One of the most blessed beauties in all of sports is the Cinderella, the underdog, the stallion. Every year in every sport played, a stallion comes to the forefront and through heart and soul alone, they excel as leaders of what they do and triumph against the odds.
In this segment I will assess the outcome of the Carolina Panthers opening game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and give you my initial thoughts on the game itself.
ONCE AGAIN, A GREAT START RUINED:
The Carolina Panthers offense took the opening drive and marched 70 yards down the field on a 13 play drive and put a touchdown on the board to go up 7-0, just like the Arizona Cardinal game last Jan. The drive was well planned out and well executed.
Our defense got us the ball back quickly after a Philadelphia punt, and that’s when it all went downhill. On second and six, Jake Delhomme tried to hit Steve Smith on a slant pass over the middle, and the ball sailed on him, Smith got a piece of the ball trying to make a play, and the ball was intercepted by Philadelphia’s Sheldon Brown. Eagles score on a 49 yard field goal by David Akers. After the interception, Carolina’s defense gave up 1 yard in 3 plays. Carolina 7-3.
After I saw Delhomme’s pass picked off I had a feeling we were in trouble. It was as inaccurate a pass as you could have. But the defense was playing great, so I had optimism.
Then Delhomme fumbled the ball and Philly scores a touchdown on defense. Now it is beginning to snowball.
Three and out for Carolina, punt return for Philadelphia for a touchdown. At this point Carolina trails 17-7, and the defense has given up a total of 33 yards.
Next Panther possession: Delhomme throws into a double zone blanket around Steve Smith, intercepted by Sheldon Brown.
Defense gives up a 9 yard touchdown drive, Philadelphia 24 Carolina 7. Defense has given up 42 total yards up to this point.
MY THOUGHTS AT THE HALF:
First, I want a new quarterback at this point. Jake looked down, confused, and his accuracy was embarrassing. I tried to imagine what the Panthers could do to come back and win this game but Carolina is down 31-10. A three touchdown lead is not insurmountable, but it was clear the team needed a spark and I was hoping that another quarterback may provide that spark.
Delhomme is still the quarterback, so I write the ship off at this point. I believe the team did too, because they played even worst. There was no spark plug, and no chance.
On Delhomme’s next two pass attempts, they were both intercepted. Game over.
MY THOUGHTS AFTER THE GAME:
I remember thinking of how everybody blew the pre-season off and said “It doesn’t matter” in an obvious attempt to keep the confidence alive for opening day. This team was junk in the pre-season, and it carried over into week one.
I thought about the Washington game in the 2008 pre-season, and how important it was to have an outing like that just before the regular season. Carolina won that game 47-3, and used that game to propel them to a 12-4 season in 2008.
I also thought about the Arizona game of last January, and how similar it was to this particular game. A great start on both sides of the ball was ruined by turnover after turnover.
I thought about the next game in Atlanta, and where we may find the heart to compete in that game. The Carolina Panthers have the talent to win that game, but in football, talent is only half the battle in my opinion.
I thought about the 2003 season opener against Jacksonville, and how we brought in a no name quarterback, a stallion, to become a savior of a franchise with passion, will, and a desire to propel this organization with very little history.
We dream, everyday, of many ways we can improve our lives around us. The joy that comes in dreaming is immeasurable. In our dreams, we can do anything we want, be anyone we want to be, and there are no physical or mental limitations.
Then we wake up to find reality is a little different. The past is gone, and some of that past is impossible to get back. It is in this moment that we all realize that there are physical and mental limitations all around us, and within us.
It may be time for the Carolina Panthers to wake up and see that the dream is gone and that it will have no happy ending if they allow the limitations to dominate any chance they have. Sometimes even the will cannot overcome the limitations, and what we had before will not ever come back.
It is in this moment that the Carolina Panthers must realize that the horse they are riding can’t carry us anymore. The limitations are just too much to overcome and the horse is wounded beyond repair. As bad as we hate this outcome, everyone involved must get off the wounded horse……and find another stallion to ride.
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