Panthers.com TOP 10 Plays of 2015-2016 Season (& player highlight films)

[JawnyBlaze]

The Wanted pass to Dickson is my #1, just in terms of an impressive play.  Guess it loses points for impact to plays like Olsen's TD in Seattle.

[KB_fan]

Big surprise, Cam's game winning pass to Greg Olsen at Seattle comes in at #5. 

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Top-Play-No-5-Olsen-Winner-at-Seahawks/370d432c-e85e-4c8e-9043-de5cb8bde993
 

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Down 23-20 with 36 seconds left in the riveting Week 6 battle against Seattle, the Panthers produced the winning play that many consider the turning point of the 2015 season.

RELATED NEWS   Top Plays of 2015: No. 10 Top Plays of 2015: No. 9 Top Plays of 2015: No. 8 Top Plays of 2015: No. 7 Top Plays of 2015: No. 6

Quarterback Cam Newton dropped back and looked left to draw the defenders’ attention, but all along he was hoping to connect with tight end Greg Olsen down the right seam. When Newton turned right, he saw Olsen running wide open toward the end zone.

Newton calmly threw a 26-yard touchdown strike to Olsen, giving Carolina a 27-23 comeback victory to silence the crowd at CenturyLink Field.

The Panthers, who trailed 20-7 in the third quarter, fought back in what felt like a true heavyweight fight to finally knock off their nemesis, the two-time NFC champs. It was an early-season win that took Carolina’s confidence to an entirely new level.

 

 

 

Certainly one of the most memorable plays of the season given that it capped a big come from behind dramatic win at the end of the game, with 2 4th Q 80 yard drives... and it got the Seattle monkey off our back, showed that we were legit.

I guess it drops down the list a bit due to the Seattle defense breakdown that made it a pretty easy play...  This was definitely in my personal top 3 plays of the year.

[KB_fan]

Got a bit of time online today during the lunch break at my conference... So, I can catch up on the #4 and #3 plays. 

 

#4:is from our Divisional round playoff game against Seattle.  Another great Cam to Greg connection for a game-winning TD:

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Top-Play-No-4-Olsen-Touchdown-vs-Seahawks/00c4d73a-3cd4-43ba-bb71-7d0abac9239c
 

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There was no way to know it at the time, but when tight end Greg Olsen scored a sensational touchdown in the NFC Divisional Playoff, he scored the game-winner at Seattle's expense for the second time in three months.

RELATED NEWS   Top Plays of 2015: No. 9 Top Plays of 2015: No. 8 Top Plays of 2015: No. 7 Top Plays of 2015: No. 6 Top Plays of 2015: No. 5

Back in Week 6, it was more obvious that Olsen had provided the margin of victory when his 26-yard touchdown at Seattle with 32 seconds left capped a comeback (worthy of the Panthers' No. 5 play of the year).

He ran a similar route against Seattle in the playoffs, but he wasn't wide open this time.

Olsen ran past linebacker K.J. Wright and then had to contend with cornerback Jeremy Lane, who tried to knock the ball out of Olsen's grasp. Quarterback Cam Newton's throw was on the money and the Pro Bowl tight end held on for a 19-yard touchdown.

That stellar catch capped a virtually perfect start for the Panthers, who went ahead 31-0 on the play. But lest you think Olsen's encore wasn't nearly as important, remember the final score: Carolina 31, Seattle 24.

 

 

[KB_fan]

#3 is a surprise... I was kind of expecting this to be #1...   Cam's flip into the endzone against Houston in week 2:

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Top-Play-No-3-Newton-Touchdown-vs-Texans/1b30b320-29e3-4583-9ae1-004e8309fe37
 

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A 2-yard touchdown run doesn’t sound all that exciting on the surface. Unless, of course, you’re Cam Newton.

With the score tied at 10 late in the third quarter against Houston, Newton took a three-step drop and then charged up the middle.

RELATED NEWS   Top Plays of 2015: No. 8 Top Plays of 2015: No. 7 Top Plays of 2015: No. 6 Top Plays of 2015: No. 5 Top Plays of 2015: No. 4

Waiting for him just outside the end zone was Texans safety Rahim Moore, so at the 3-yard line Newton decided to take flight. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback launched up and over Moore, flipping across the goal line.

"I just know my heart was in my socks," Newton recalled.

Amazingly, he almost landed on his feet.

"I guarantee the first thing he thought when he fell was he wished he’d stuck that landing," tight end Greg Olsen joked. "But that was pretty impressive."

Newton, like everyone else in the stadium, had a look of disbelief on his face when he gathered himself in the end zone. It’s the kind of uniquely Newton play that will be featured on the dynamic quarterback’s highlight reel for years to come.

 

 

 

Given that my 2 of my 3 choices for the top 3 plays of the year are already listed, I'm having trouble guessing what the top 3 will be.  One certainly has to be J-No's game-saving interception against the Saints... but beyond that, I'm stumped, and really curious to see what Panthers.com will choose.  Stay tuned!

 

[KB_fan]

i can't remember which players' highlight videos I've posted here.  Panthers.com has posted several.  I'll post all the links as to what's been posted so far in case I've missed any.

Luke 2015 Highlights:  http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Luke-Kuechly-Top-Plays-of-2015/30c350d1-1a94-4c10-bdb9-925e7ac5bbed

Cam top plays 2015:  http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Cam-Newton-Top-Plays-of-2015/d65c8b72-1199-4a1a-8c9f-a12676d7cb2a

Stew top plays of 2015:  http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Jonathan-Stewart-Top-Plays-of-2015-/c0a37fcf-c265-4c00-b6e6-f402fd5889b4

[KB_fan]

The #2 play just got posted - J-No's interception against the Saints

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Top-Play-No-2-Norman-Interception-vs-Saints/b34a3746-3bfe-4ed8-b3ee-11ba999df82f

 

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The No. 2 play of the season for the Panthers might have been Josh Norman's second-best play of the week.

But this one, unlike the first one, was on display for all of the world to see.

"That's his second amazing pick," quarterback Cam Newton said. "It's incredible to see practice carry over to the game."

RELATED NEWS   Top Plays of 2015: No. 7 Top Plays of 2015: No. 6 Top Plays of 2015: No. 5 Top Plays of 2015: No. 4 Top Plays of 2015: No. 3

Newton said Norman made an interception in practice leading up to Carolina's Week 3 showdown against the New Orleans Saints that rivaled the one he made on game day, but there was no comparison when it came to the impact on the Panthers' division rival. Facing a must-win after starting 0-2 and playing the 2-0 Panthers with backup quarterback Josh McCown starting for injured Drew Brees, the Saints put up a valiant effort.

But just in the nick of time, Norman stepped up.

With 1:17 left and the Panthers clinging to a 27-22 lead, McCown directed the Saints to the Carolina 23 and took a shot to the end zone for speedster Brandin Cooks, who appeared to have a step on Norman. But the cornerback made up the ground by throwing his body backwards for a leaping interception that sealed the victory.

"It's typical J-No," safety Roman Harper said. "He's definitely going to make it pretty. Full extension, horizontal to the ground. That's just what he does. You see him do it every day in practice."

 

 

Ok, I an HONESTLY STUMPED as to what #1 could be.  All 3 plays I'd rank in the top 3 (Cam to Greg for Seattle win in week 4; Cam's flip into the end zone, and J-No's interception) have all been listed.

What top play am I forgetting?

[KB_fan]

Here are the top 9 just as a refresher:

#2  J-No interception against Saints

#3 Cam flip into end zone

#4 Cam to Greg TD vs. Seattle in Divisional Playoff

#5 Cam to Greg for game winner at Seattle week 4

#6 Stew 59 yard run against Seattle in playoffs

#7 Kony Ealy's interception in the Super Bowl

#8 Coleman pick 6 against Dallas

#9 Cam's incredible TD throw to Dickson (and Dickson's great grab)

#10 Luke interception against the Colts in overtime

 

OK, there's no play there with TD.  So.... that makes me think TD's "hands team catch" of the onsides kick against Seattle in the playoff might be #1.  But that would make 3 plays from one game in the list.

Other ideas....???

[Burnout189]

Maybe TD interception of Aaron Rodgers?? Or the J-Stew fumble that popped into Dickson's hands and he ran it into the endzone? Two possibilities right there.

[pantherphan96]

Cam's run against Arizona on 3rd and 10? Not a huge impact on the game but a pretty amazing play.

[KB_fan]

And the envelope please..... drumroll..........

And the winner is:

Ted Ginn's 22 yard TD run against AZ (turned into 50+ yards) in the NFCCG.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Top-Play-No-1-Ginn-Touchdown-vs-Cardinals/3d16037d-19b5-46ba-b707-c94b4d833f32

Wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr.’s 22-yard touchdown run in the NFC Championship is the top play of 2015.

It was the biggest home game in franchise history; the first time the Panthers had hosted the conference title game.

RELATED NEWS   Top Plays of 2015: No. 10 Top Plays of 2015: No. 9 Top Plays of 2015: No. 8 Top Plays of 2015: No. 7 Top Plays of 2015: No. 6 Top Plays of 2015: No. 5 Top Plays of 2015: No. 4 Top Plays of 2015: No. 3 Top Plays of 2015: No. 2

And Ginn provided the spark that led to a dominant win over the Cardinals, his former team.

"I tried to go out and play ball, just trying to give them that energy," Ginn said, "and my team fed off me."

Ginn’s 32-yard punt return allowed Carolina to start a drive inside Arizona territory midway through the first quarter. Moments later, on second-and-3 from the 22-yard line, the Panthers dialed up a play they had used with success during the regular season.

Quarterback Cam Newton took a shotgun snap and faked a handoff to fullback Mike Tolbert. Newton drew the defense by moving forward like he was preparing to run before flipping the ball to Ginn, who raced into the backfield after being lined up wide to the right.

The play could have been stopped for a minimal gain, but Ginn slipped through safety Rashad Johnson’s tackle attempt as he neared the left sideline. It proved to be a catastrophic miss.

Ginn ran down the sideline for 10 yards, then looked up and saw six Cardinals closing in. At this point, all 11 defenders are in hot pursuit. So Ginn improvised, juking away from linebacker Kevin Minter at the 10-yard line and sprinting back across the field.

With Ginn’s elite speed, there was no catching him. It wasn’t supposed to be easy against the swarming Cardinals defense, but Ginn made this look easy.

Wide receiver Philly Brown sealed off cornerback Jerraud Powers at the 4-yard line and Newton arrived to escort Ginn across the goal line for a 10-0 lead.

Bank of America Stadium erupted and so did the Panthers, who overwhelmed Arizona with a series of explosive plays to build a 34-7 lead.

It all started with Ginn, who had a point to prove after the Cardinals cut him following the Wild Card loss at Carolina a year prior. In addition to his mesmerizing 22-yard score, Ginn received high praise for a 75-yard sprint to chase down Patrick Peterson and prevent an interception return for a touchdown.

"I felt like deep down inside that (Arizona) felt like I couldn't do it," Ginn said.

Ginn was given the game ball by head coach Ron Rivera, and now he’s taking home Top Play of the Year.

 

[cookinwithgas]

that made me tear up a bit

[Mr. Scot]

Watched the whole bunch tonight.

Good times...

[KB_fan]

More 2015 player highlight film from Panthers.com

J No top 10 plays of the season

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Josh-Norman-Top-Plays-of-2015/89b9a075-90b3-4226-b105-1e902a71dec7