Colin Jones also got there with his speed, running a parallel route behind the others, ready to make the tackle if Kuechly missed. All the black Panthers defenders either got blocked or simply got outrun.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Panthers in the Super Bowl. Kuechly, McCaffrey, Olsen, Jones, and Bersin all on the same team, with the first three legitimate candidates for Super Bowl MVP. Even Newton has become less annoying since his "innocent until proven guilty" remarks about Jerry Richardson.
Vikings are still my #1 team, though.
I'll comment on La France's post at the end.
Listening to the post game blather on the Dallas game most analysts pointed the arrow of blame on everyone but Prescott. Only Shannon Sharpe came out strongly against him. Although in the press conference Jerry Jones was 'hinting" that Prescott was the main reason they lost.
But people like Colin Cowherd insist that an upgrade in WR's is the answer. Many want the HC fired. I have been consistent on my take with Prescott stretching back to last season where too many were anointing him a star. He was a mid round pick and he plays like one. The Cowboys receiving core is roughly adequate. They have a very good running back and a top OL. The defense is the best it has ever been during the Jason Garrett era. Imagine for one second if Tony Romo had THIS TEAM and you are probably looking at a Super Bowl contender and even winner. Romo's teams had horrible defenses and his OL was not nearly as good as this one. So what gives? The QB. At his very best it seems to me Prescott is a minor league version of Alex Smith. Those are his good days. The Cowboys face a dilemma. It seems they are going to stick with Prescott and make "other" changes. To me that would be a misdiagnose of their problems.
It is a bloody shame that the terrific play of Sean Lee and the blossoming S Jeff Heath will be wasted this season. Lee is a throwback LB the type you see less often these days. College recruiters take out their stop watches for players in shorts at these High School football camps to determine who gets recruited these days. That is why you see less "thinking men" defensive players who not only play the game the right way but elevate their team to another tier. Like someone posted above Lee and Kuechly are the cream of the crop when it comes to NFL LB play.
I guess the Alex Smith "death watch" has once again been put on hold as he has been on a tear of late. Most football players his age look creaky but he is as spry as a rookie. And of course Kelce reached the magical 1,o00 yard mark. And they have a white S in Sorensen a player the local media picks on despite leading the team in tackles and helping them win games.
With ghastly Seattle, the snake that wouldn't die , possibly still in the mix, for me it is easy to single out the teams I won't be rooting for come playoff time. Ironically the two teams I dislike the most, Atlanta and Seattle are vying for the final playoff spot. Seattle is more toxic but it isn't as if I want the Falcons to win once they get in either. Buffalo is another obvious toxic choice.
Then there are some grey areas. Things aren't as cut and dry as one would expect. Take the Steelers a team I haven't been able to stomach for years. Yet with the addition of edge player Watt, a difference maker, all of a sudden they aren't totally sickening. Add in big play TE Vance McDonald ( if he stays healthy) and his cohort Jesse James we aren't talking about the Raiders here. Even the Titans, a team I can't stand, have Decker who has put up some decent numbers the last couple of weeks. Even so I would prefer Baltimore with Woodhead, Campanaro and Weddle. Still it is like splitting hairs. What if Decker starts playing an even bigger role? Not pulling for the Saints either way. Most all of their white players have disappeared due to injury this year including underused field stretching TE Fleener. I don't like the Jags a whole lot either.
Even the Pats aren't a complete slam dunk. They have zero white starters on D and Chris Hogan has been limited this year. One would hope Hogan gets back into the swing of things. Amendola is fine but he is more of a secondary option type player. The Chiefs? They have some positives amidst some negatives.
Three NFC teams sound the right notes. The Rams are elevated by rookie WR Kupp and without him I would be fairly disinterested. Athletic veteran Connor Barwin makes their D at least palatable along with a couple of back ups including DE Longacre.
Which leads me to the two teams that are the most "complete" in my mind. Both the Vikings and the Panthers feature white defenders who are not only their best players but the best at their position. Harrison Smith at S and Luke Kuechly at LB. And the Vikings now have the best white WR in Thielen and Carolina has CM so there is no need to elaborate on him. On the surface it seems the Vikings have a better shot at going to the Super Bowl and ding bat Newton is bound to screw up. But at least Newton is the rare black QB who is not allergic to white skill players (Olsen, CM and Bersin who made big catches the last game). I know some here can't overlook Newton but from a "tactical" caste stand point imagine CM starring in a Super Bowl. It would do wonders for young white RB's out there. A perfect tonic to help the confidence of budding young white RB's. So if we have a full throttle Pats team with Hogan finding his legs again against either the Vikings or the Panthers you would have best case scenario Super Bowl match up.
I don't think Carolina will make it but I just can't pass up on the thought of CM playing in a Super Bowl so I am rooting for them the hardest. And right behind them by just an inch the Vikings. Then the Pats. The Vikings have two things over the Pats. The defense ( whiter) and a fresh new WR star in Thielen. Who ever wins this year it WON'T be easy.
