The Carolina Panthers went into Sunday’s game against the two-win Redskins facing a virtual must-win situation. The Saints had already locked up the NFC South, but Carolina’s slim playoff hopes essentially hinged on it taking care of business in a winnable game.
Well, let’s just say that Kyle Allen didn’t exactly come up big when it mattered the most on Sunday. He never saw an open receiver.
After going down 15 points in the fourth quarter, the Panthers managed to cut the game back to one possession and recover an onside kick. With all three timeouts remaining, Carolina had plenty of time to work in hopes of forcing overtime.
It all came down to a fourth-and-goal play with 27 seconds remaining …
4th & goal defensive stand FOR THE WIN 🙌#WASvsCAR
(via @Redskins)
— PFF (@PFF) December 1, 2019
Allen took the shotgun snap with an empty backfield and scanned the middle of the field before completely giving up on the play. All the Panthers quarterback needed to do was look at wide receiver Jarius Wright running WIDE OPEN towards the right pylon.
Allen never saw him.
The Dots don’t lie.
Here’s fourth-and-the-season for the Panthers. pic.twitter.com/VresISdjTj
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) December 1, 2019
Instead of hitting Wright for an easy touchdown, Allen proceeded to run 15 yards in the wrong direction and fumble at the 30-yard line. Washington recovered and locked up the 29-21 win.
It was a miss that an NFL starting quarterback simply cannot let happen.
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