In cruelest irony, referees enforce DPI against Saints after challenge

The Saints were victims of a rule coach Sean Payton spent the offseason advocating, when referees sided with a pass interference challenge.

The NFL can be cruel. New Orleans Saints fans knew that already, but they were given an ugly reminder late in their Week 12 game against the Carolina Panthers, when Panthers coach Ron Rivera challenged a non-call for defensive pass interference against Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

And he got it. The officials huddled over the instant replay review station and gave Carolina the nod: the Panthers were given a fresh set of downs from the New Orleans 3-yard line. It didn’t matter because the Saints defense buckled down and forced the Panthers into an unsuccessful field goal try, but the fact that this was the one instance in which the officials overturned a call on the field — against a team that was so publicly victimized in similar circumstances in last year’s conference championship game — is such cruel irony. Saints coach Sean Payton spearheaded the effort to make pass-interference (called or not) reviewable, and his team ended up catching the brunt of it.

Especially considering the type of plays that weren't called PI this season, this is as weak as it gets but the league hates the #Saints so here it is.pic.twitter.com/Rkx2XEee2o

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 24, 2019

According to ESPN Stats and Info, NFL coaches went into Week 12 having overturned 3 of 74 (4%) such challenges. League officiating established a precedent that required overwhelming evidence to overturn the result as called on the field, and in this one situation, it ended up biting New Orleans.

Fortunately, it didn’t matter. The Saints followed up that field goal miss with their own drive down the field, capping it off with a Wil Lutz game-winner from 33 yards out. Hopefully this bizarre use of the replay review rules doesn’t hurt them again.

[vertical-gallery id=22742]

Panthers vs. Saints: 6 matchups to watch in Week 12

If they’re going to pull off an upset, they’re going to have to win some key individual matchups.

The Carolina Panthers are big underdogs (9.5 points) for tomorrow’s game against the New Orleans Saints. If they’re going to pull off an upset, they’re going to have to win some key individual matchups.

Here are six we will be watching on Sunday.

Kyle Allen vs. Kyle Allen

Sometimes the greatest adversary comes from within. For Kyle Allen, he has to figure out a way to stop turning the ball over and hurting his team. If a pass gets tipped and picked off that’s one thing, but the interceptions Allen has been throwing the last few weeks have been of the awful, unforced variety. He’s also been panicking and running into sacks ever since the collapse in Santa Clara. If Allen can avoid any turnovers and throw at least two touchdowns, he’ll have done his job for the day.

Pages: 123456

Why Ron Rivera could fit as next Giants head coach

If the New York Giants were to part ways with Pat Shurmur and the Carolina Panthers with Ron Rivera, there might be some synergy there.

[jwplayer CyWAa1YN-ThvAeFxT]

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper spoke to the media earlier this week about the state of the team and refused to comment on the futures of general manager Marty Hurney, head coach Ron Rivera or quarterback Cam Newton beyond this season.

Tepper requested to not be quoted directly, but stated that mediocrity will not be tolerated. The Panthers went 7-9 last season and are off to a 5-5 start in 2019. If things head south in the final six games for the Panthers, there could ultimately be a shakeup, which could work in the New York Giants’ favor.

With Pat Shurmur’s Giants tenure off to a 7-19 start (17-42 as an NFL head coach overall), it is fair to wonder whether the Giants will make a coaching change at the end of this season. Despite receiving a vote of confidence from Giants brass, Shurmur has not shown any indication of improving as the head coach of a team that is off to a worse start in year two at 2-8, as opposed to 3-7 in 2018.

Shurmur has also refused to give up play calling, which has seen his offense take a step back ranking 24th in total yards (322) and scoring 20.3 points per game as opposed to averaging 358.8 yards and 27.7 in the final eight contests in 2018. The offense has only converted 40% on third-down, while sporting a lowly 51% (14-of-27) conversion rate in the red zone.

One of the few bright spots in Shurmur’s second season as head coach comes from the development of rookie Daniel Jones, who has put up promising numbers (15 TDs, 8 INTs, 1,984 yards, 63% completion rate, 208 rushing yards, 2 TDs). The only concerning factor is that Shurmur and his coaching staff have been unable to clean up Jones’ fumbling problem (13, leads NFL), which was also a problem for him at Duke (54 fumbles). Offensive coordinator Mike Shula has harped on keeping two hands on the ball in the pocket, but unfortunately, this remains an issue.

If the Giants do decide to move in a different direction following 2019, Rivera would make all the sense in the world if he is let go from Carolina. Unlike Shurmur, who previously failed as a head coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2011-2012 (9-23), Rivera has proven himself with the Panthers going 76-60 (.558) in nine seasons. Rivera also has two AP NFL Coach of the Year awards (2013, 2015), four playoff appearances (3-4 record), and an NFC title (2015) during this span.

Rivera has won at least six games in every season since the Panthers hired him back in 2011. This is something Shurmur has yet to do in this league. Interestingly enough, Shurmur’s Browns teams regressed from a 5-11 campaign in 2011 to 4-12 the following year before he was let go. History has a funny way of repeating itself, as he is on pace to replicate this sequence in 2018-19 with the Giants.

An additional factor worthy of note stems from Rivera’s previous ties with Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, who served in this exact role with the Panthers from 2012 until he was fired in July of 2017. This duo went 51-28-1 during their five seasons together making the playoffs three-times (3-3 record), capturing three-division titles and making a Super Bowl appearance. What’s more impressive about this feat is that the Panthers have only made the playoffs eight times in their 24-year history.

The Shurmur-Gettleman duo has not gotten off to the most promising start in their first two seasons together. If Tepper decides to make wholesale changes in Carolina and Rivera becomes available, the Giants should jump to hire him given his prior success with Gettleman and proven track record in this league.

[lawrence-related id=633114,632939,632823]

Panthers vs. Saints: 7 questions about their Week 12 matchup

While the team’s 2019 playoff hopes are effectively over, this is still a critical game for the franchise.

The Panthers don’t appear ready to face a team like the Saints, who have dominated Carolina and the rest of the NFC South for three seasons running. Nevertheless, they’re next on the schedule. While the team’s 2019 playoff hopes are basically finished, this is still a critical game for the franchise.

There are a ton of questions about where the Panthers are going and how they’ll manage their most important assets as the regular season winds down. Here are seven we will be keeping in mind on Sunday.

1. Will the Saints close the door on the division again?

Sean Payton, Drew Brees — Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans comes into this matchup with a significant lead over Carolina in the division race. A win would push their lead over the Panthers to four games with only five left to play in the season. With both the Falcons and the Buccaneers out of the picture, that means the Saints can effectively clinch their third straight division title on Sunday. On the flip side, the Panthers have a chance to play the spoiler. Their odds aren’t great. At the moment, they’re 9.5-point underdogs.

Pages: 1234567

Rivera, Allen and Panthers humbled in 29-3 loss to Falcons

As for the Panthers’ immediate future, it’s bleak.

Last Sunday left a clear conclusion for the struggling Atlanta Falcons: they had finally figured something out. A defense that had managed a measly seven sacks over their eight games nearly matched that total, taking Drew Brees down six times while holding his normally potent offense to zero touchdowns in a shocking 26-9 win.

This week, Atlanta figured something else out: The Carolina Panthers are nothing to be afraid of with Kyle Allen at quarterback.

Carolina helped the visiting Falcons keep their good times rolling in Week 11, cowering in an embarrassing 29-3 thrashing—their third loss over their last four games.

Once again, the supposed successor to Cam Newton had a considerable hand in the defeat.

Allen was simply overwhelmed throughout the afternoon, with each of his career-high four interceptions all coming off unforced mental errors. Those started right away, when he seemingly tried to avoid a sack on the offense’s first drive and spiked the ball . . . into the hands of Falcons linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

Allen threw two more picks before the half, one in the end zone on a route that cornerback Marcus Trufant ran for DJ Moore and the other on an errant overthrow, again, to Moore. Both came with the Panthers inside the Falcons’ 25-yard line.

In a humbling revelation at the break, with his team down 20-0, head coach Ron Rivera seemingly figured out exactly what his opposition had. Rivera, who may have traded in his riverboat for a broken-down bus on Sunday, outwardly expressed his concern over Allen’s play to Fox sideline reporter Jennifer Hale.

“This isn’t a timing issue with the line or receivers, this is a bad decision issue on Kyle,” he said as he threw his quarterback under whatever was left of that broken-down bus. “He’s got to address it.”

Rivera was right.

Allen’s moxie wouldn’t be enough to spark a Super Bowl LI-esque comeback, as he capped off the outing with another bad choice on another bad throw in another bad spot, inside Atlanta’s 25-yard line. He finished the day having completed 31 of his 50 tries for 325 yards and a 47.5 passer rating, lower than that of Falcons running back Kenjon Barner (one-of-one, three yards).

Carolina’s defense didn’t provide much resistance, either.

Wideout Calvin Ridley tore up cornerback Donte Jackson for much of their matchup, reeling in all of his eight targets for 143 yards and a touchdown. While they did clean up their historically porous run defense – allowing just 54 yards on 26 Atlanta rushes – the Panthers forced zero turnovers and sacked Matt Ryan (21-of-31, 311 yards) just three times.

But, again, the moral of this story is what the Falcons, Rivera and the rest of the football world should have figured out by now. Allen is not the answer for Carolina. He’s a passable backup – not someone that’s worth betting your future on.

As for the Panthers’ immediate future, it’s bleak. At 5-5, the playoffs are very likely out of reach in a heavily contentious NFC conference.

Much like Rivera did by opting for a 31-yard field goal down 26-0 in the fourth quarter instead of taking a shot at the end zone, it may soon be time to take a knee on the season and see what third-round pick Will Grier has to offer.

[lawrence-related id=614216]

[vertical-gallery id=614264]

6 Panthers who need to step up over the last 7 games

If they’re going to defy those odds and make the postseason this year, they need these six individuals to step up over their final seven games.

Going into Week 11, the Panthers have just an 18% chance of making the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight.

If they’re going to defy those odds and make the postseason this year, they need these six individuals to step up over their final seven games.

QB Kyle Allen

The problem: accuracy

After seven starts, we know more about what Allen is and isn’t at quarterback. He is a relentless competitor and excellent teammate who has said all the right things and taken blame for his mistakes since Cam Newton’s injury. However, Allen has also been erratic in the pocket and has missed too many open receivers. Allen is completing just 61.5% of his passes this year. That’s more than six points lower than Newton’s completion percentage from 2018. While he seems to have a strong rhythm established with D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey, Allen is often out of sync with Curtis Samuel and Greg Olsen. Working on timing with those two might help boost his accuracy.

Pages: 123456

Ron Rivera says there’s ‘no magic fix’ for Panthers’ run defense problems

Speaking with the media today, head coach Ron Rivera said there’s no magic fix, according to Jourdan Rodrigue at the Athletic.

For a team that prides itself on stopping the run, the Panthers have done an awful job of it this season. Only three NFL teams have allowed more rushing yards per game and the problem seems to be getting worse with each passing week.

On Sunday, the Packers ran all over Carolina, averaging six yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns on the ground. There were other factors in the loss, but that was by far the biggest one.

Speaking with the media today, head coach Ron Rivera said there’s no magic fix, according to Jourdan Rodrigue at the Athletic.

Rivera says the team – coaches and players – need to be accountable for issues defending the run for the last three weeks. Says there is no “magic fix” but it is a point of emphasis – especially stopping big plays. Adjustments in Q4 were a bright spot.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 11, 2019

Losing Kawann Short to injured reserve was always going to be a big deal for this defense, even if it didn’t show early on.

You can’t blame Rivera for Short’s absence, but he hasn’t done enough to make adjustments in the two months since he’s been out. One thing he should consider is abandoning his 3-4 looks, which aren’t working when it comes to stopping the run. The front seven (especially inside linebacker Luke Kuechly) seem to constantly be out of position.

Switching back to a 4-3 may or may not fix things, but Rivera has to consider that and anything else that might help.

[lawrence-related id=613934]

[vertical-gallery id=613865]

Panthers coach Ron Rivera’s inconsistent use of analytics is confusing

Rivera needs to make a choice.

Ron Rivera decided to go for two.

If it had been successful, the Packers’ lead would have been cut to just six points, bringing Carolina that much closer to a thrilling comeback win. Panthers fans would be sharing Riverboat Ron memes and praising the genius and daring of their coach, who understands how the modern game works and isn’t afraid to use analytics to his advantage.

The two-point conversion attempt didn’t work out. So instead, Panthers fans are calling him foolish and worse. The thing is Rivera made the right call – at least if you believe in numbers. That time, anyway.

The result isn’t always going to be there. The process is what matters. The more times you make the correct decision, the more often you will reap the benefits.

That’s what makes Rivera’s inconsistent use of analytics so frustrating.

Rivera set the wrong tone for the game on the very first drive, when he decided to punt on 4th and 3 inside Packers territory. Given the way last week’s win over the Titans went, it was a baffling decision, made all the more confusing by Rivera’s post-game comments when he talked about the decision to go for two, per the Athletic.

“Yes, that was purely analytics, 100 percent. . . If you don’t get it there, you get an opportunity to go for two again. We feel pretty good about the play we had called the first time, and we felt good about having the second one up. It’s most certainly something where we went ahead and followed the analytics of it.”

“Following the analytics of it” is what winning teams do, but in the next breath Rivera changed course and talked about his gut feelings and game flow.

Last week, Rivera’s instincts told him to go for it on two separate fourth downs against the Titans. Or maybe it was the analytics. It’s hard to tell when there’s no clear method of operating. In any case, after that win, several players remarked on how much confidence Rivera’s aggressive decisions gave them.

What were they to think when Rivera punted away inside Green Bay’s territory to begin the game?

For all the talk about Kyle Allen’s poise and grit and leadership ability, not trusting him to get three yards there when the analytics say otherwise and Allen’s opening drive looked strong doesn’t inspire confidence and raises questions about Rivera’s own leadership.

The Panthers have an analytics department, which they announced without much fanfare in June. We must assume that Taylor Rajack and whoever else works in that department get paid real money to do their jobs. David Tepper can afford it, in any case. Since the franchise is paying for it, they might as well put it to use on the field.

Rivera needs to make a choice.

Either the analytics trump his gut feelings and the “situation” or they don’t. This mix and mash he’s got going on is only going to lead to confusion and more of those infamous missed opportunities.

[lawrence-related id=613818]

[vertical-gallery id=613865]