Charlotte: The Carolina Panthers have long been known for their ability to run the football.
Just not this year.
Had it not been for quarterback Cam Newton, who had 71 yards on 11 carries, the Panthers would have been completely one dimensional on offence in losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-23 in the NFL on Thursday. Carolina running backs Jonathan Stewart, Christian McCaffrey and Fozzy Whittaker were limited to one yard on 13 carries.
Even wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who had one carry for eight yards on a reverse, outgained Carolina’s running backs.
“We have a lot of things to look at,” coach Ron Rivera said.
It is unusual for a Panthers team that has rushed for more yards than any team in the NFL since the start of the 2008 season.
But the holes simply are not there.
At one point, Stewart was gang-tackled for a three-yard loss in the backfield by seven Eagles defenders. The normally mild-mannered Stewart got up screaming at the Carolina bench in frustration.
There was nowhere to run.
The franchise’s all-time leading rusher had eight carries for minus-four yards on Thursday and is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry this season. He has not scored a touchdown running the ball.
“We have to find ways to get him going,” Newton said. “That’s part of that lethargy I was mentioning. A team that is heavily favoured to run the ball, that’s who we are. That’s Panthers football. We have to find a way to get that running game going and get Stew involved.”
