Looking at the remaining schedules, it looks like we'll be alive at 5-9-1 going into Week 17

[Sam Mills Fan]

This is getting funnier to do by the week. There is a VERY reasonable chance that we'll need a win in Atlanta in Week 17 to win the division at 6-9-1. By the numbers:

 

Carolina (3-7-1) remaining schedule:

BYE

@ Minnesota

@ New Orleans

TAMPA BAY

CLEVELAND

@Atlanta

 

I'm going to go optimistic for fun and say we beat the Vikings (who did lose to a terrible Bears team today), lose to New Orleans, beat Tampa Bay, and lose to Cleveland. That puts us at 5-9-1 going into Week 17 which for any other team in literally all of league history would make the last week meaningless. But check out what the Falcons and Saints have left:

 

Atlanta (4-6) remaining schedule:

CLEVELAND

ARIZONA

@Green Bay

PITTSBURGH

@New Orleans

CAROLINA

 

How many wins do you see for the Falcons there before Week 17? I see 0. Not one. Yes, Atlanta did just beat us today, but they're also a terrible team. It's entirely possible they lose their next 5 games in a row; they've already had one 5 game losing streak this season. That puts them at 4-11. What about New Orleans?

 

New Orleans (4-6) remaining schedule:

BALTIMORE

@Pittsburgh

CAROLINA

@Chicago

ATLANTA

@Tampa Bay

 

We know New Orleans can't win on the road, so there are two losses before Week 17. I already have them penciled in very lightly as beating both us and the Falcons in New Orleans, so there are two wins before Week 17. That just leaves next week's home game vs. Baltimore. Let's have fun and say the Saints somehow drop 3 straight in New Orleans and are sitting at 6-9 going into Week 17.

 

If that all happens, we'll be a half game back needing a win over Atlanta and a Saints loss ON THE ROAD in Tampa Bay. What would happen in that scenario? Well.........Ron Rivera will presumably still be our coach so we'll lose to the Falcons again and New Orleans will win the division at either 6-10 or 7-9. Regardless, we'll get to keep playing this KEEP HOPE ALIVE game up until the very last week of the season more than likely.

 

(For even more fun, imagine Atlanta beating New Orleans in New Orleans so we would be in sole possession of first after Week 16....at 5-9-1.)

 

I'm starting to love the idea of winning the division at 6-9-1 if only because the tears of Cowboys or Seahawks fans that don't make it in with a much better record will be delicious.

 

**********Note: I didn't factor Tampa Bay into it because, well, come on.

[Sam Mills Fan]

EDIT: Actually our threads are very different. So never mind!

[Zithers]

the falcons could beat both AFCN teams. browns are bipolar. steelers always play down to competition.

 

the saints will wipe the floor with us and atlanta in the dome, probably kill bmore in the dome (on primetime) too. which would be 7 wins before playing tampa.

 

we can beat minny, tampa, and maybe cleveland.

 

we need some big time magic to win this division.

[2plankingpanther]

This is getting funnier to do by the week. There is a VERY reasonable chance that we'll need a win in Atlanta in Week 17 to win the division at 6-9-1. By the numbers:

 

Carolina (3-7-1) remaining schedule:

BYE

@ Minnesota

@ New Orleans

TAMPA BAY

CLEVELAND

@Atlanta

 

I'm going to go optimistic for fun and say we beat the Vikings (who did lose to a terrible Bears team today), lose to New Orleans, beat Tampa Bay, and lose to Cleveland. That puts us at 5-9-1 going into Week 17 which for any other team in literally all of league history would make the last week meaningless. But check out what the Falcons and Saints have left:

 

Atlanta (4-6) remaining schedule:

CLEVELAND

ARIZONA

@Green Bay

PITTSBURGH

@New Orleans

CAROLINA

 

How many wins do you see for the Falcons there before Week 17? I see 0. Not one. Yes, Atlanta did just beat us today, but they're also a terrible team. It's entirely possible they lose their next 5 games in a row; they've already had one 5 game losing streak this season. That puts them at 4-11. What about New Orleans?

 

New Orleans (4-6) remaining schedule:

BALTIMORE

@Pittsburgh

CAROLINA

@Chicago

ATLANTA

@Tampa Bay

 

We know New Orleans can't win on the road, so there are two losses before Week 17. I already have them penciled in very lightly as beating both us and the Falcons in New Orleans, so there are two wins before Week 17. That just leaves next week's home game vs. Baltimore. Let's have fun and say the Saints somehow drop 3 straight in New Orleans and are sitting at 6-9 going into Week 17.

 

If that all happens, we'll be a half game back needing a win over Atlanta and a Saints loss ON THE ROAD in Tampa Bay. What would happen in that scenario? Well.........Ron Rivera will presumably still be our coach so we'll lose to the Falcons again and New Orleans will win the division at either 6-10 or 7-9. Regardless, we'll get to keep playing this KEEP HOPE ALIVE game up until the very last week of the season more than likely.

 

(For even more fun, imagine Atlanta beating New Orleans in New Orleans so we would be in sole possession of first after Week 16....at 5-9-1.)

 

I'm starting to love the idea of winning the division at 6-9-1 if only because the tears of Cowboys or Seahawks fans that don't make it in with a much better record will be delicious.

 

**********Note: I didn't factor Tampa Bay into it because, well, come on.

Meh,they should of won this game and then they might have had a chance!I want to see Shula fired during this bye!

[CamMoon]

We will win the division if we only lose one more game.

[2plankingpanther]

The Carolina kittens at this point don't deserve to go to the playoffs,still I might go to 1 more game if it's good and cold or sunny and warm enough(55+) to wear shorts!

[WhoAmI?]

Again, we struggled against one of the worst defensses in the NFL. My confidence of us winning anymore games is at a 0.

[Marc Anthony]

We can't beat nobody, how many losses in a row now? And I count the tie a loss.

[TheRumGone]

i'm not one of these crazy people who thinks we should lose out for better draft position

 

but we should lose out for better draft position.

[PantherFanOne]

Meh,they should of won this game and then they might have had a chance!I want to see Shula fired during this bye!

 

Regretfully I could see New Orleans winning the NFC Soutrh wit a 8-8 or 7-9 record.

 

Followed by Atlanta with a 6-10 record and the Panthers finishing at 5-10-1 a record that should have them picking between 7 to 9 in the 2015 NFL Draft.

[DamnItJake!]

Optimism left today.. Only hope to lose to get staff fired.. As they proved once again how to kill momentum!! Plus whoever makes it to the playoff will get destroyed!!

[IamSoClutch]

We are not winning another game sir

[BigBoss]

Are acting like Tampa Bay is a given win? Have we seen the team we put on the field???? My gosh.

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]