Points left on the field

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

A common refrain in the Rivera Era has been "missed opportunities", especially on offense. So let's look at some missed opportunities that would have directly led to points and put this game away much earlier than it actually was. To be clear, I'm thrilled with the win today and anyone who wants to come around bitching up a storm because they're too cool to be happy about anything ever can go fug themselves for a week while I enjoy my team being 1-0. But the game is over, so let's review a few things:

1) Greg Olsen's Pass Interference

Players often talk about having to learn each game what the ref's will and will not let you get away with. I imagine there would be plenty of officials in the league that would have shrugged off the minimal contact shown between Olsen and whoever it was that had him covered (don't remember, couldn't care). But, today it got called and that call nullified an otherwise beautiful touchdown grab. The drive stalls, and the Panthers have to settle for 3. As much fun as it is to hate he zebra's, this shortfall is all on Olsen. He would have made that play regardless of what his defender had done, and there was no legitimate reason for him to even give the appearance of contact. More a mistake in awareness than anything else. So there's 4 points.

2) Ted Ginn drops a sure thing

In what was an obvious miscommunication in the Jacksonville secondary, Ted Ginn managed to find himself all alone in a defensive hole the size of Denton, NC within spitting distance of the end zone. And what should have been an easy catch and grab turned into an almost blooper real worthy view of the ball bouncing off of Ginn and hopelessly away from his flailing noodley appendages. If he catches it, that would have been another 7 points for the Panthers (barring some miracle stop from the Jacksonville defense). There were other drops all day, but that's the one everyone is going to remember. So now we're up to 11 points.

3) A Blocked Field Goal

Missed field goals happen. Big deal. So I won't say that we should count the earlier missed FG by Gano from 53 yards out as sure fire points. The kick got off and it just missed. However, we can't overlook a kick that doesn't survive past the line of scrimmage, especially if it's well within the range of a reliable kicker. It was the only real misfire on special teams today, but it's always a concern to see a guy coming practically untouched past the line. Someone failed to do their job (I'll need to rewatch in order to see exactly who) and 3 points didn't get added to the scoreboard because of it. So that's 14 points.

So there's three opportunities for improvement between this week and next and an additional 14 points that can be added to the "Shoulda, woulda, coulda," column. No unnecessary contact from Olsen, Ted Ginn catches the easy one, and special teams doesn't give up a block...suddenly this game would have been 34-9. 

We'll see if things can be improved over the season (I'll stay optimistic until proven otherwise). At the very least, we aren't pointing to these "missed opportunities" as excuses for yet another opening day loss under Rivera. 

[the butch]

That Olsen pass interference was the most egregious of them all.  After that happened, I knew it was going to be a long day.  But we overcame the horrible refs . . . and WON.  When's the last time we could say that?

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

That Olsen pass interference was the most egregious of them all.  After that happened, I knew it was going to be a long day.  But we overcame the horrible refs . . . and WON.  When's the last time we could say that?

To be fair, they did kind of make up for it when CJ literally took that guys helmet off on TD's interception.

[Frizzy350]

A couple other important instances could have left to more points on the board as well.

Cam's sneak that was challenged by Rivera, honestly that looked like he had that by nearly a half yard.

Ginn's other probable touchdown drop in the red zone (yes he was covered, but it hit him square in the hands).

Olsen's drop + Kalil being an ineligible receiver downfield.

 

I will cede to you that these aren't mistakes as grand or directly tied to points as the one's you provided, but they definitely contributed to the blandish offensive production.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

A couple other important instances could have left to more points on the board as well.

Cam's sneak that was challenged by Rivera, honestly that looked like he had that by nearly a half yard.

Ginn's other probable touchdown drop in the red zone (yes he was covered, but it hit him square in the hands).

Olsen's drop + Kalil being an ineligible receiver downfield.

 

I will cede to you that these aren't mistakes as grand or directly tied to points as the one's you provided, but they definitely contributed to the blandish offensive production.

You aren't wrong on any of these counts. That said, the offense did what it was supposed to do when it counted (Namely: Chew up clock after the defense has preserved your lead). That doesn't show on the scoreboard, but it damn sure won us the game. It would have been nice to crush them just that much more, ya know?

Clean up the mistakes pointed out in my post and yours, and this game would have been a bloodbath.

[the butch]

To be fair, they did kind of make up for it when CJ literally took that guys helmet off on TD's interception.

I agree that was a horrible missed call.  But the refs blew that one when it didn't really matter; we had the game in hand.  When we were getting jobbed earlier in the game, it was still a contest.

[Ricky Spanish]

Probably the least poo game that Shula has called since god knows when. I can't, in good conscience, blame him today.

Even if we should have pounded the ball down their throats more, they weren't respecting our receivers, and we all know why as was evident by their performance today. Hopefully Norwood and Funchess get on the fast track and get plugged into the offense sooner rather than later. 

[Daddy_Uncle]

We had more points than them and thats all that matters at the end of the day. 

[DamnItJake!]

fifty..always wanted to say that..