PITTSBURGH _ Donte Jackson said "it doesn't get any better" than the Carolina Panthers' Thursday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Captain Munnerlyn called it a chance for Carolina to prove it's "something serious."
The only thing the Panthers proved is they're not the top-tier team they'd looked like over the past two weeks. Pittsburgh scored on its first seven possessions, excluding the one where it kneeled out the end of the first half, en route to a 52-21 blowout on national television.
Even the brightest optimist would have trouble finding the silver lining in this one. Carolina's offensive line couldn't protect its quarterback and its defensive line couldn't pressure Pittsburgh's. Its offense couldn't stay on the field on third down and its defense couldn't get off. The Panthers' receivers didn't separate and its secondary didn't cover.
Ben Roethlisberger was perfect (well, he finished with a perfect passer rating).
On a night where the Panthers couldn't do much of anything, there is something they can do _ move on. Watch it once, then burn the tape.
