CHARLOTTE – The fact that the Panthers lost to the Packers was not necessarily unexpected.
And the Packers didn’t even need Aaron Rodgers to do the same for this to happen.
The Packers won a big lead early and clung on to a 24-16 victory to improve to 11-3 and remain in first place in the NFC playoff race.
And they did it on the ground, rushing 195 meters. Their potential MVP defender threw for just 143 meters, his lowest single-game total in more than a year.
But the way they ran early made it a debatable point. The Packers leaned on the Panthers (4-10) all night, and Rodgers who walked into the end zone for a touchdown was symbolic.
From the start of the game, it was clear that the Packers would be able to run.
Packers running back Aaron Jones took the third shot of the game 46 yards, and that set the tone for the rest of the first half.
By the time the Panthers showed a fighting defense, they were in a 21-3 hole. The packers ran for 159 yards in the first half, averaging 9.4 yards per carry.
For years, Panthers fans have been accustomed to expecting certain things in goal line situations.
Without putting a fine point on it, having a 6-foot, 215-pound defender is less good than having a 6-foot, 250-pound foot there, as it turns out.
Teddy Bridgewater’s fight at the goal line in the second quarter was, for lack of a better word, just sad.
After raw debutant Rodney Smith burst out 12 yards on a fourth and 1 of 13, the Panthers were on the verge of reducing the Packers ’lead to 14-10.
Instead, Bridgewater took the ball out of the hands of Krys Barnes, Packers defender, who was recovered by defender Kevin King and returned 48 meters.
At that moment, the fact that he didn’t go to the final area was a slight surprise, but it was the moment when everyone realized that the game would not go the way of the Panthers.
In the fourth quarter, Bridgewater had a better grip on the ball, but managed to eliminate it again. That was eliminated by a penalty, but the safety of the ball becomes another element on the list of things that Bridgewater has to explain after the games.
Panthers showed a little more fighting in the second half, with a defense that played much better as the game continued.
Defensive attack Derrick Brown had a pair of sacks (and forced Rodgers out of his pocket and into Brian Burns’ arms for another sack) as part of a better effort in the second half. These were the first career bags for Brown.
Falling into a 21-3 hole changes the dynamics of the game. The Packers may not have played to the same advantage.
But after scoring touchdowns on the first three goods, the Packers had to put points on the next five goods.
The Panthers needed something to feel good and maintained the No. 1 offense. 1 of the league to 3 points in the second half was something.