panthers parlayed Allen’s penalty into its first second-half score when Eddy Piñeiro hit a 29-yard field goal to cut the Steelers’ lead to 11 points.
Pittsburgh put the game away after getting the ball back with 6:15 to play. Kicker Chris Boswell netted a 50-yard try with 58 seconds to play to push the lead back to two scores. Carolina cut the lead to one score with 19 seconds to play. Piñeiro made a 52-yard field but the Panthers did not recover the ensuing onside kick attempt.
The Panthers never established their type of game-winning script. Carolina received the opening kick hoping to launch its run-first mentality against the league’s highest-paid defense. Two runs, one pass and 8 total yards later, the Panthers punted to Pittsburgh’s 33-yard line.
The Steelers entered Bank of America Stadium playing like the home team. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky started in place of rookie Kenny Pickett who was inactive due to a concussion. In his fifth start of the season, Trubisky marched Pittsburgh 67 yards in 12 plays and helped the Steelers score first. Running back Najee Harris converted a 7-yard rush for a touchdown, foreshadowing a successful Pittsburgh rushing attack.
Too often Carolina’s defense could not get off the field on critical downs. With 11 minutes to play in the third quarter, Trubisky faced a third-and-10 and converted it with ease to an out-breaking Diontae Johnson for 12 yards. Four player later Johnson caught another deep out route for 18 yards.
Pittsburgh converted four more third downs en route to an 21-play, 91-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 1-yard Trubisky touchdown drive. Johnson had his way with cornerback Keith Taylor on the drive. Johnson had six catches for 56 yards on the nearly 12-minute drive.
A pair of three-and-outs sandwiched the Panthers’ second-quarter scoring drive.
Carolina could not get its running game going in the first half. The team averaged just 1.4 yards per carry. D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard combined for 11 yards on nine carries.
The Panthers missed on a few downfield opportunities throughout the game. Moore nearly brought in a long reception down the right sideline with 4:42 left in the second quarter. Darnold slightly underthrew the pass and Moore was unable to come back the ball in time to complete the catch.
The Panthers’ defense entered Sunday with a concerted effort to contain Johnson and rookie standout George Pickens. Instead, the duo combined for 151 yards on 12 catches. Cornerback C.J. Henderson did not play in the second half due to injury. He injured his ankle in first quarter and did not return despite remaining on the sidelines.
Cornerback Keith Taylor filled in for Henderson and struggled. After the game, Taylor said Sunday was the worst game of his two-year career.
“Keith (Taylor) has to make plays,” Wilks said. “Whoever is in there, whether its T.J. Carrie or Keith Taylor, they gotta make plays.”
Carolina next hosts the Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve, with its playoff chances on life support.
This story was originally published December 18, 2022 at 4:31 PM.
