Rivera's Blunder - Illustrated

[Dexterity]

For the better part of three years I simply thought Rivera was just a stubborn coach set in his ways. Now I'm starting to think he's a damn idiot. His ultra conservative end of game management has cost us at least 6-8 games in just 3.5 years.

[Snake]

Rivera proves every week why he should be fired. I said before this game its was a make or break game for Rivera. We were going to see either the gambling man or the old man of days past. Well I think we all knew how that panned out and really even if he keeps his job he is not going to keep his locker room and the place will be toxic.

[Jackofalltrades]

I've been saying it for months, one of the biggest things we lost this offseason was attitude.

Smith, Munnerlyn and Mitchell brought a lot of emotion to the game.

[Mr. Scot]

someone needs to go ahead and make this a thread of its own.

 

jason avant literally just called out Ron. And i love it.

 

And he's not known for saying those kinds of things.

[Fan01]

Any pictures of Olsen's reaction?  Or any other team members when they saw we were going for the field goal.

 

I'm a Panther homer but a realist. I always try to look at the game with a eye towards the glass being half full.

 

Bottom line is that if the coaching staff has lost me then they've probably lost everyone.  And after that crap yesterday I am finished with this coaching staff.  Done.  Out.

 

It's not a matter of if Rivera and co. get fired, it's a matter of when and I just hope we haven't wasted the best years of Cam's career wading through this crap.  Our whole room watching the game was so excited.  Seeing Cam going off.  Actually going deep.  Acting and playing like we were the better team.  This only happened when we didn't have a choice. 

 

Then as soon as we had a shot at winning everything slammed on brakes.  That's the most angry I've been during a game in a long time.  I knew he was going to miss that field goal just because we ran 3 straight times with so much time left.  I did think that Gano was going to save us with that 64 yarder but it was not to be.

 

I do wonder what happened exactly after that fight.  I could actually see the "fug it" in Cam's eyes before the two touchdown.  I said to a buddy.  Cam's getting ready to go off.  He's had it.  I wonder if it was just his play?  Did Shula open the play book?  Did Cam start calling his own plays?  It was such a drastic change on offense.  I don't know that I've ever seen a team look so different from the first 3 quarter to the 4th.  It looked like a completely different offense.

 

Jezus, I can't keep talking about this.  I'm going to give myself a stroke I'm so pissed.

[firstdayfan]

Im as upset about this as anyonw but serious question here, had gano made the field goal and then the defense picked off Matt Ryan to seal the game would anyone be complaining right now?

I get the issues you bring up and feel Rivera was dead wrong but if the decision turned out the other way would we be angry? Because I definitely think we should have, but I'm not sure that would have been the case.

[Jeremy Igo]

If the Panthers were 11-0 would anyone be angry?

[Mr. Scot]

If the Panthers were 11-0 would anyone be angry?

 

On this board?  Probably

 

[MCCNASTY]

In a somewhat related note about this franchise's problems...

Jonas Gray, Patriot RB, Undrafted Free Agent, Rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns yesterday.

How much Texas $$$ do we have in our RBs again?

And how much money we don't have in that pathetic offensive line.

[Billy Love]

did ron (bonehead) rivera forget what the falcon did to us in atlanta 2 years ago with 50 seconds on the clock. i didn't forget, i know you didn't forget....i damn sure know the falcon didn't forget. but ron must have. ron rivera is a nice guy but he is not a competent HC in the NFL. and we are stuck with him...he has ruined cam newton as a panther. thanks you cross eyed dumb ass! GTFO of charlotte.

[HubKat]

I mentioned this in the All Pro section, but I think it goes back to the play right before the fight with Harper & the penalty. He hasn't received much love on this board (and rightfully so), but you could tell he had enough. That penalty sparked something in the whole team (minus coaches).

[Panthers8969]

I have to tell you, I was struggling on Sunday. As a photographer, my job is to capture emotion and passion as plays are being made. These things were no where to be found for three quarters of football.

 

Then a funny thing happened..... a fight broke out. Just like last years Rams game, passions were ignited. You want to wake the Panthers up? Literally punch them in the mouth in their own home. From that point on, the game changed entirely.

 

 

 

The defense finally resembled what we have grown to love in Carolina. Plays were being made, emotions ran deep. The Panthers were back, ready to stake a claim once again for the division lead for the second time this season.

 

 

 

Josh Norman, who is as excited as anyone about a fight, felt it. This is why he plays the game. And as he pointed out on our Huddle Podcast (now available on iTunes), this is why you should consider buying a #24 jersey.

 

 

The offense was up. Could they match the defensive intensity? I had my doubts. But then a funny thing happened, Cam Newton turned into the 2011 gun slinger we all knew and loved with a touchdown strike to Kelvin Benjamin who made an amazing grab.

 

 

The kick coverage team also felt the energy, as Devin Hester was stifled for a modest return. Again, emotion... passion.. you know... FOOTBALL.

 

 

After a defensive stop, Philly Brown hauled in an amazing grab for a touchdown and the lead. The story of the day was reading more and more like a game that would be remembers for years to come.

 

 

The Panthers rookie wideouts celebrated together, a scene we possibly could see in Carolina for many seasons to come. The future of the passing game ... Thunder and Lightning. 

 

 

The defense took over, and managed to limit Matt Ryan and the re-energized Falcons offense to a field goal. While some point to this as a failure, in reality it was a win. The defense put the offense in a position to win the game with plenty of time left on the clock. Considering the offense just had consecutive touchdowns, a knockout punch was surely on the way....

 

 

The Panthers continue to move the ball in the passing game. KB makes an amazing grab and gets the Panthers within striking distance....

 

 

And then, with the game on the line, and emotions and momentum higher than at any point in the 2014 season, Rivera chooses to shut down the offense and settle for a 46 yard field goal. At that moment, all momentum deflated. The disappointment from the offense, and the defense for that matter, was palatable. Greg Olsen was visibly upset and dumbfounded as he left for the sidelines. The Panthers players wanted to go for the jugular while the Panthers coaches were happy with a slap fight.

 

The result, a missed field goal.

 

 

Even if the field goal was made, it would have left over 90 seconds for the Falcons to get within their own field goal range to win the game. Ron Rivera, when Cam Newton and the offense needed his trust the most, showed them what he really thinks of them.

 

 

Which begs the question: If Ron Rivera doesn't believe in the Panthers offense, why should they believe in him?

 

 

best post this season. Rivera has to go

[Marc Anthony]

It's sad, Just watching other coaches decisions in games yesterday, I was thinking to myself, wish the Panthers had a coach with a pair of balls as those guys.

[Moose Hoover]

I'm not just sucking up to the boss...this is an award winning post. Good job, Jeremy.