Game Grades – Panthers at Giants
December 22, 2008
I was lucky enough to witness this game first hand. Fear not Panthers fans, while a loss is never a good thing, this loss is not the end of our Superbowl hopes, not by a long shot.
On with the grades.
Offense:
Plain and simple, 28 points should be enough to win any football game, especially when your team is coached by a defensive mind like John Fox. The Panthers offense did enough to win this game. It’s difficult to place much blame on them, but playing it too close to the vest late in the game appears to have been a mistake.
But 28 points on the road in the freezing cold? C’mon. They did their job.
Offensive Grade: B
Defense:
Allowing 34 points will get you a loss the majority of the time. Weakened in the interior defensive line by the loss of Kemo, the Giants gave the Panthers exactly what the Panthers gave the injury plagued Bucs a few weeks ago. Namely, a healthy does of up your gut and in your face. The soft interior line allowed 301 yards on the ground alone. For a moment I thought I was watching a mismatched college bowl game.
Please get well Kemo, maybe now fans will appreciate you.
Defensive Grade: D-
Special Teams:
I was on the field for the game, and can testify to how unpredictable the wind is down there. One second it is calm, then out of no where the wind hits from one direction, and then another direction. Its hard to blame Kasay solely for missing the kick under a weather wind advisory. The offense could have gotten him a bit closer with a more imaginative plan. But, in the end, Kasay did miss the kick, and judging by his sideline actions just after, he was not too thrilled with it either.
Special Teams Grade: C
