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What the hell happened? That's the question I was asking myself after my Carolina Panthers got slaughtered 27-3 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Jeff Garcia is now my most-hated NFL player...

Panthers-Buccaneers: Carolina Crumbles When It Matters Most in Lopsided Loss to

by Matt Gilmartin (Columnist)

17

587 reads

Game Recap

October 13, 2008


What the hell happened? That's the question I was asking myself after my Carolina Panthers got slaughtered 27-3 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Jeff Garcia is now my most-hated NFL player. I can't stand the guy; I loathe him with a burning passion. He's the most bona fide Panthers killer there is. He's beaten us in at least three straight games—this past week, last year in Week Four—both times with the Bucs—and in Week 13 of 2006 with the Eagles. 

This past Sunday, he helped the Bucs' winning effort by completing 75 percent of his passes and throwing a touchdown. In addition, his third-down-conversion rate was agonizingly high. 

As matter of fact, this area of Garcia's game was so consistent that eventually, as a Panthers fan, you already knew that even if the Panthers managed to hold the Bucs on the first two downs, everything would be negated by Garcia on third down. 

Garcia's performance against the Panthers yesterday was the most frustrating individual performance by an opposing player I've witnessed in a long time.  I can't tell you how many times I wanted to wring Garcia's throat yesterday, as I watched him throw for yet another first down to a wide-open receiver. It was simply sickening. 

But the pass defense had even more major lapses, aside from the standard poor coaching, that gave Garcia and his receivers all the room in the world to make plays underneath every time. 

On a goal-to-go play from the Panthers' two-yard line, Bucs tight end Alex Smith found a gap in the coverage you could have put the whole state of Florida in, and Garcia found him for the easiest touchdown of both of their careers. That score put the Bucs up 14-0. 

Author Poll

Did the Panthers just play horribly or did the Bucs just play extremely well, or both?

  • The Panthers just played horribly
  • The Bucs just played extremely well
  • Both
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Did the Panthers just play horribly or did the Bucs just play extremely well, or both?

  • The Panthers just played horribly

    17.2%

  • The Bucs just played extremely well

    32.8%

  • Both

    50.0%
  • Total votes: 64
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17 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Eric Quackenbush 8 months ago

    WOW! Absolutely awesome! That was from the heart--I think you spoke the words on every Panthers fans' mind! Bravo, bravo! 5 stars, POTD

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    • Matt Gilmartin 8 months ago

      Haha, thanks a lot, Eric! Yeah, this was from the heart. This article was really more of a vent than anything else. It just happened to also be a game recap—and a good one, it seems.

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  2. Buddy Smith 8 months ago

    Yo dude. I felt your pain.

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    • Matt Gilmartin 8 months ago

      I'll take that as a compliment, Buddy.

      Also, I forgot you aren't a Panthers fan when I was posting the article link on my fans' profile pages who are Panthers fans, too, so I posted the link on your bulletin board too because I just did for some reason. But I'm relieved to know you liked it.

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  3. Austin Penny 8 months ago

    Well written article. I like the emotion! We just really have to hope that we don't duplicate this effort next Sunday, because our home fans will not take too kindly to back-to-back losses!

    Another thing we should ponder this week, is this the beginning of the calling for Trgovac's head?

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    • Matt Gilmartin 8 months ago

      Thanks, Austin. I hope as much as you do that we don't lose to New Orleans this week.

      About calling for Trgo's head...I've wanted to rip it off since last year. It's soooo obvious that our coverage is deep on every play! There's always enough for a pass underneath for a first down in between the linebackers and secondary!

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    • Mark Jones 8 months ago

      I'm going to the Saints game next week. I'm just hoping that the Panthers will play good enough to pay for the gas driving there from Raleigh!

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  4. Mark Jones 8 months ago

    That came was not just an insult to Panthers fans, but an insult to the state of North Carolina and anyone who has ever lived here. Even those lously 3 points that Carolina scored was a miracle! We couldn't do anything! I felt bad just using the electricity to WATCH that!!!

    But by the way, nice article! It was more than just the blah-blah facts about the game like usual! It was something much better, and unfortunately, realistic and actually showed how UGLY the game was.

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    • Matt Gilmartin 8 months ago

      Thanks, Mark. Honestly that game was so terrible it looked like the Lions or Bengals were wearing Panthers jerseys and playing in place of them. It was that bad...

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  5. Jordan Hofer 8 months ago

    why dont you give the bucs there due. shit they arent that bad of a team. im hell they won the divison last. over who? the panthers. so give a team a break. shit.

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  6. Oliver Ellis 8 months ago

    Bucs >>>> Carolina.

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    • Matt Gilmartin 8 months ago

      We'll see come December. Though I gotta hand it to your Bucs; they played a hell of a game last Sunday and really took it to us. Congratulations.

      But just remember: beating you on Monday Night Football in the heat of an intense playoff race will be so much sweeter than beating you last Sunday would have been.

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  7. Oliver Ellis 8 months ago

    That's very true - MNF could well decide who wins the division.

    We lost in 2006 in Carolina on a Monday Night, I remember Keyshawn scoring against us.

    Looking forward to it already!

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