coffee

It feels like Vegas is basing this more on the remaining schedules rather than on the Bucs being the better team. If so, I agree that we have the tougher schedule and that the question of who's better is an undetermined wash at this point.

I agree with all three sides. (1) It's too early and too bipolar to know where we are. It feels like we've come off of two wins but we've actually had one shocker where the pieces fell our way and one bye where Jobu accepted our KFC. (2) However, here's what gives me optimism: The fluky wins were not all fluke. In each we had parts that clicked. And different parts in different games. That appears to imply a need for a tune up to click on all cylinders rather than a lemon that starts occasionally. (3) If we need an HOA pres, I'll be content with WhoKnows. For now, I agree with Mr. Scott's earlier post. I'll be happy if we sneak into the playoffs even if we're one and done. That is better than what I thought we'd have this year and would set the stage for future growth.

A quick recap: November 30 at 1pm our situation was: The Bucs are a full game ahead of us, PLUS holding the current tiebreaker, PLUS having the easiest remaining schedule imaginable. We've just had a humiliating defeat, lost our winning record, and are walking into a "guaranteed loss" against the NFL's best team. After stepping through the bye week looking glass, we get to walk into our next game knowing: A win will mean that, even in the worst case scenarios, we are assured of still being in the playoff race through the last game of the season. We're tied with the bucs... No, wait! We're a game ahead of the bucs... No, wait! We're a game ahead PLUS holding the current tiebreaker. Yeah, I'll take a bye like that anytime.

So, I hear there's only one team in the NFCS with a winning record. Can't remember which team. Maybe someone can look that up.

Best timed? Yes. I always hope for a late season bye and it was perfect this year. Also, likely the best bye we've had. At least I don't recall another where Panthers fans were able to have that much shockingly good fun watching the bad guys lose, nor one where it moved us atop the division. Despite the lows, this season will always hold some of our all-time favorite Panther memories: There is, of course, the (not just one, but TWO) shocking upset games, Our Black Friday best bye ever Not just sweeping, but completely shutting out the Falcons in one game and setting our passing yards record against them in the second game, Rico's insane two-game stretch, even calling his shot before Dallas. Crazy bi-polar season.

I think a W this week and the rest of the games is squarely on our shoulders and depends on it we can get on the same page answering one vital question: Do we try to convince our guys that they are 17 point underdogs for each game? OR Convince them that, despite the uniforms, the opposing team is actually the Atlanta Falcons?

Before we played the Niners, I thought our best realistic hope was to enter our first game with them at 7-7 and them at 9-5. That would've given us a shot at sweeping them and ending the year with both teams at either 9-8 or 10-7 and we'd have the H2H tie breaker. Who knew we'd shock the Rams and they'd fall to the Saints. At this moment in time, this is so much better than even what I thought was reasonable to hope for.

Probably. Unless they shock us again with another upset loss or two.

Reason I feel good about the Saints game: They found the perfect plan against us. It shouldn't have, but it seemed to catch us off guard. So... If they use that same plan, (1) we won't be caught off guard, plus (2) our receiver situation is much better than last time against them. Tet was still slowed by injury and Coker was certainly not in a rhythm yet. Those two things should at least keep us from looking as silly as we did last time. If they change plans, they're going away from the perfect plan against us. Minus the perfect plan, I think it comes down to simply who's the better team and the season says that would be us. Also, I doubt Horn will have such a horrible day again and I doubt the refs will miss the obvious offensive PI against him again. And, after that beat-down, I think our guys come out fired up. Hopefully that will all equal a much better showing this time.

https://www.nfl.com/standings/tie-breaking-procedures If I'm reading that right, they've got the tiebreaker now because of best record against common foes. If it comes down to tiebreakers with them, I think our only shot would be head-to-head. If we end up tied on that, I think it'll go to them.

Holy crap, Batman! We're tied for lead in the division!

I think this is what's great about these forums. As I said, I thought of one but was waiting to see if it was mentioned. It was not. Instead, you brought up a bunch of great answers/memories that I hadn't thought of. The one that I did think of was I believe 2009 when Jake was injured and Matt Moore had to help us face the Farve-led Vikings on Sunday Night Football.

I was watching a reel of fans singing Sweet Caroline and I started wondering if this was the most shocking surprise victory we've ever had. I thought of one other game that was in that category but I'll wait to see what you have to say on the matter. Where do you feel this one comes in a list of our most surprising upsets?

I think we kinda did.

And you thought Lady Cowboy Fan was upset about the language...

Yeah, I was wondering if Brees was having flashbacks to "The Rain Game."

This. But I was also happy that it happened in one sense because I felt we now had the momentum and this gave us a better chance of eating the clock. Still not enough of the clock as it turned out but it worked out.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1341423257593957 You've probably seen this but I hadn't until now.

I am just happy that the next "Top 10 Revenge Games" on NFL Network won't just mention us with the "Blood and Guts" game.

I'll take a bite. But before I completely switch to the pats, there's one more 'feasting on the Falcons' I wanna mention: If you went back in time and spotted them that 1st missed FG... AND that second missed FG... AND turned the pick-6 instead into an ATL TD (14-point swing)... AND turned the 2nd INT into an ATL TD... They STILL would've lost 30-27. You've got an hour and a half to savor that before the Cheet-ohs.

In fairness, if someone is going to take away the GWDs that he did nothing, then they should add when he led what should have been GWDs but the worst NFL defense did nothing afterwards. There were several of those as well.

I'm wondering if ATL didn't think: "We need to see what we have in Penix. Carolina is so bad that they are the perfect team to try this against." Otherwise, it was pure stupidity to not just run Bijan. What's good for us and bad for them is (1) Penix is as bad as we hoped, (2) We were not as bad as we appeared in the first two games, and (3) when they switched over to Cousins, they only got evidence that he is still not their savior and, at the same time, that they will not get that "premium" price for him in a trade.

Who knows where it will go next week, but today, at least for a little while it is required and mandatory that you savor a win... A shutout win... A shutout blowout win... A shutout blowout division win... A shutout blowout division win against our most hated rival. Good morning!

Hope this doesn't bite us. I've got this fear that Penix goes down and Cousins has a Dalton vs Raiders type game against us (as Cousins seems prone to do).

A disadvantage in an argument. He can't give someone the middle finger.