Dein erstes Forum » 23rd straight Novemb

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers talked throughout the offseason about avoiding a Super Bowl hangover.It might be time to get the aspirin.The Panthers suffered a colossal meltdown on Sunday, blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and losing 20-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs.It was a game that the defending NFC champion Panthers (3-6) likely would have closed out a year ago. But now they are in danger of joining a long list of teams with lackluster results the year after losing in the Super Bowl.The last time a Super Bowl losing team returned to the championship game was the 1993 Buffalo Bills. Carolina had won two in a row coming into the weekend, but that momentum is gone now.We had the game pretty much won and we obviously made some critical errors there, tight end Greg Olsen said.Kelvin Benjamins fumble at the Carolina 34-yard line with 20 seconds left was the biggest error. The miscue set up Cairo Santoss winning field goal as time expired.You cant even describe it, Benjamin said. Its tough. Its a tough loss.But Olsen said Benjamins fumble isnt what cost the Panthers the game.There were several other mistakes:-The Panthers wasted a 20-play drive in the third quarter when Cam Newton took a pair of sacks , moving Carolina out of field-goal range and prevent the team from possibly making it a three-possession game.-On the next possession, Newton threw a ball up for grabs while being pressured, resulting in an easy interception for Eric Berry, who returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. Newton said he was trying to give my guy an opportunity, but there were three Chiefs defenders in the area.-And then there were the next two drives that resulted in just two first downs and two punts.We have to find ways as an offense to muster more points, Newton said.Said Olsen: You cant be up 17-3 at the half and have the ball for it felt like the whole quarter and have the ball at the 20 and not even attempt a field goal. Thats why we lost the game -- things like that.Carolina outplayed Kansas City for the better part of three quarters.The Panthers outgained the Chiefs 342 to 256. They held the ball for 11 minutes longer. Their defense didnt allow a touchdown and limited Alex Smith to 178 yards passing.But it didnt matter.Its a matter of protecting the ball late in the game, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of the teams two fourth-quarter turnovers. You cant do that. If you do that you dont give yourselves a chance to win.In the locker room after the game, the Panthers tried to take solace in the fact that division foes Atlanta and New Orleans both lost on Sunday. But the Panthers are still three games behind the Falcons and two behind the Saints and Buccaneers with seven games left.We have put our backs completely and utterly up against the wall now, Rivera said. There is no room for error.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Harrison Butker Super Bowl Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Travis Kelce Super Bowl Jersey .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. http://www.officialkcchiefspro.com/Mitchell-schwartz-chiefs-jersey/ .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Len Dawson Super Bowl Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Marcus Allen Super Bowl Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Josh Hart loved Villanovas defense, saying it was biggest reason why the third-ranked Wildcats blew past Wake Forest on Friday.Harts shooting helped a bunch, too.Hart scored a career-high 30 points off six 3-pointers to lead the Wildcats to a 96-77 victory over Demon Deacons. Villanova (4-0) advanced to the finals of the Charleston Classic, slowing down a Wake Forest offense that scored 103 points a day earlier.We were all ready, Hart said.Especially Hart, the senior preseason All-American who made five of his teams first six shots to put the Wildcats up 16-8. Villanovas team defense made certain Wake Forest (3-1) would not mount a comeback.Our defense really fueled our offense, Hart said. Getting those stops early on got us playing basketball.Hart hit 11 of 14 shots overall and six of his eight long-range attempts. He added four rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.Mikal Bridges had 19 points and Kris Jenkins, the hero of Villanovas championship win last April, added 16.Wake Forest never could get back in it.John Collins had 17 points to lead six Demon Deacons in double-figure scoring. The team shot 50 percent (29 of 58) and had just four turnovers. Not a bad showing against the countrys No. 3 team?We lost by 20, Wake Forest coach Danny Manning said. It was a beat down.Villanova will play UCF or the College of Charleston for the title on Sunday night.Not everything went right for Hart, who was whistled for a technical foul late in the second half with his team ahead double digits when he got tied up and jawed with Wake Forests Bryant Crawford down low.Still, he surpassed his previous top total of 27 points against Akron last season.Wake Forest made a late run, slicing a 20-point deficit to 87-75 on John Collins bucket with 3:55 to go. But Jalen Brunson answered with an uncontested jam for the defending NCAA Tournament champions.When Kris Jenkinns recovered a loose ball moments later, the Wildcats and coach Jay Wright celebrated as if theyd won another national title.dddddddddddd.BIG PICTUREVillanova owns November. The Wildcats are among the best starters in college basketball and continued that against Wake Forests powerful offense (Deacons came in averaging 92 points a game) for its 23rd straight November victory. Villanova has won early season November tournaments in 2013-14 (Battle 4 Atlantis), 2014-15 (Legends Classic) and 2015-16 (NIT Season Tipoff). Theyll for a fourth consecutive November crown on Sunday night at TD Arena.These tournaments are great, Wright said. These guys, they get this. Its fun to be a part of this.Wake Forest does not yet have the defense to match its offense. The Demon Deacons got in a first-half hole by leaving Villanovas senior stars Hart and Jenkins wide open for several 3-pointers. Jenkins hit two straight in the opening period to send Wake Forest down 41-25. Hart hit six from behind the arc with few defenders nearby.POLL IMPLICATIONSWith No. 1 Dukes loss earlier this week, count on Villanova to move up a spot as long as it lifts the Charleston Classic trophy on Sunday night.INJURY CONCERNSWright said freshman forward Tim Delaney will have an MRI done on his surgically repaired hip and is unsure when hell return. Wright said junior guard Phil Booth was held out because of continuing tendinitis worries in his left knee after offseason surgery. Booth played 23 minutes on Thursday and Wright thought resting until Sunday would do him well.UP NEXTVillanova: Will play either College of Charleston or UCF on Sunday for Charleston Classic championship.Wake Forest: Will play either College of Charleston or UCF on Sunday for third place at the Charleston Classic. ' ' '