NFL Week 9 Rapid Reaction: Carolina Panthers def. Green Bay Packers

Nov 8, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess (17) reacts after scoring a touchdown as Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) defends in the fourth quarter. The Panthers defeated the Packers 37-29 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It was a thrilling and momentous affair down in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers succeeding in their quest to stay undefeated against the plucky Green Bay Packers.  Here are some reactions from the game.

Devin Funchess emerging just when the Panthers need him

Many had the Panthers offense dead and buried before the season even began due in large part to the loss of emerging receiver Kelvin Benjamin to a torn ACL.  Who would Cam Newton have to throw to besides Greg Olsen?  All hopes were pinned on rookie Devin Funchess, but that was neither prudent nor fair given he was switching from tight end to play the position.  Carolina took their time, working him into the offense a little more each week.  In week 10, they took the training wheels off.  Funchess caught three passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, sparking the offense like it hasn’t been all season.

Sideline spat only masks the real problem with Packers D

Anybody who is into social media by now has certainly seen clips of Julius Peppers, B.J. Raji and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix getting into a shoving match on the Packers sideline.  It was an outburst of frustration that the unit has been feeling for weeks.  Carolina was able to move the ball almost at will on them.  Green Bay is allowed 382 total yards per game for the season (23^rd in NFL).  Their lone saving grace was a good scoring defense that limited the damage.  Yet for the second-straight week even that fell apart, allowing 37 points (29 a week ago).

It’s fair to say the anger on the sideline wasn’t just at each other, but the play of the entire defense that seems to get worse each week.

The greatness of Jordy Nelson is magnified week by week

Yes, Rodgers threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers but don’t be fooled.  Some of his big passes against Carolina were freak plays and came with the Packers trailing big and Carolina playing softer coverages.  When truly pressed, as in Denver, the Green Bay receivers still struggle to get open at time.  Only good scheming by the coaches has helped them.  It merely enhances how good of a player they lost when Jordy Nelson tore his ACL in the preseason.

Panthers defense can’t expect to keep catching breaks late in games

The past two weeks are easy to feel good about because they were wins, but the Panthers defense should be feeling anything but good right now.  For the second game-in-a-row they let a big lead slip away.  Against Indianapolis they allowed 17 points in the fourth quarter, resulting in overtime.  This time the Packers scored 15 in the final period and were just yards from tying the game before an Aaron Rodgers miscue bailed them out.  These fades down the stretch are not something that can become a trend for the Panthers, because it’s certain to haunt them when the games really start to matter.

Ron Rivera should be Coach of the Year

Understand this.  A year ago the Panthers went 7-8-1 for the season.  It was only the sheer luck of playing in a terrible division that they made the playoffs.  To go from that to 8-0 and in firm control of home field advantage, beating the two NFC championship participants (Seahawks and Packers) in the process is a sign of remarkable growth and further credit to the coaching job done by Ron Rivera.  Barring an unforeseen event, he deserves to take home Coach of the Year honors