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Week 14 Game Recap: Carolina Panthers 10, New England Patriots 20
Carolina Panthers
| QB Matt Moore, Pass: 15 - 30 - 197 - 1 TD / 0 INT |
In his 3rd season out of Oregon State, Matt Moore made his 2nd start of the season against a Patriots team that had lost their last two contests. He started the game throwing high on several of his throws, overthrowing wide-open receivers, and flirting with near interceptions. His only TD pass came off a play action fake where he found a streaking Steve Smith on a post route for a 41 yards TD toss. Moore threw the ball 30 times, completing a meager 50% of his pass attempts. He did finish the game with a pick, but was both inefficient and ineffective as a field general. Only the 5th NFL start of his career, Moore showed why he is a backup signal caller and confirms to the Panthers organization that they are badly in need of a starting QB that they can trust.
| RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 13 - 82 - 0, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (3 targets) |
The 6th leading rusher in the NFL was limited to just 13 carries but made the most of them averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. Williams used his great vision and burst through the point of attack on nice jots of 26 and 22 yards. He simply doesn't slow down when he changes direction and is as elusive as RB's get. But the running game didn't get many opportunities in this contest as the Carolina coaching staff went after the NE secondary, unleashing a mediocre Matt Moore, who threw 30 times, in a close game. Williams' electric style brings a certain pizaz to this conservative offense and he continues to pair with receiver Steve Smith as the Panthers only legitimate offensive weapons.
| RB Jonathan Stewart, Rush: 7 - 29 - 0 (1 targets) |
Stewart touched the ball just seven times for an unexciting 29 yards of total offense. With QB Matt Moore's erratic play, the Panthers were unable to find any flow to their offense, thus limiting the run game. When the Panthers did run the ball, the majority of the work went to DeAngello Williams, who returned from an injury that kept him sidelined last week.
| RB Tyrell Sutton, Rush: 1 - 6 - 0, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (2 targets) |
Sutton had only 3 touches but looked like a kid with future promise, gaining 27 yards in his limited role. Sutton, however, remains in the shadows of the Carolina offensive game plan as long as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart wear the teal and silver.
| WR Steve Smith, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0, Rec: 2 - 83 - 1 (7 targets) |
The Panthers big play receiver only had two catches on the day but both of them went for big plays. One of his receptions was for a 41 yard TD off a post play that set up Carolina within striking distance of what would be a closer than expected game. His other catch was another big play that went for 45 yards. Smith also chipped in with two carries for a meager seven yards, one of which came via direct snap, where he ran for a first down. As long as Smith is limited to just four touches, it will be most difficult for him to contribute that much to the Panthers or your fantasy team.
| WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 3 - 29 - 0 (7 targets) |
The veteran receiver led the Panthers with just 3 catches on the day, and was lost in the cloud of mediocrity by QB Matt Moore as he spread the ball around to seven different receivers. When a receiver leads your team in catches with 3 receptions, it leaves you wanting for more. It's stats like these that display how badly the Carolina offense needs more playmakers.
| TE Dante Rosario, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (6 targets) |
Rosario caught all three of his targets, but remains in a TE by committee with Jeff King, rendering him worthless from a fantasy perspective.
| TE Jeff King, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (2 targets) |
King was the benefactor of two Matt Moore passes for 16 yards. The Panthers continue to involve both their TE's in the passing game, but neither King nor Rosario are yielding many fantasy points for their respective owners.
New England Patriots
| QB Tom Brady, Pass: 19 - 32 - 192 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - -2 - 0 |
The Patriots sent out a banged up and beleaguered Tom Brady and watched the offense shoot themselves in the foot with costly turnovers. The game started with NE failing to convert yet another 4th and 1 play on their first drive, turning the ball over on downs near midfield. Brady couldn't get anything going early on and tossed an interception intended for Moss, who appeared to come out of his break a little slow, allowing CB Chris Gamble to pick off the pass. The second half saw the Patriots offense return to form as they eluded the rather flat play of the first half and gained control of the tempo and the game.
| RB Laurence Maroney, Rush: 22 - 94 - 0, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (3 targets) |
Once again, Maroney ran with good patience, power and lean, as he continues to get the bulk of the work in the Patriots rushing attack. His longest run, a 17 yard scamper off the edge, was set up by a nice block on Julius Peppers by TE Chris Baker. The line seems to be blocking hard for him as his physical contagious style inspires his teammates. The Pats gave the ball to Maroney inside the final two minutes of the game where he converted a 4th and 1, allowing NE to run out the clock.
| RB Kevin Faulk, Rush: 10 - 58 - 1, Rec: 3 - 17 - 0 (3 targets) |
Faulk scored the first Patriots TD of the day with a 2 yard run up the middle, virtually untouched, to cap off a 57 yard drive at the end of the 2nd quarter to tie up the game. His steady play continues to find him playing time as he ended the day with 13 touches for a total of 75 yards and a TD.
| RB Sammy Morris, Rush: 6 - 35 - 0 (3 targets) |
Morris was held to six carries in the game as Maroney received the bulk of the work for the NE rushing attack. His first carry of the afternoon was a punishing 18 yard run that brutalized at least three separate Carolina defenders, but did little else to impress. Morris dropped what would have been an easy pass for a first down in the 2nd quarter and fumbled the ball on the Patriot's first drive in the second half. He contributed nothing to the passing game.
| WR Wes Welker, Rec: 10 - 105 - 0 (14 targets) |
Welker continued his stellar play with yet another brilliant, enduring performance, reaching double-digit receptions for the 6th time this season. He's making a multitude of magical plays and is enduring a beating from opposing defenders. At one point, you saw his elbow tape fall off, revealing a bloody elbow that was apparently a mere flesh wound. Wild, wild Wes appears to be un-coverable right now and is playing the best football of his career. Those owners who didn't panic when he was injured early on in the year are reaping big dividends down the stretch as he continues to dominate whatever defenses throw at him. Welker could end up being the most trustworthy and consistent WR in the league at season's end, and he may even be the one WR that leads the Pats and your fantasy team into the playoffs.
| WR Randy Moss, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (4 targets) |
This was a forgettable game for Moss with his most memorable play being a fumble that was recovered by Carolina. Moss had only one catch for 16 yards and fumbled at the end of the play. He did see a few opportunities but couldn't connect with QB Tom Brady on the few chances he had. One of his targets sailed over his hands as he found the soft spot in the defense, sat patiently, but was unable to out-leap and snag the overthrown ball. The other missed opportunity came in the end zone where Brady overthrew a leaping Moss once again, but a holding penalty was called giving the Patriots the ball at the Carolina 2 yard line. Moss wasn't running his routes with much urgency and made some mistakes that could have cost the Patriots this game as two of the Patriots three turnovers were a result of his apathetic play.
| TE Ben Watson, Rec: 3 - 37 - 1 (3 targets) |
The Patriots TE was the recipient of Tom Brady's only TD pass of the afternoon (a 5 yard strike) and also drew a 30 yard pass interference penalty that set up the Patriots in the red zone, leading to the Patriots first score of the game, a 3 yard run by Kevin Faulk. Watson made a nice 18 yard grab tip toeing on the sidelines putting his athletic ability on display and has used this season to re-invent himself and become a regular contributor to this Patriots offense.