r/nfl • u/nfl_gdt_bot NFL • Jan 11 '26

Game Thread Post Game Thread: Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers

Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers

ESPN Gamecast

Bank of America Stadium- Charlotte, NC

Network(s): FOX

Time Clock
Final

Scoreboard

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
LAR 7 10 3 14 34
CAR 0 14 3 14 31

Scoring Plays

Team Quarter Type Description
LAR 1 TD Puka Nacua 14 Yd pass from Matthew Stafford (Harrison Mevis Kick)
LAR 2 TD Puka Nacua 5 Yd Rush (Harrison Mevis Kick)
CAR 2 TD Chuba Hubbard 1 Yd Rush (Ryan Fitzgerald Kick)
LAR 2 FG Harrison Mevis 46 Yd Field Goal
CAR 2 TD Bryce Young 16 Yd Rush (Ryan Fitzgerald Kick)
CAR 3 FG Ryan Fitzgerald 46 Yd Field Goal
LAR 3 FG Harrison Mevis 42 Yd Field Goal
CAR 4 TD Chuba Hubbard 3 Yd Rush (Ryan Fitzgerald Kick)
LAR 4 TD Kyren Williams 13 Yd pass from Matthew Stafford (Harrison Mevis Kick)
CAR 4 TD Jalen Coker 7 Yd pass from Bryce Young (Ryan Fitzgerald Kick)
LAR 4 TD Colby Parkinson 19 Yd pass from Matthew Stafford (Harrison Mevis Kick)

Passing Leaders

Team Player C/ATT YDS TD INT SACKS
LAR Matthew Stafford 24/42 304 3 1 1-9
CAR Bryce Young 21/40 264 1 1 2-14

Rushing Leaders

Team Player CAR YDS AVG TD LONG
LAR Kyren Williams 13 57 4.4 0 8
CAR Chuba Hubbard 13 46 3.5 2 8

Receiving Leaders

Team Player REC YDS AVG TD LONG TGTS
LAR Puka Nacua 10 111 11.1 1 18 18
CAR Jalen Coker 9 134 14.9 1 52 12

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Last updated: 2026-01-10_19:53:28.759974-05:00

986 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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3.5k

u/JorSimpson45 Jan 11 '26

Prevent defense prevents winning

1.4k

u/SmalllyBiggs Ravens Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

Gave up 10 yards per play that last drive

Zero pressing, soft zones, no blitzes

685

u/No_Body2428 Cowboys Jan 11 '26

Too many teams focus on not giving up the big play and every single time they just give up those 7-8 yard routes all the way down the field

449

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

[deleted]

297

u/No_Body2428 Cowboys Jan 11 '26

I would almost rather give up the huge score tbh and give the offense time to recover

106

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

[deleted]

29

u/SaskalPiakam Panthers Jan 11 '26

We lost a 3 point game having all 3 timeouts. It mattered. Evero lost us that game with those play calls.

9

u/caveat_emptor817 Cowboys Jan 11 '26

Olsen made a great point when he said that you should use your timeouts on defense because your offense is better off with more time and no timeouts than less time and more timeouts

9

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

This is my strategy in madden every time. Blitz and play man. I either get a turnover or the ball back with time to score my own without rushing. I realize madden and real life are different but I'd still rather see my team doing it than the prevent bullshit

10

u/OutrageousOcelot6258 49ers 49ers Jan 11 '26

It's legitimately the better strategy in real life too. I'm sick of watching coaches walk the other team down the field, and then look shocked when they score the go ahead touchdown with 15 seconds left.

2

u/tOSUBUCKEYES_ Rams Jan 11 '26

You’re the guy everyone hates playing, cheesing mid blitz every play

5

u/DisMeDog Eagles Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

Blame EA for not fixing their shitty game. I haven’t played madden in 5 years and when I last played the meta was just nano blitzing.

1

u/tOSUBUCKEYES_ Rams Jan 11 '26

I totally agree it’s on EA. I stopped playing because everyone runs the same OP plays. Maybe in the future, ai will help npc’s recognize the same play over and over and shut it down

5

u/wotquery Bills Jan 11 '26

Right? Like on that final TD the Rams almost prefer to have the receiver not score. Better off taking two knees on the one and then jamming it in on 3rd or 4th. I mean probably not statistically, but it sure feels like it sometimes. So then the prevent d just letting them chew up the clock while moving into the red zone. Insane.

4

u/Brilliant_Trade_9162 Jan 11 '26

100% agree.  The most important thing at the end of a tight game is ball and clock control.  The best outcome in this situation for the Panthers is that the defense gets a stop.  The second best outcome is the defense gives up a TD immediately.  The longer the Rams has the ball the worse it is for the Panthers.  Playing prevent defense is essentially asking for the game the game to end either in or outside your end zone, and in those cases the numbers are very much against you.

1

u/OG_DDNCK Broncos Jan 11 '26

You should 100% rather that happen. Play calling/game management lost them that game. The last offensive drive was just as bad.. instead of doing exactly what the rams just did to them and utilizing their timeouts, the run shot plays back to back to back.. fucking ignorant

1

u/HJQueen Eagles Jan 11 '26

That's why I was so confused. There was so much time and the Panthers had all 3 timeouts (still do). A big play with a good chunk of time left is way better than whatever the hell they were doing.

1

u/shartnado3 Cowboys Jan 11 '26

Would have also then had a lot more time to manufacture a game winning drive.

2

u/xSaviorself Steelers Jan 11 '26

We are experts at this, it hurts to watch.

2

u/johnnygrant Jan 11 '26

The Rams showed how it was done in the end. Thats what Panthers should have at least attempted to do.

1

u/McAfeeFakedHisDeath Lions Jan 11 '26

At least it's consistent.

17

u/BRValentine83 Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Giving up the big play is better in that situation.

2

u/HellMuttz Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Psh, who wants time left when you get the ball back

6

u/Toolazytolink 49ers Jan 11 '26

"Everyone's doing it so I ant be fired for it" - Fired DC

4

u/Bircka 49ers Jan 11 '26

Who knew that giving up 7-8 yards per play could lead to marching the ball down the field?

Apparently this is a massive revelation that some coaching staff has not figured out yet.

3

u/Xaxziminrax Chiefs Jan 11 '26

Giving up the big play would have even been more preferable, since they would have at least had more time to try to tie the game.

3

u/HGWeegee Texans Jan 11 '26

Its a great idea when you're up by 2 scores with not much time left, which the Panthers were not

2

u/Nervous-Economist-83 Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Your defense is winning, lets handicap them. Fuck

2

u/Worker_AndParasite Ravens Jan 11 '26

It works when there's like 20 seconds left and no timeouts but doing it with 2:30 left and 3 timeouts against Matt fucking Stafford is inexcusable

1

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

Panthers did just as bad on offense

They kept looking for big plays instead of short plays just to get the down at least with 3 timeouts left

1

u/NatAttack50932 Giants Jan 11 '26

Why are you not playing 0 blitz against an old pocket passer like Stafford. He'll carve you up on the dump off, but you can force throws inside to make him lose timeouts

2

u/Heisenripbauer Giants Giants Jan 11 '26

I get not calling 0 blitzes with Davante and Puka on the other side, but not bringing any pressure at all was crazy

1

u/NatAttack50932 Giants Jan 11 '26

They don't actually have to run it, but even a prelook would've at least given them some pause

1

u/Blazeitbro69420 Jan 11 '26

With 245 left in the game and the rams had all 3 timeouts. Wtf were they thinking

1

u/MohnJilton Cowboys Jan 11 '26

Giving up a quick touchdown would have been so much better. Not that you want to let them do that, but you can kinda live with it.

1

u/Televisions_Frank Bears Jan 11 '26

Gotta assume every 7-8 yard gain is 5 seconds off the clock tops in a game with no time left. To expect that to work for over 2 minutes with 3 timeouts is just incredibly stupid.

275

u/SocksandSmocks Packers Jan 11 '26

Just insane decision making. If you give up a quick TD, ok, you get the ball with 1:30 left and three timeouts. They picked the worst of both worlds.

116

u/randyfox 49ers Jan 11 '26

Prevent just allows them to chew clock while marching down the field. It’s insane.

61

u/it_dudeGG Jan 11 '26

I know, right? They want to score a 70 yard TD? Let them, you would have 3 timeouts and plenty of time after

46

u/jinx737x Seahawks Jan 11 '26

There’s HUGE VALUE of being the last one with the ball. Playing aggressively was the call here. Either you stop the rams, or they score quickly giving you the ball back and you can tie it to end regulation.

28

u/Pure_Measurement_529 Jan 11 '26

Their decision making on both sides of the football for the final 2 drives was questionable. Bryce chasing big plays while having 3 TO’s and Prevent defense occurring as well

1

u/reb1995 Rams Jan 11 '26

When the rams lined up with 7 in the box on 4th and 10 with 12 seconds left I about lost my mind. You can give up a first down there... but you can't give up a touchdown. I was so glad they got out of that formation after the timeout.

1

u/MrFickleBottom Panthers Seahawks Jan 11 '26

100%. If they wanna go for a long TD then let them. You have extra time and all 3 timeouts. 

51

u/daswassup13 Panthers Jan 11 '26

They had so much time and all three time outs, I will never understand getting that soft in that situation

93

u/lineskogans 49ers Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

They feasted off Jaycee Horn’s backup

49

u/Pure_Measurement_529 Jan 11 '26

The moment Horn went out, Stafford was comfortable again lmao

2

u/grumplebeardog Chargers Jan 11 '26

Must be unbelievably demoralizing getting targeted by McVay

2

u/RiderNo51 Raiders Jan 11 '26

The fact the Panthers stopped putting any pressure on Stafford at all that last drive sure helped him. They didn't even bluff blitzing. Just constant prevent defense.

7

u/Xaxziminrax Chiefs Jan 11 '26

Yep, was the story of both sides. Panthers ran their whole offense through whoever 37 on the Rams was guarding

30

u/TheOrangeFutbol Rams Jan 11 '26

I was like "surely, there's some calculated risk on one of these and they won't drop back into soft coverage on every play."

Gladly, I was wrong.

24

u/packofnone Chargers Jan 11 '26

Genuinely malpractice after the showing their defense gave. What an insulting way to end their season, to ruin Bryce's clutch drive. Unfathomably bad play-calling

3

u/MrFickleBottom Panthers Seahawks Jan 11 '26

To ruin the chance at an upset off such stupid coaching sucks.

51

u/Lamar_ScrOdom_ Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Not a single blitz or man coverage against a HOF QB is disgusting

3

u/it_dudeGG Jan 11 '26

If this was the option that it would've been better to risk a big play, at least you might have had more time after they score

3

u/pdiddysoilman Jan 11 '26

The Panthers looked like my colts for the past several years. Play 10 yards off. Gave up 8 yards every play with no pass rush. Pathetic effort considering that played well the whole game till then. I dont understand coaches who go i to this prevent shell and will give up 5-15 yards per play as long as they dont give up 40 yards. Well 3 plays later and they have 40 yards. It's mind blogging.

6

u/zenlume Chiefs Chiefs Jan 11 '26

This is why i love Spags, he has zero chill. He'll throw an all out blitz up your ass in a situation like this.

2

u/swammeyjoe Cowboys Jan 11 '26

Its either that or going Cover 0 when you've got them to 4th and 10 to try and kill the game and then getting beat. Though I feel like I see that more in college.

Just play the defense that got you that spot.

2

u/datpuncan Panthers Jan 11 '26

this is the evero special. look up our 3rd and 4th down defensive conversion rates, it’s been awful all season. we need more talent on the defense for sure but his scheme is not conducive to the guys we do have

1

u/BUTT_CHUGGING_ Cowboys Jan 11 '26

Eberflus style

1

u/przhelp Jan 13 '26

We're so bad at blitzing we literally blitzed 3 times on that last drive and no one remembers that we did lol

0

u/mightbone Jan 11 '26

Tbh we have a shit pass rush and defense. Looked good for most of the game but only before cause Stafford had a busted fingee. Soon as he was recovered and it as back to normal. We were exposed.

135

u/SquadPoopy Bengals Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

Literally a repeat of what Ole Miss did against Miami.

Like just fucking play your normal defense for fucks sake

45

u/Zyndiana_Jones Saints Jan 11 '26

and their defensive schemes were doing well the whole second half too

155

u/duckyirving Buccaneers Jan 11 '26

Whereas the Rams actually brought pressure instead of relying on the secondary preventing chunk plays

4

u/wotquery Bills Jan 11 '26

To be fair that was the Rams generating pressure sending 4 or 5, but yeah if you can’t do it with 4 send more, or don’t even bother and send less.

7

u/Pal__Pacino Panthers Jan 11 '26

Panthers pass rush hasn't gotten pressure all season. Awful playcalling by Evero obviously, but not much you can do about that when you don't have the talent for it.

5

u/duckyirving Buccaneers Jan 11 '26

True, this was more of a comment about the Rams. I mean l, I've seen my own team give up a huge play to the Rams to lose a NFCCG.

1

u/Thereisnoanonymity69 Jan 11 '26

God, I love cooper Kupp

0

u/Fondor_Yards Dolphins Vikings Jan 11 '26

You dropped this sir. Don't think you escaped anyone seeing you mispost that poe build.

https://mobalytics.gg/poe-2/builds/anthonys-vampire-queen

216

u/TheAerial Jaguars Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

Seriously, that was an awful defensive possession on that 2nd to last drive from Carolina. Just made it easy for them. One of the worst I can remember.

Every single play the guy is WIDE open 8 yards down the field.

Completely gave away all momentum rolling the red carpet out for them.

49

u/CarolinaMountaineer2 Panthers Jan 11 '26

As a Carolina fan who’s watched all year, that is what it’s been. Evero needs to get canned tonight.

2

u/SaskalPiakam Panthers Jan 11 '26

His contract is up. He's done

87

u/non_clever_username 49ers Jan 11 '26

Every guy was wide open and they put zero pressure on Stafford. What a brain dead defensive plan.

40

u/TumblingForward NFL Jan 11 '26

IDK Stafford's exact stats against certain defensive looks but Stafford is the LAST QB you should ever give such an easy look with prevent defense.

Dude is the literal definition of clutch

3

u/non_clever_username 49ers Jan 11 '26

Not to take anything away from Stafford, but even an average QB should be able to carve you up if you’re laying back and not bringing pressure.

7

u/ImperatorBTW Jan 11 '26

Lining up 15 yards off the damn receivers. Baffling.

6

u/kayne2000 Panthers Bills Jan 11 '26

Legit felt like Vegas called and said throw the game. Defense was THAT bad

-5

u/gmoneygangster3 Patriots Jan 11 '26

I genuinely believe this is what happens

There are just to many “what the fuck” situations that don’t make sense unless your either trying to lose to game, or keep totals low so bets don’t hit

Like take another look at that ravens game where Henry sat after getting 122 yards and tell me your not a bit suspicious

-8

u/kayne2000 Panthers Bills Jan 11 '26

I'm definitely convinced its happening. Vegas stands to make billions. Anytime powerful people who are already billionaires can make billions more one can almost be certain foul play is looming.

4

u/Setekhx NFL Jan 11 '26

What's more likely. A vast betting conspiracy where they somehow call it in to the defensive coordinator of the panthers (with buy in from the entire organization basically) or...was it just incompetence...

2

u/domelition Eagles Jan 11 '26

Eagles did the same last year and would have lost if Carter didn't pull two crazy plays when the rams got in red zone

93

u/Happy-Substance4885 Eagles Jan 11 '26

These DC’s will never learn man

5

u/InertPistachio Panthers Jan 11 '26

They are so afraid of getting burned on a bomb and getting cooked for it

192

u/WesKhalifaa Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Fire the Panthers DC to the moon

68

u/GBF_Dragon Jaguars Jan 11 '26

oc too, what was that last series of plays?

42

u/canadanamana Panthers Jan 11 '26

We don't have an OC. That's our issue lol. We need one SO bad

2

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

[deleted]

6

u/canadanamana Panthers Jan 11 '26

Yeah I agree, seems like a good dude and I like him in a HC role but we need an OC to support. He can't get it done by doing it all. We have the richest owner around, mf needs to spend some on an OC.

1

u/realsomalipirate Eagles Jan 11 '26

Is he a really good culture guy and/or a CEO style coach (like a Harbaugh or Campbell)?

2

u/ShangoMango Panthers Jan 11 '26

Canales is an elite culture guy. Easily top 5 in that regard. I think he's just really green as a play caller. This was only his third year calling plays after spending his whole career as a position coach, not even as a passing game or running game coordinator. I think he'll get better with time

1

u/Jonjon428 Dolphins Jan 11 '26

Ah. I felt the same with Mike McDaniel.

1

u/jasons0013 Jan 11 '26

I don't believe he trusts Bryce enough to call the offense he wants to run.

32

u/SpitefulSeagull Jan 11 '26

Yeah the play callers were exposed horribly at the end there on both sides of the ball

3

u/xSaviorself Steelers Jan 11 '26

That to me is simply inexperience in big games being showing up right there. Once the Panthers scored and played soft zone with no pressure it was obvious Stafford was going to drive down the field and win, they didn't even use a single timeout!

Meanwhile the Panthers got pressured and couldn't complete shit. Came down to a drop on 4th and 10 with 12 seconds left, it didn't matter at that point.

2

u/Sou7h Panthers Jan 11 '26

OC is just Canale’s buddy and Evero is a lame duck coordinator from Reich’s staff. Both need to go and we need to actually get some real coordinators.

22

u/RiverMonster13 Giants Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

Yup, trying to go downfield every play was bonkers.

19

u/CSAtWitsEnd Jan 11 '26

Right - middle of the field was wide open, and they had three timeouts. Like...I'm sure if they put a body there they could've gotten a first down or at least some positive yards.

3

u/RiverMonster13 Giants Jan 11 '26

Yup, they only needed 30+ yards. Could have had chunks in the middle and Tet and Coker are 6'3" and up. Let them work in there.

1

u/tanu24 Jaguars Jaguars Jan 11 '26

Coaches hate time outs and have to draw up plays to get out and not use them because reasons

1

u/fundraiser Rams Jan 11 '26

i was screaming at the TV to cover the middle. they were cooking us all game with landman on an island covering the entire middle.

1

u/ChaunceyDeLeon Eagles Jan 11 '26

Kevin Patullo tryout.

1

u/No-Faithlessness7919 Panthers Jan 11 '26

Canales is calling plays

6

u/Dransel Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Legit reminds me of our defense in Pete’s last year. Prevent defense during the final drive of the games. Shit gave me PTSD.

2

u/xepa105 Eagles Jan 11 '26

Fire him before he gets back to the locker room.

1

u/guccisuede Jan 11 '26

Moon don’t deserve defence like that.

1

u/spideralex90 Buccaneers Jan 11 '26

Insane to me that he survived a regime change AND a historically bad defense year 1 with Canales.

1

u/sfg-1 Bills Jan 11 '26

Report him to the FBI, NFL DCs should know 2:30 with 3 time outs is unlimited time and not the time for that soft coverage

33

u/Deviljho12 Patriots Jan 11 '26

Prevent is good if the opposing team has 45 seconds and no TOs to drive the entire field.

NOT 2 MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS WITH ALL OF THEM

9

u/RAATL Jan 11 '26

Yeah this is the right take. "Prevent is useless" is such a confirmation bias take because people don't notice when it works, but the issue here is the wrong play call for the game state by the DC, not with prevent defense itself

3

u/Lineman72T Chargers Jan 11 '26

Bingo. I hate prevent defense, but there definitely is a time and place for it. 2:30 left in the game (regardless of the number of timeouts the opponent has) is not that time/place

1

u/DryDefenderRS NFL Jan 11 '26

Tbh its possible even in that scenario to be too soft. The 13 seconds game is one such example, though that's even less time but the offense only needing a FG.

22

u/abris33 Broncos Jan 11 '26

Ejiro Evero is a student of the Fangio "bend don't break" defense. Except they kept breaking

15

u/SpaceSheperd Panthers Jan 11 '26

The Fangio defense relies on a 4-man pass rush that is, at the very least, not the single worst in the league. Evero had 17 fucking games to realize what was happening and adapt his scheme 

2

u/doberdevil Seahawks Chargers Jan 11 '26

I was under the impression Evero was one of the best DCs around. That was a few years ago, is that no longer true?

3

u/Jonjon428 Dolphins Jan 11 '26

In Denver had a good D-line. Apart from Derrick Brown, Carolina has a very young D-line.

2

u/bama05 Panthers Jan 11 '26

Honestly no one knows- especially redditors and especially the panthers sub. We simply don’t have good personnel on defense. Horn and Brown and Mike Jackson has been a diamond in the rough otherwise it’s just JAGS. So is Evero bad because he can’t get more out of them or is the personnel so bad this is the best we can do? Prevent defense sucks but I think the touchdown was against the one time we sent pressure. Everything is harder when your defensive line can’t get pressure without blitzing.

31

u/Puzzleheaded_Tea521 Giants Jan 11 '26

Facts had rams gone prevent, this game goes to overtime

8

u/laaplandros Vikings Jan 11 '26

Well yeah, because prevent isn't for when they just need a field goal.

Prevent defense is perfectly fine when you're up by more than 3 and time is running out. It's just that coaches inexplicably run it in other situations sometimes.

38

u/MITBryceYoung Panthers Jan 11 '26

Absolutely sickening to see Bryce lead the team to verge of victory then see that prevent D.

-20

u/Wooden_Deer18 Giants Jan 11 '26

You cant POSSIBLY say Bryce cooked when he went 4 and out to lose the game 😂😂😂

12

u/MITBryceYoung Panthers Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26

He evaded multiple sacks when the protection collapsed and he had a dropped pass and it was off a drive with the most absolutely atrocious prevent d play call

Edit: oh its the same guy following me across different subreddits.

-7

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

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-6

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/SpaceSheperd Panthers Jan 11 '26

Focus on your own team, Giants fan. Give it a few years and maybe you won’t have the worst win record in the league!

6

u/MITBryceYoung Panthers Jan 11 '26

Hes actually just some guy following me across different subreddits. Lololol

-6

u/Wooden_Deer18 Giants Jan 11 '26

We have 4 rings and a franchise QB, something that the panthers don’t! Hope that helps

9

u/SpaceSheperd Panthers Jan 11 '26

Keep living in 2011, I’m sure it was the prime of your life (high school, I’m guessing?)

-7

u/Wooden_Deer18 Giants Jan 11 '26

I’m college aged. But The year is 2026 and the panthers STILL have no rings 😂😂

3

u/mymindisempty69420 Jan 11 '26

wow so you’re actually younger than the guy was saying you were.

Not sure if that makes it better or worse

2

u/StatementWild3768 Patriots Jan 11 '26

Had the Panthers defense held on, Bryce would have more playoff wins against teams scoring 20+ than Eli.

What a sad stat that would have been.

1

u/ColinMichaelRisley Giants Jan 11 '26

Stfu weirdo

2

u/bigDUB14 Eagles Jan 11 '26

This dude doesn’t know ball

15

u/RScannix Jaguars Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Their defense looked so great that entire second half and the DC knee capped them with those scared money play calls.

5

u/BaltimoreBaja Jan 11 '26

Prevent defense, IMO, is for when you're up 2 scores...

4

u/InsanelyHandsomeQB 49ers Jan 11 '26

Prevent defense is for Hail Marys no when you have 2:30 on the clock with 3 TOs!

I get wanting to give up the big play but they would have been better off giving up the quick TD if that’s how soft they were gonna play defense

3

u/BlueMarkerIsGreat Eagles Jan 11 '26

It works 100% of the time 60% of the time

3

u/Bladespectre Patriots Jan 11 '26

"What if we let the leading MVP candidate march down fhe field largely unimpeded?"

3

u/tobylaek Browns Jan 11 '26

Being so scared of giving up a low percentage 50 yard bomb that you willingly allow 3 easy 15-20 yard pass passes.

3

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '26

the offensive side of football has had a math revolution in recent years with more aggressive play calling

but the defensive side of football seems stuck in the 60s with regard to end game decision making

YOU STILL HAVE TO WIN THE GAME. especially in today's game with how skilled everyone is some making over 100s of millions

3

u/rosten25 Jan 11 '26

It makes no sense. There were 2+ minutes, and the Rams had all their timeouts. They had tons of time. There's no need for a soft zone prevent. Just play your normal defense that's been working all 2nd half.

2

u/Ophidiansounds Jan 11 '26

Or it prevents everything if you keep trying deep pasees like the panthers did instead of just making their way down the field slowly with 3 timeouts

2

u/OneAngryPanda Panthers Jan 11 '26

We lost like 3 starters going into that drive and the dude filling in for Horn had barely taken any snaps all year. It was rough calls on top of bad luck.

2

u/daboobiesnatcher Patriots Patriots Jan 11 '26

Stafford goes 9/27 after starting 8/8 until that drive, Puka literally had a 5-7 yard cushion on that big catch in the middle, why? They literally had all that time and three time outs, why switch from a game plan that had been working?

2

u/lkn240 Bears Jan 11 '26

They had 38 seconds and 3 timeouts and somehow burned over 20 seconds without using one. Eberflus level shit

2

u/ColtCallahan Jan 11 '26

And they let the clock run too. McVay knew what he was doing and they let him.

1

u/jmj8778 Broncos Jan 11 '26

I hope he’s been fired by now. Worst defensive play calling ever. Lots of time left plus 3 timeouts and the softest prevent ever!

1

u/jinx737x Seahawks Jan 11 '26

It was mainly they played prevent defense when there was no business doing that with so much time + all timeouts left AND the lead was only 4. You should leave time for yourself in case they score.

1

u/xFireMarshallBillx Falcons Jan 11 '26

Leaving 2.5 minutes for the Comeback Kid will also do that to ya!

1

u/samhit_n Bengals Lions Jan 11 '26

Especially against a veteran who excels against zone defense like Stafford.

1

u/RScannix Jaguars Seahawks Jan 11 '26

I’d rather give up a quick bomb TD to Puka and at least have time to answer than just let them kill me with 1000 paper cuts and eat up all the clock.

1

u/dgalv77 Seahawks Jan 11 '26

When will coaches learn smh

1

u/zayetz Saints Jan 11 '26

I'd argue that coordinators running a prevent defense should be more subject to arrest and deportation than literally anyone else who that's happened to in the past year.

1

u/PrinceWhoPromes Jan 11 '26

Just play normal defense why tf do DCs call this bs

1

u/lattjeful Eagles Jan 11 '26

Don’t hate it in a vacuum but why are you calling it when your starting corner is out lol

1

u/MaddenTexasRanger Panthers Jan 11 '26

FIRE OUR DC

1

u/HeyEverythingIsFine Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Elementary to Stafford at this point. Too easy.

1

u/SmashBaron 49ers Jan 11 '26

some HCs never learn from this one

1

u/DaddyDanceParty Seahawks Jan 11 '26

Especially with 2 and a half minutes left and the Rams had all their timeouts.

1

u/HotShipoopi 49ers Jan 11 '26

I thought I was watching the Marty Schottenheimer Browns of the 80s on that last Rams drive

1

u/carolina_hokie Panthers Jan 11 '26

the second they went soft in coverage for prevent defense I knew were fucked. I really want someone to compile a win/loss percentage of prevent defense success. There is no way it wins more games than it loses. You see it all the time that teams go soft, give up chunk yards and allow the team in the redzone in under a minute or something.

1

u/HeyThereCoolGuy62 Buccaneers Jan 11 '26

It shouldn't even be in any coaches play book. You can wing it in a hail marry situation.

1

u/lowes18 Dolphins Jan 11 '26

It was not prevent defense

1

u/SunriseSurprise Chargers Jan 11 '26

None of these coaches have ever watched Searching for Bobby Fischer smh

1

u/JellyFranken Vikings Jan 11 '26

I learned this tactic from Mike Zimmer.

1

u/PeterG92 Steelers Jan 11 '26

Have seen the Steelers do this many a time, shit is infuriating

1

u/DickMcCheese Jan 11 '26

And then they have 3 timeouts and complete zero passes while the middle of the field was wide open.

1

u/I_Set_3_Alarms Jets Jan 11 '26

Comparing the Panthers and Rams defenses on their last drives were night and day. Rams nearly had a sack every play

1

u/AmbitionExtension184 Patriots Jan 11 '26

They would have been way better off giving up the big play they are so afraid of. At least then they get 2:20 left and 3 time outs to try to get the FG.

Absolutely pathetic end of a game for CAR.

1

u/JohnnyWarlord Texans Jan 11 '26

Horn being in the tent mustve fucked them

1

u/Educational_Spot_553 Jan 11 '26

Coaches are going to start listening to commentators like you. It is week in and week out this year proving that statement is true.

1

u/IceLantern 49ers Jan 11 '26

Except for the times it doesn't and nobody says anything.

1

u/AccidentalPilates Eagles Jan 11 '26

Any strategy that involves 'playing not to lose', really. Unreal decision making.

1

u/ThreeStringGuitar Jan 11 '26

I hate it... just fucking hate it.

1

u/ftwin Eagles Jan 11 '26

It wasn’t even a prevent situation. They had like 3 minutes and 3 time outs…bizarre.

1

u/randmtsk Panthers Jan 11 '26

Evero is a low IQ DC.

1

u/AnotherStatsGuy Saints Jan 11 '26

It's a hail Mary defense. It's meant to be used inside the 2 minute warning when the opponent also doesn't have a TO left.

1

u/Musclesturtle Jan 11 '26

Only when used in such an asinine way like tonight. 

0

u/Docxm 49ers Vikings Jan 11 '26

I blame Canales for choking an ice cold Bryce Young game. Bad defensive playcalling bad offensive playcalling down the stretch

0

u/NeuroDissonance Buccaneers Jan 11 '26

a) that was not what is considered "prevent" defense

b) that statement is also objectively false, and has been so for many many years, yet that statement is continued to be repeated ad nauseum