We didn’t get to see what should have been a great and entertaining matchup because the 2nd best rush in the NFL, Carolina’s running game, didn’t show up Sunday. I blame the Carolina coaching staff for forgetting what their strength was.
The coaching staff ran only 40% of the time and mostly with unimaginative running plays - very little of the double and triple options and misdirection razzle-dazzle they did during the regular season and against top defenses like Seattle. Almost inexplicable.
Carolina was one of the worst passing teams in the NFL this year. Nevertheless, Carolina’s coaching staff decided to vacate their strength and pass 60% of the time. Dumb game plans produce dumb results and generally boring games.
Denver still had a good chance to win, but at least it would have been a more entertaining game to watch - top skill against top skill.
Carolina didn’t forget. The Denver defense dictated what the Panthers could do. All season Carolina averaged 4.4 yds on 1st down giving them short 2nd and 3rd downs. It was those short yardage situations where Newton ate defenses up with the read option. Denver shut down the 1st down running game forcing Carolina to pass on 2nd and 3rd and long. That enabled the Denver d-line to pin it’s ears back and go after the QB. They also used a LB to spy Newton most of the 1st half.
Yet Carolina had fewer loses than Denver. Amazing.