Oh No, It’s Romo, galloping in to clean up a Texas size mess… Game Ball goes to….
Monday, 30 October 2006
In a game that attracted a national audience and more media attention than a Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction, the hometown team ruined everyone’s pick sheet Sunday and left the Vegas bookies grinning as the Panthers stumbled to a 35 – 14 NFC Conference loss.
It was touted as a ‘must game’ for the Cowboys and a story of intrigue around benched veteran QB, Drew Bledsoe in place of a young Tony Romo. Was this a move of desperation by the wiley veteran coach Parcells or would the Tuna be cooked in Texas? Could a Division 1-AA QB from Eastern Illinois lead America’s team back to respectability and give T.O. more airtime to hype his return to form as a much maligned WR, re-born in the Lone Star state?
There were a lot of questions answered Sunday night at Bank of America Stadium. None of them, Panther Nation wanted to hear. The Cat’s were coming off a disappointing loss last Sunday to the Bengal’s, lowlighted by a last minute interception inside the Red Zone to seal a road loss to the surging Cincinnati Bengals.
Once again, the theme in a losing cause was turnovers. I once heard Joe Gibb’s say in an interview after back to back Redskin losses, "how do you practice not turning the ball over"? Well coach, it’s a rhetorical question indeed but if you can send John Fox that page of your play book, we would be much obliged. In the NFL where any team can get up for any other team on Any Given Sunday, you just can’t turn the ball over and expect to win.
"This is about as poor of a performance in the fourth quarter that I have been associated with," coach John Fox said. "I apologize for all the people who paid for tickets"
Delhomme, suiting up for his 62nd straight start, had problems. He was 17-of-31 for 149 yards and an interception. That stat line is misleading because Jake was plagued with the WR dropsies. You know, it's when the WR hears footsteps and loses the handle as he turns to meet his defender? Or the... ‘I got it no you take it’ non-catch. Or the... ‘I’m so wide open there’s no way I’m going to miss this one’ no catch.
Jake was getting the ball to the receivers but some crazy cowboy fan must have snuck into the Panther locker room and replaced the stick’em spray with personalized cans of Pam
The mistakes were glaring, the results were painful the story lines will be well documented. The bottom line on this game is that players didn’t play. The defense gave up 156 yards on the ground and 258 yards in the air.
Kudo’s to the young Romo, this will become known as the game in which the ‘Young Gun’ made his first NFL start and the veteran Bledsoe starts packing his saddlebag for his ride off into the sunset.
My game ball goes to…Jake Delhomme. Why Jake you ask? Despite the anemic run game, a chicken wire O-line and a receiving corp with several dropped passes in a wide open Red Zone Jake kept a cool head and continued his role as the consummate team leader by trying to keep everyone’s head in the game. He could have easily come off as the QB who’s getting the ball to his wide-out’s only to point the finger at the one’s with butter on them. Jake remained poised and positive because he knows this is a team sport. He knows there will be another Sunday and he knows that the Buc’s are coming to town on Monday night in November.
It's a team game. We all didn't get it done. We need to get better," Delhomme said. Spoken like a true leader Jake, my treat at Bojangles.
You’ve got to be encouraged by the play of Michael Gaines. The Tight End call's seem to be creeping out of the Henning play book and materializing on the field. It’s not a huge line but 3 catches for 21 yards is a start and they were clutch catches.
Even though we’re setting at 4-4 going into the bye week, a glance at the scoreboard reveals: The Saints going down to the Raven’s for their first loss home loss, giving up 35 points in the Super Dome. You see the Giants over the Buc’s In a game where they scored a whopping 3 points. That’s the good news.... the bad news is Michael Vick is starting to play like a balanced QB who can throw the ball. He was 20-28, 291 yds and 3 TD's. Christmas eve could be trick or Treat in Atlanta.
There is a lot of football to be played with eight more games to go at the half-way point of the season. The Panthers will host the Buc’s and Rams before they come to DC for the Capitol City Showdown Thanksgiving weekend.
Last nite I learned from Danny, the owner of Kitty O’Sheas, that he’s placed an order for three wide screen plasmas to be delivered and installed by next weekend.
He also confirmed, he will offer The ½ priced burger special till 9pm on game days along with the $2.50 Miller-Lite and continue the bucket o' brew pony specials for you thirsty Panther Fans.
Wear your colors Monday 11/13 and we'll look forward to seeing you for an 830p kick-off!
