Panthers vs Seahawks Preview

Over the past couple of years, the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers has become something of a rivalry. Ever since Cam Newton came into the league in 2011 the Panthers has played the Seahawks six times (including the playoffs). And the five out of six times they have played, the game has come down to a touchdown or less. The Seahawks do lead the series 4-2 during that time span, but the Panthers have beat the Seahawks the last two times they have faced including the playoff game last year that sent the Panthers into the NFC Championship game. They face off again in Seattle this Sunday night on NBC.  

But this is more than a rivalry game for the Panthers, this a due or die game for them. If the Panthers lose this game, there playoffs chances are all but gone. With center Ryan Kalil(shoulder) and his backup Gino Gradkowski(knee) being put on IR yesterday, joining left tackle Michael Oher. That’s hurts the Panthers a lot since their running game has been already bad to begin with without missing their All-Pro center and his backup. It was announced today that Kurt Coleman has been put into the concussion protocol with Luke Kuechly and there both not expected to play Sunday. The Panthers did sign free agent center Ryan Wendell and tackle Dan France from the Brown’s practice squad to take there place. Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett and there center Justin Britt is expected to be back for the Seattle but free safety Earl Thomas is still questionable with a hamstring injury. It will be interesting to see how Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense will handle Panthers young and unexperienced secondary.

If we want to go into Seattle and beat the Seahawks on primetime were going to need superman, Cam Newton himself to play lights-out and our defensive line to come up big and get pressure and contain Russell Wilson. If Luke Kuechly doesn’t play Sunday both Shaq Thomson and AJ Klein need to play well, Klein played well against Oakland expect for a few plays late in the game, mainly where he shouldn’t have been covering a wide receiver down the middle of the field for a gain of 30 yards on a third and nine, which later that drive set up the game winning field goal the Raiders. But I do think it’s going to be the toughest game the Panthers have play yet, with being in Seattle on primetime and the 12^th man in full force. And on top of all that some forecast has shown that it makes rain during the game. Make sure to watch the Carolina Panthers (4-7) face off the Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1) Sunday at 8:30 PM on NBC.

The Pistons dismantle The Hornets 112 to 89

On night two of a back-back for the Charlotte Hornets the Detroit Pistons blew-out the Hornets in Charlotte. The entire game the Hornets looked tried and sloppy and the Pistons took advantage. The Detroit Pistons without Reggie Jackson was hot early, quickly taking an 11-point lead in the first quarter. Tobias Harris started 4-4 from the field and ended with 24 points and 7 rebound. The Hornets would eventually take a 4-point lead mid-way through the second quarter, but when Andre Drummond got ejected by hitting Roy Hibbert in the face with an elbow. The Pistons outscored the Hornets by 25 after Drummond ejection. And would lead at halftime 57-54.

The second half was terrible for the Hornets, being out-scored 55 to 35. The offense was uncoordinated, the ball wasn’t moving around like it has been, forced shots, turnovers. The defense was as bad, the middle of the line was clear most of the half so the Pistons guards would drive down in the middle of the line and either make a layup or if a help defender came they would just kick it out for a wide open three pointers. And then to top it off for the Hornets, Jeremy Lamb who has been playing excellent lately got injured in the third quarter and would come back in the game with a right knee contusion. It’s unclear how major the injury is right now. But it’s just doesn’t seem like the Hornets can get a break from injuries from Hibbert, Lamb, Batum, Marvin Williams and now Lamb again. Just seems hard for the Hornets to keep everyone healthy at one time. It just wasn’t the Hornets night tonight, but four games in five days can make you play sloppy.

My MVP for this game would have to be The Captain, Kemba Walker with 23 points on 9 for 16 shooting and 4 assist and breaking Ish Smith’s ankles in the second quarter. Kemba will always bring his A game no matter what, just the way he plays. The other leading scorers for the Hornets are Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with 10 points and 4 rebounds and Marco Belinelli with 11 points. The Hornets have a day off to get some much deserve rest, the Dallas Mavericks (3-13) will be coming to Charlotte this Thursday to play against the Charlotte Hornets (10-8) at 7pm.

The Hornets gets revenge on the Memphis Grizzlies

A week after the Grizzles went into the Spectrum Stadium and dismantle the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets got their revenge when they went into Memphis and easily took out the Grizzles 104 to 85. From the start of the game the Hornets looked aggressive on both ends of the ball, closing out when a shot went up, driving to the basket. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 14 points 6 rebounds to helped the Hornets stay aggressive throughout the first half. The Hornets did start the second quarter slow until the starters came back out and eventually outscored the Grizzles 31-14 in second quarter, and ended the second quarter on a 19-4 run and lead 56-36.

After half time, the Grizzles lead by Mike Conley went a run and cut the led to twelve but when Conley got hurt in the third quarter the Grizzles looked uncoordinated and the Hornets capitalized. Pushing their lead back up to 20 and never looked back. Unfortunately for the Grizzles, Mike Conley would not come back in the game with a lower back injury. The Hornets would be able to rest their starters most of the fourth quarter, which was nice since they will be turning right back around and be playing again tomorrow against the Pistons.

My MVP for the Hornets tonight in my opinion would be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with 14 points, 7 rebounds. Mainly because in the first quarter he showed how the Hornets would play for the rest of the game, relentless and aggressive. Driving down the line, getting rebounds, making a few mid-range jumpers, getting seals, and just playing hard. Leading scorers was Jeremy Lamb with 21 points and 9 rebounds, Kemba Walker also had 21 points and Frank Kaminsky had 12 points and 6 rebounds. The Hornets who are 10-7 and have the tied in the southeast division come back to the Hive tomorrow to play against the Detroit Pistons.

Kalil,Kuechly less Panthers loss at Oakland

Carolina Panthers (4-7) started their west trip earlier today going against the Oakland Raiders (9-2). This game was a tale of two halves for the Panthers, the first half was horrendous on both side of the ball. Cam Newton only completed 3 out of 12 passes for 18 yards and an interception. He did have the Panthers only touchdown of the first half with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. While the Raiders offense went to town on the defense, scoring four times, including three touchdowns. Derek Carr started out 8-8 which was a personal best. Then under a minute left in the half, Khalil Mack picked off Cam Newton and ran it in for the touchdown to make the score 24-7 at the half.

The second half was completely different for the Panthers, on the Raiders first drive Carr fumbled the snap and the Panthers recovered which later lead to a Jonathan Stewart touchdown. With Derek Carr out for one series the Panthers capitalized and forced the Raiders to punt, three plays later Cam connected with Ted Ginn Jr. for an 88- yard touchdown. The very next series for the Raiders Tomas Davis picked up Carr and five plays later Jonathan Stewart scored his second touchdown of the day. The Panthers held the Raiders to a three and out and on their next offensive series for the Panthers, Cam connected to Kelvin Benjamin for a 44-yard touchdown. Which gave the Panthers an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Raiders drove down the field and scored a touchdown and got the two-point conversion to tie the ball game at 32 all. Four plays later the Panthers punted the ball, the Raiders drove down the field and got the ball down to the 5-yard line and Janikowski kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Raiders the lead back under two minutes left in the game. The Panthers did get the ball into Raiders territory but stalled out and Khalil Mack ended the game with a strip sack on fourth and ten.

Initial Thoughts about this game was that the Panthers didn’t give up, they could’ve easily turned over on the pick six at the end of the first half, but they fought back forced some turnovers and took the lead back late in the game. The defense at times looked good but our weak secondary hurt us once again late in the game. The offense line looked good for having three players injured and having our third string center in the fourth quarter. The Panthers are 0-5 on games decided by a field goal or less. This is a tale of two years for the Panthers; last year they found ways to win close games just like today, this year they haven’t. There playoff chances look all but gone after today lost. With next four out five teams having a winning record the Panthers need to find a way to close out in close games fast to have a chance of making it back in playoffs.