Mage

You suggested the Saints/Philly or Lions/Chicago on SNF over our game, which makes no sense. That is what I mean by saying I don't know what your deal is, because neither of those games make any kind of sense to put on SNF above us. Hurts might not even play next week and the Saints are 3rd in the division and there is no scenario where they leapfrog to #1 next week because the Bucs/Panthers play each other. Its fine if you don't think our game is going on SNF. But they are absolutely in the discussion for that spot. DET/CHI and NO/Philly is not.

Are you intentionally ignoring the obvious facts of the situation? Panthers/Bucs is clearly a more important game than Bears/Lions. Not sure what your deal is.

What? Plenty of players get hurt for one or two seasons. Cooper Kupp, for example.

What? There is no way and no reason for the NFL to flex Lions/Bears to prime time.

Packers/Vikings. Packers are still in contention if they win tomorrow vs Dolphins, but they still need help. Vikings still have a chance at the #1 seed, so there's that. Steelers/Ravens. Great rivalry and Steelers are still in playoff contention, also could be the game Lamar Jackson finally returns. Dolphins/Patriots. This game is more important if the Dolphins lose tomorrow, less important if they win. If the Dolphins lose, then a playoff spot could be on the line between the two teams. I think if the Bucs lose tomorrow, then Panthers/Bucs is a lock for the reasoning in the the OP - potentially Brady's last game. But if they win then it will be interesting to see the direction the NFL goes.

I think he'll be fine. Like someone said, these aren't soft tissue injuries. A broken foot and a broken wrist could happen to anyone. Just unfortunate he's suffered these injuries two years in a row.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/20/no-decision-yet-on-week-17-sunday-night-football-game/ Currently the SNF game is Chargers/Rams, which won't stick. No matter the result of tomorrows game, Bucs/Panthers will have huge implications. BUT, and I know this is unlikely but you never know... if the Bucs lose to the Cardinals, then they face an elimination game vs the Panthers. They are done if they lose. And no way Brady plays a meaningless game in Week 18. And who knows what his plans are? It isn't a stretch to think that it could very well be his final NFL game ever and the NFL knows this. So I think if the Bucs lose tomorrow this make the game a lock to be flexed to SNF. A Sunday Night Panthers game in late December with the division hanging in the balance would make me a very happy man.

Kyle Pitts is good, offensive scheme is just terrible plus very bad QB TJ Hockenson went in the 1st in 2019

The TOUGH Panthers defense

Getting a HC job is hard and in the grand scheme of things, pretty damn rare when you think about it. Sure, a guy like Sean Payton can afford to turn down an opening because he's established. But 90% of candidates can't afford to do that. I wouldn't concern myself over who the Panthers could attract.

Bro the idea of Wilks being the long term HC was always laughable. Team looks like trash every single time they play a competent defense

THE CULTURE

Nah, bro. THE CULTURE.

THE CULTURE

KEEP WILKS HE BROUGHT THE CULTURE BACK

Ravens WRs suck.

Mind-boggling play-calling.

It is ultimately a .500 run with wins against the Bucs (bad), Falcons (bad), Broncos (VERY bad), and the Seahawks (average with a league-worst defense). And maybe I'm being too harsh. I apologize if I am. I just haven't seen what I'm supposed to be impressed with. We're an extremely conservative offense playing good defense. What has changed, except we've went on a run against bad teams while being in a bad division? Where was this running game a few weeks ago when we played the Ravens? We held them to 13 points but only managed 36 rushing yards. We could have benched Baker long before the 4th that game, but we chose not to. What happened to the running game when we played the Bengals? Those are the 2 best teams we've played and look what they did to us and our offense. AND TO CLARIFY, don't get me wrong, I am super stoked for a chance to make the playoffs. I'd love nothing more at this point. But when it comes to Wilks' future with this team, I just think we should temper expectations.

Literally nobody is saying that. But again, if you seriously think this is a sustainable method of winning vs quality teams, then I have a bridge to sell you. There is a reason this offense has folded against any semi-decent defense it has played, but continue to tell me how I'm wrong. Blame it on whatever you want but the fact is 24th in the league in PPG is not good. If you think it is, then there is nothing more to discuss. How many teams can you name with a winning record in the last 3 years that finished 24th or worse in scoring, which is where the Panthers rank since Wilks took over? It ain't about running the ball. It ain't about passing the ball (but you absolutely have to do better than 200 yards per game). It is about putting up points, which we don't do very well. But prove me wrong if you disagree. Name me some winning teams that finished 24th or worse. Titans are 27th this year, but they also have a -35 point differential (terrible, just like the Panthers -30) and have feasted on a god awful AFC South (jeez... who does that remind you of?)

Lol see this is an example of paying more attention to the end result and not the details. If the Panthers retained McAdoo all because he's run the ball up the middle and ran the same play where Shenault goes in motion like 10 times a game, then this team is hopeless. Also the Panthers have averaged 20 PPG since Wilks took over. That is 24th in the league. And the 2 games we scored 30+ were against the 22nd ranked defense (Falcons) and 30th ranked defense (Seahawks). The offense is still trash. I don't know how anyone could possibly with a straight face think otherwise. We've only passed for more than 200 yards once since Wilks took over.

And too many people are acting like it would be unprecedented for a team to move on from a HC even though they took them to the playoffs. Titans moved on from Mike Mularkey after a playoffs run. Why? Because they focused on the details and not just the end result. I absolutely think Wilks has earned a serious interview. But he should not be handed anything. If we interview someone that we think is a better candidate, then I hope Tepper makes that call.

All we've done is run the ball up the gut a million times and play very good defense, which we were already doing before Wilks anyway. But the decision making is still very conservative and Seattle is the only "good" team we've beaten during this stretch (and Seattle fields one of the worst defenses in the NFL). I get it. This team looks better than it did under Rhule. But I still haven't seen that moment where I'm like, "damn... Wilks should be handed the HC job." I think people are getting too caught up on the "improvement" and not paying attention to the details. Because this is still a bad team that looks bad.

This is why hitting on the next head coach is far more important than where we are picking in the draft or what QB we draft. Teams with good head coaches win football games and rarely have down seasons. They get the most out of their players/QB. Sure some QBs are so damn good they are more important than the HC (Mahomes (although we know how good Andy Reid is, Mahomes is that good), prime Brady and Rodgers, etc) but they are hard to find and require luck. This is why I can't understand why anyone would want to keep Wilks. He's not that kind of coach. Maybe, if he's lucky, he'll be as good as Ron Rivera one day. And look what we did to him because Cam got hurt and he no longer had a QB. Panthers need a head coach who can bring winning and sustained consistency to the organization.

LOL PANTHERS