North Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers faced a challenging decision during their recent game against the Denver Broncos, resulting in a 28-14 loss. Coach Dave Canales opted for an aggressive strategy with a fake punt attempt deep in their own territory while trailing by 14 points in the third quarter.

"For me, it was just about competing, trying to find an opportunity," Canales explained post-game. "We had something on them, you know, where they were kind of off, kind of with their back turned and we had an opportunity on the play."

Punter Johnny Hekker attempted a pass to special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr., but the ball narrowly missed its target. Despite the failed execution, this was not an unprecedented move for Hekker, who has previously completed 15 out of 25 fake punts over his 13-year career.

Earlier this season, another fake punt attempt against the Bengals also fell short due to unexpected defensive coverage. In that instance, a penalty allowed the Panthers' defense to limit the Bengals to a field goal.

During Sunday's game against Denver, Carolina faced fourth-and-7 from their own 23-yard line. The Broncos capitalized on the Panthers' unsuccessful attempt with a touchdown drive that widened their lead.

"It was just the opportunity," Canales said. "We're kind of looking at where that was going to come up... I wanted to see if we can try to get back out there and just get another shot at another drive."

Franklin expressed regret over not completing the play: "I got to my depth. I just got to come back down and make the play. Johnny threw a good ball; I just got to make it."

Despite setbacks, Canales remains committed to finding innovative ways for his team to gain an advantage: "It's about competing," he reiterated. "We have to just try to find an edge... anything that can bring us a little spark."