Sam Darnold shows up a former team in leading Carolina Panthers to win over New York Jets.
Before Sunday’s opening at Bank of America Stadium, Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold wouldn’t say anything negative about the New York Jets, but he made his former club look awful in the Panthers’ 19-14 win.
In the first half, the third overall selection in the 2018 draught passed for 234 yards, 16 more than in any of his previous three seasons in New York. In 2018-19, he had a 57-yard touchdown pass to former Jets receiver Robby Anderson, who was his favorite target.
Late in the first half, Darnold ran for a 5-yard score on a quarterback pull, giving Carolina a 16-0 lead Darnold grinned and replied, “It’s just another game,” when asked whether it was just another game as he had said “I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Seeing them from the other side was a new experience for me.
When asked afterward whether defeating the club that traded him gave him pleasure, Darnold deadpanned, “No.”
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Matt Rhule, the coach of the Carolina Panthers, said he’d be dishonest if he claimed he wasn’t concerned about Darnold’s reaction to his previous club.
“I had a lot of reservations,” he said. “I was interested to see how he would do against the Jets. He seemed to be having a good time throughout the day. There was not a single time when I said, ‘Hey, relax.’ ‘Have faith.’ He was fantastic.
“This was most likely a significant step forward for him.”
Darnold “performed great,” according to Rhule.
He replied, “He hung in the pocket.” “We weren’t very strong upfront, but he stayed in there and maneuvered about, finding people down the field, making crucial third-down passes, and protecting the ball.
“For his debut game, I felt Sam did well.”
After the game, none of the Jets were questioned about Darnold’s performance.
Darnold’s accuracy, which was a problem in New York, where he completed just 59.8% of his throws in 38 games, wasn’t an issue on this day. He threw for 279 yards and score on 24 of 35 attempts (68.6%).
He didn’t throw any interceptions, which was a problem for him in New York when he tossed almost as many picks as touchdowns.
Against the blitz, Darnold was very successful, especially in the first half. He threw for 94 yards on 8 of 9 attempts. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, his 55.6 percent completion rate against the blitz placed 32nd among 35 qualifying quarterbacks last season.
Darnold’s most egregious error came on fourth-and-1 from the New York 4, although it was largely due to fullback Giovanni Ricci colliding with the ball before Darnold could deliver it to Christian McCaffrey.
It’s no surprise that Darnold’s greatest play went to Anderson. With the Jets in 2018-19, Anderson was his favorite target. They combined for 88 catches and 11 touchdowns.
Darnold’s 57-yard touchdown throw was his fourth longest, and three of them have gone to Anderson. The other two were a 92-yarder in 2019 and a 76-yarder in 2018.
Darnold’s reliance on McCaffrey was also unsurprising. The Panthers were confident in dealing for the former USC star because they believed he would thrive in his new environment since he would be surrounded by more playmakers.
McCaffrey accounted for 83 of Carolina’s 153 first-half yards, including 32 on the ground and 51 on the ground. McCaffrey ended with 187 total yards, 98 on the ground on 21 carries, and 89 on nine receptions.
Darnold’s performance didn’t surprise McCaffrey, who noted that his quarterback seemed unfazed by facing his former club.
“I’ve never seen Sam act like this,” McCaffrey remarked. “He’s been the same person since OTAs. Every day, he arrives to work. He’s a first-in, first-out kind of person. We’re just fortunate to have him.”
Darnold also used wide receiver DJ Moore, who had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Darnold was also well-protected by the offensive line, which allowed just one sack. In three seasons with the Jets, Darnold was sacked 98 times.
The red zone, on the other hand, is still a problem. In four trips inside the 10-yard line, the Panthers only scored one touchdown.
The true test for Darnold will be how well he performs against more difficult opponents, starting with next week’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
“We’ll have to watch how he performs as the season progresses,” Rhule added. “It’s not my duty to see whether he plays well; it’s my job to assist him to perform well.”
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Sam Darnold shows up a former team in leading Carolina Panthers to win over New York Jets