#panthers #viral #tiktok
Bengals embarrass Panthers: Just how bad was the Week 9 midseason meltdown for Carolina?
BY MIKE KAYE UPDATED NOVEMBER 06, 2022 5:13 PM
CINCINNATI
After watching from the sideline for nearly a month, Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield trotted onto the field at Paycor Stadium on Sunday for his first snap since the end of the Matt Rhule era in October.
Down 35 points to the Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) entering the third quarter, Mayfield was set up for success on his opening series, following a 66-yard kick return by running back Raheem Blackshear. Mayfield led the Panthers (2-7) to their first score of the afternoon, guiding Carolina on an eight-play, 37-yard touchdown-scoring drive to begin the second half.
Mayfield, in garbage time, had a much improved output compared to starter PJ Walker, who was pulled at halftime after posting a 0.0 passer rating. Mayfield led three scoring drives with the game completely out of hand.
AP22310743506028.jpg
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (82) celebrates with wide receiver Shi Smith (12) after making a touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) Joshua A. Bickel AP
The 42-21 loss to the Bengals was one of the more one-sided losses in recent Panthers history. To his credit, Mayfield made the deficit a tad less nauseating for Panthers fans in clean-up duty.
From start to finish, the Bengals dominated the Panthers on both sides of the ball. Bengals running back Joe Mixon had a record-setting day, and quarterback Joe Burrow guided the offense by taking what the Panthers gave him.
Here are our grades for the Panthers’ performance against the Bengals:
RUSHING OFFENSE
D-: Down by multiple touchdowns for most of the game, the Panthers couldn’t rely on their running game on Sunday. Running back D’Onta Foreman, who looked unstoppable during the past two weeks, was given opportunities to rev up against the Bengals. He had just seven carries for 27 yards.
Foreman’s limited production wasn’t really his or the offensive line’s fault, but the running game was basically nonexistent after the start of the second quarter due to the game outlook. The offense finished with 64 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Blackshear scored his first career touchdown — with 1:29 left in the game — and rushed for 13 yards on five carries.
AP22310756812958.jpg
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. (88) makes a touchdown catch above Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) Joshua A. Bickel AP
PASSING OFFENSE
D-: The Panthers’ passing offense in the first half against the Bengals was nonexistent.
Walker completed just 3 of 10 passes for 9 yards and two interceptions, and frankly, the numbers look better than the performance.
The Panthers had three consecutive three-and-outs, mainly because they couldn’t do anything from a passing perspective, due to a mix of questionable play calls and awful execution.
For some reason, practice-squad running back Spencer Brown was targeted on two of the Panthers’ first three failed third-down plays. Brown was predictably ineffective, gaining a yard on the first target and dropping on a shovel pass behind on the line on the next opportunity.
The Panthers and Walker had no juice as a passing offense.
Even when a play call would get a playmaker in a good position, the players would squander the opportunity. Walker, for instance, did a nice job evading a handful of pass rushers on a third-down play in the first quarter, and he fired a rocket to Tommy Tremble. The young tight end would watch the perfectly placed ball torpedo through his hands.
On the fourth series of the game, Walker threw a brutal interception with the Panthers already down by 21. Walker was looking to find Tremble over the middle, but unfortunately for the Panthers, the quarterback hesitated and got the ball out late. Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt was able to get in front of the ball and pick it off to put the Bengals in position for another quick touchdown drive.
Later in the second quarter, Walker threw another interception. He overthrew wideout DJ Moore and was easily picked off Bengals safety Jessie Bates III. The interception took place on the Panthers’ side of the field and set the Bengals up for another score.
AP22310722169849.jpg
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is gang tackled by the Carolina Panthers defense during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) Joshua A. Bickel AP
After halftime, Walker was benched for Mayfield, who was forced to overcome a 35-point deficit.
This article was gathered automatically by our news bot. We help YouTubers by driving traffic to them for free. The featured image in this article is the thumbnail of the embedded video. Thank you for visiting Win Big Sports Network and wbsnsports.com. For more sports, news, and entertainment, follow us on Twitter @WBSNsports or like our page on Facebook.
#Sports #Video #Highlights
