The Carolina Panthers put together an impressive showing in their season opener against the New York Jets on Sunday, but it didn’t take fans long to question a decision by Matt Rhule.
Some boos could be heard at Bank of America Stadium when Rhule opted to punt early in the game. Fans typically boo punts because they want the home team to go for it, but in this instance they probably would have been happy with a field goal. The Panthers were at the Jets’ 33-yard line, after all.
You’ll almost never see a punt from that spot on the field in the NFL. Rhule obviously didn’t like Ryan Santoso’s chances of converting a 51-yard field goal. However, it should also be noted that Jets punter Braden Mann suffered an injury early in the game, so Rhule might have been playing a field position strategy. It didn’t help that the punt went 18 yards.
The Panthers won 19-14, which is all that matters. Still, punting from your opponent’s 33-yard line is typically not a recipe for success in the NFL. Rhule probably shouldn’t make a habit of it.
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