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NFL Fans Respond To Carolina Panthers Blowing Opportunity Vs. New Orleans Saints

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NFL Fans Respond To Carolina Panthers Blowing Opportunity Vs. New Orleans Saints

The Carolina Panthers will have to do it the hard way to get to the NFL playoffs.

With an opportunity to clinch their first NFC South title since 2015 with a win over the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on Sunday and Dec. 21, against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers dropped a 20-17 decision.

If the Panthers had a way to beat a last-place club, they could have taken an easier route.

Now, the Panthers (7-7) will face the co-division-leading Buccaneers twice over the next three weeks with the divisional title on the line. Tampa Bay comes to Charlotte, N.C., next weekend and plays host for the Week 18 regular-season finale.

Panthers coach Dave Canales lamented the missed opportunities and lack of execution. They scored only 10 points after an efficient touchdown drive on their opening possession and yielded at least four third-down plays and at least 13 plays. They also committed a plethora of penalties.

“We have to move on quick,” Canales said during his post-game press conference, via Panthers.com. “Penalties killed us.”

So did Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who beat the Panthers for the second time this season.

NFL X (Twitter) Fans Responded

The Saints celebrated a win after coming back from a 10-point deficit …

Quarterback Bryce Young, who has a history of struggling at the Superdome, shared a pregame moment with his family …

The Saints wanted to prove they had something to play for. They did …

Entering Sunday, the Saints’ defense allowed scores on eight opening possessions. Make it nine as the Panthers executed a 13-play drive, capped by running back Rico Dowdle’s touchdown run …

The Saints entered Sunday with a league-low 41-percent red-zone scoring rate. After being forced to punt on their opening two possessions, they scored on running back Devin Neal’s scamper. It completed a 17-play, 95-yard drive …

Young threw wide receiver Jalen Coker open for a 32-yard, third-quarter TD, giving the Panthers a 17-7 advantage. The Panthers wouldn’t score again …

The Panthers, who converted on 23 of their opening 32 fourth-down plays, including their first two Sunday, should have gone with a QB sneak with just a quarter-yard to gain. The handoff gave the defenders a chance to react …

After emerging from the medical tent after a failed fourth-down run a series earlier, Shough proved why he’s being talked about in NFL circles as the next Archie Manning. Olave, who had only one catch despite being one of the most targeted players in the NFL, came alive on a late fourth-quarter drive, compiling four catches. His scoring reception tied the game at 17-all …

Saints kicker Charlie Smyth connected on the game-winner with 2 seconds remaining …

Final score: Saints 20, Panthers 17 …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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