I tuned into my first Panthers game since I’ve lived in North Carolina at just the right time Sunday.
The Panthers were tied at 14 against the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium, so I figured it was worth watching over a Cleveland Browns game.
Carolina forces a fumble inside Buffalo’s red zone in the third quarter. They started the drive from the 16-yard line and had all the scoring opportunities before them as they wound up with a first and goal inside the 5.
But do they execute? No.
They come out to kick a measly, little 27-yard field goal. The Panthers go up 17-14 the fourth quarter. I was disappointed they couldn’t turn out a touchdown from the 3-yard line when they had three chances to do so, but I impressed with Cam Newton’s “escape-ability” on said drive because the offensive line couldn’t hold its tackles.
He’s Cam Newton though, and that’s kind of what he does.
And then it happens again --- Buffalo turned the ball over in its own territory. E.J. Manuel’s pass is intercepted and the Panthers wind up at the Bills’ 26 in the fourth.
I watched intently to see if they would score a touchdown on a second-chance turnover, but they let me down. The Panthers made it down 20 yards to the 6, just for Newton to get sacked.
I laughed and laughed and laughed; not in a malicious way, in a this-is-so-terrible-its-amazing way. I couldn’t believe it, nor could the angry Panthers fans flocking my Twitter timeline. I tried to keep my comments to myself about how gloriously appalling Carolina’s last couple of possessions was, but it’s time to let loose.
I’m probably in no position to talk junk about anyone’s team until my Lakers start winning some games, BUT, the Panthers misfortunes earned them a ticket on the highlight reel of all the other great games played Sunday. What a great Sunday it was.
This contest got better and better as the clock winded to zero.
The Panthers wound up kicking two more field goals and the Bills added with one of their own. Carolina’s last one left 1:38 on the clock as they led 23-17. I wasn’t sure how good the Bills offense was. They had the ball on the Panthers 20 with less than two minutes to go.
If you hadn’t heard of E.J. Manuel before Sunday, you know him now.
He executed an incredible drive made up of short passes down the middle. I was in my living room spouting doubt at my television, saying, “You’re going to have to throw deeper than that.”
Manuel shut me up quickly. Before you know it, he is somehow on the Carolina 2 with six seconds left in the ball game after a huge third-down conversion coupled with a 9-yard pass.
The moment of truth: Manuel found Stevie Johnson as clear as day in the left corner of the end zone to score. The kick is good and the Bills win a miraculous victory they absolutely earned.
I have a lot of respect for that young quarterback’s ability to close the game.
I know Panthers fans are still fuming with Ron Rivera, and now me for reminding them how great the win was for the Bills.
Look at it this way: Because of this game, the Carolina Panthers will forever hold a place in my pro-football memory bank.
You’re welcome.
Jessika Morgan is the Sports Editor of The Free Press. She can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.