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Drops, missed tackles, but belief: What Dave Canales said after Panthers’ loss to Bengals

The Carolina Panthers’ 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Bank of America Stadium featured a few blunders from the home team.

Dropped passes in critical situations.

Missed tackles that turned into Bengals touchdowns.

Getting stuffed at the 1-yard line.

But it featured something else, too:

Belief.

Head coach Dave Canales answered to his team’s performance on Sunday — one that featured an imperfect Panthers performance that was made better by a valiant comeback effort in the second half. He also gave the latest update on the injuries to veteran inside linebackers Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell, as well as an assessment of the day of quarterback Andy Dalton, who finished 25-of-40 for 220 yards and two touchdowns and with one interception.

Here are the highlights of Canales’ postgame press conference.

Dave Canales opening statement

“I just wanted to mention, I was thinking about it, and was filled with the gratitude of being able to come and play this game when we know there is so much going on out there, all across the Carolinas. People who were affected by the weather. We have family members in Asheville, and just talking about the devastation experienced there. So you know, we come into this game of the gift and the blessing of what we get to do here, but I wanted to mention our thoughts and our prayers. Our whole organization is behind this relief effort.

“Early, it came down to the ball. That first drive, we gotta finish those in the red zone. The decision to go for it on fourth right there. We’re knocking on the door, we gotta be able to finish that and punch that in right there. It ended up being a huge part of the game. A huge difference in it. But overall, without watching film, it just felt like the fundamentals of football. A few missed tackles. A few big plays early on. Offensively some drops in some critical situations. Just being able to do right longer, to finish and execute the way that we can.

“Another great day of running the football. The balance of it with the actions. Just some near-misses. ... Talking to the team, I’m encouraged that our football continues to improve. But we gotta finish. And we have to execute.”

Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson celebrates scoring a touchdown during the game against the Bengals at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The Panthers still fell to the Bengals, 34-24.
Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson celebrates scoring a touchdown during the game against the Bengals at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The Panthers still fell to the Bengals, 34-24.

Injuries on Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell

“We’re evaluating Shaq right now. There’s something in his lower leg. It’s something we really don’t know until we get the MRI, and get that information, but it was enough that he couldn’t finish. Josey had two upper leg issues — a groin and a hamstring — that kept him from going back in.”

Happy with the team’s offensive consistency?

“Absolutely. 50% on third down. That’s a day when you can continue drives and continue to be aggressive and take your shots and get back to the run game, which all that came to life. But it was about execution, especially in that critical situation. We get the ball back, and we’re down a touchdown, and we gotta be able to throw and catch to continue those drives to give us a chance.”

Did Diontae Johnson drop that fade ball at the end of the first drive?

“He had a chance at it. Again, all these things show a day of near misses. We had a couple balls that we went down field. I’m excited about that part of our offense to be able to stretch the field. Teams know we’re trying to run the ball. This is exactly my dream of how this thing works from an offensive standpoint. And we gotta take advantage of those opps.”

Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson catches the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Bengals at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The Panthers still fell to the Bengals, 34-24.
Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson catches the ball for a touchdown during the game against the Bengals at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, NC on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The Panthers still fell to the Bengals, 34-24.

On the team’s many missed tackles

“Those fundamentals, right? If we rally up and tackle, and make them work, make the opposing offense have to work for every point they get. They got a couple big plays on us, and that was the difference of the game.”

On Xavier Legette’s day

“Played fast. Did what he was supposed to do. That’s the step that he’s gotta make. The fundamental things. Secure the catch and then be special after you do that. But again, a cool spark to see him play. Play fast like he’s been doing. Gives us a chance to continue to use him in different ways.”

On the decision to go for it on fourth-and-goal in opening drive

“It’s about mentality. We pride ourselves on being able to run the football. We did not finish. The guys take that personally. I take that personally. That’s something that we have to continue to look at. What’s our schemes? What was the breakdown? I’ll watch the film and take a look at that. But that was an opportunity for us missed.”

Long-term thinking versus short-term thinking

“For me, it’s about that one week progression. It’s about every day getting better and better at our systems. Again we’re still learning all these things and we’re coming together with the communication and all that, and it’s been better week after week. And so, my approach is the weekly approach. ...

I thought we took a step in some areas, but it wasn’t enough to win, and that’s the ultimate goal, is to win the football games. And we didn’t get that done.”

Any desire to go for it on fourth-and-10 with about four minutes left?

“I thought about it, but in that situation, I was just more putting our trust in our team to play team football and get another shot. To get a good stop on the following drive. See if we can have time on the clock to be able to come back and aggressive and attack. Certainly started the drive off. Trying to get that completion going. And who knows what happens. I hate leaving it like that. I hate feeling like we had this opportunity. We played ourselves back in: Xavier (Woods) with the amazing interception, and the guys fighting to give us a chance, the belief.

“And that’s another thing, talking about the big picture, the belief with this team is there. But we just have to pair it with our execution.”

Thought process on the fake punt

“Down two scores, we had an opportunity right there. We took a shot. It was an aggressive thought right there with our defense playing better in the second half, and so we took that risk, I love that opportunity. Wish we would’ve come up with it. We’re back to rhythm, get the offense back out there, and see what happens. I was all in on that decision.”

On Andy Dalton’s day

“A solid day. I thought Andy just came out and executed the plan again. (Trey) Hendrickson got a great rush. Tipped the ball from the back side, and they got that early interception. That was a rough one. But to see him respond, bounce back, the guys staying together, staying committed to the rhythm and stuff. No panic. We ran the ball. We had the actions. We went down and scored, working our way back into this game. So it was a great response to early adversity, and then I just thought a great job of finishing in general.”

What to make of the team’s touchdown drives

“That’s Panthers football. We run the football. We try to run teams into an attitude. And I know that they’re going to mix things up, but we executed on those drives. And guys continued in different situations, in second and longs, third and shorts — these are all the things we need to kind of gather information about us. Just that mix and balance of it is exactly what we’re looking for so we can be an attacking style of offense. My highest view of what we can do looks like those drives.”