The Panthers made a valiant comeback effort in the fourth quarter but came up just short against the Packers, losing 24-16.
Here are eight takeaways from today’s game.
The Panthers really missed James Bradberry
Missing their No. 1 cornerback turned out to be a huge deal for Carolina’s defense. As expected, Aaron Rodgers went after the other Panthers corners with no hesitation. Ross Cockrell in particular struggled in coverage and made too many mistakes, which opened up opportunities for Green Bay’s offense. In the end, wide receiver Davante Adams went off for seven catches and 118 yards.
The officiating was bad
Winning road games in the NFL is tough enough without the officials making things more difficult. Referee Jerome Boger’s crew bungled this one in a bad way. Their roughing the passer call on Gerald McCoy was one of the worst we’ve ever seen, and it had a massive impact on the game. It wasn’t the only call they missed, and not all of them were against the Panthers, either. It’s past time for the league to pay up for full-time officials. There’s no excuse.
Christian McCaffrey started slow and finished strong
For a minute there, it looked like McCaffrey was going to have an uncharacteristically quiet game. In the first half he managed just 51 total yards from scrimmage on 12 touches. McCaffrey got things going in the second half, though. He broke off several big runs and ended the day with 143 yards and a touchdown.
DJ Moore is gaining momentum
For the second week in a row, Moore looked like a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver. He seems to be building confidence and getting into a rhythm with quarterback Kyle Allen. Moore followed up his breakout game in Tennessee with a team-high nine catches for 120 yards. He also did good work on special teams and broke up a pass that could have been intercepted.
Aaron Rodgers was a problem
One of our keys to the game for Carolina was keeping Rodgers contained in the pocket and not allowing him to riff. That didn’t happen at all. Rodgers consistently escaped the pocket and ripped passes down the field. Even though his numbers weren’t outstanding (17 of 29, 233 yards, no touchdowns), Rodgers’ performance was a major factor in the Packers’ win.
Carolina’s run defense is not getting any better
Discipline and gap integrity were serious problems for the Panthers defense today. That’s why they couldn’t contain Rodgers and couldn’t stop Green Bay from running when it mattered. Luke Kuechly in particular had an off game and was often out of position to make stops. Together, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams combined for 156 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns. The Packers averaged six yards per carry as a team.
Kyle Allen giveth and Kyle Allen taketh away
Allen started out the game hot, escaping multiple pressures and keeping drives alive with his legs and arm. He fumbled again in the second quarter, though, which led to a Packers touchdown. Allen also threw a terrible interception in the end zone in the third quarter and was lucky to not have several more. Winning the turnover battle was crucial for the Panthers, and Allen giving the ball away twice was devastating. He did finish with a career-high 307 passing yards.
Norv Turner is having a hell of a season
Despite just 16 points scored, offensive coordinator Norv Turner had another solid outing and he deserves credit. He made the game as easy on Allen as possible, getting receivers open with simple and clever calls to take advantage of Green Bay’s coverages. Turner probably should have used McCaffrey more on the final drive, but this one wasn’t on him and it doesn’t take away from what’s been an excellent season.
