As only he can, Meck Deck’s Jeff Taylor sums up last night’s debacle in the Queen City:
There are your Carolina Panthers, ladies and gents. Get used to them because without a 1st round pick next year, they ain’t gonna change anytime soon. Folks can bray for someone under center besides #17, but that is just a symptom of the problem. I’ve said all season long that the OC and DC slots are not filled with championship-level talent. I do not see how anyone can dispute that now.
One more stat should prove that beyond all doubt. With the entire building knowing that Larry Fitzgerald had to get the ball, he goes for 8 and 166 and a TD. With the entire building knowing that Steve Smith had to get the ball, he is shutout until the game is out of reach.
Regarding the coaching staff’s caliber, all I know is it certainly wasn’t reassuring to see offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson staring at his little laminated sheet as the game was quickly slipping away.
Bonus observation: Last night’s game reminded very much of last year’s Carolina-Kansas Final Four matchup. When it was over, you had no idea what you’d just seen.
