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So what is it with this "weak schedule" stuff, really?

tiger7_88

By tiger7_88,
in Carolina Panthers

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tiger7_88 Experienced

tiger7_88

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The following are the records of the teams all of the unbeaten teams have played on their schedules with the overall winning percentage of the unbeaten teams opponents.

Up first is New England who is the *only* team of the group of unbeaten that has played a "legit" challenging schedule thus far.  The Patriots have beaten Pittsburgh (4-2), Buffalo (3-3), Jacksonville (1-5), Dallas (2-3), and Indianapolis (3-3) with a resulting opponent winning percentage of 44.82%.

Next on the docket is Cincinnati who has actually played a challenging 3-3 team on their schedule: Oakland (2-3), San Diego (2-4), Baltimore (1-5), Kansas City (1-5), Seattle (2-4), and Buffalo (3-3).  Boy, that Buffalo victory sure was a quality win (against Buffalo's backup QB... we're allowed to point that out, right? since they point it out when its the Panthers?).  Bengals opponent winning percentage?  31.43%

Next is the mighty Green Bay Packers who are undefeated because they were able to stop San Diego on 4 plays in the red zone at the end of their game this weekend.  Yes, that's right... the mighty Green Bay Packers were within a red-headed **** hair of LOSING to 2-4 San Diego Chargers... *IN* Green Bay.  Their schedule:  Chicago (2-4), Seattle (2-4), Kansas City (1-5), San Francisco (2-4), St. Louis (2-3), and San Diego (2-4).  Please note, not even a .500 team on that schedule.  Packer's opponent winning percentage is also 31.43%.

Next come the Panthers who we have been assured have played the most pathetic schedule in the country against the weakest teams and have proven nothing.  The Panthers schedule: Jacksonville (1-5), Houston (2-4), New Orleans (2-4), Tampa Bay (2-3), and Seattle (2-4).  Panther's opponent winning percentage is 31.03%.

The comes the Denver Broncos.  Rated higher than the Panthers in so very many of those useless "power polls".  The Denver Broncos schedule: Baltimore (1-5), Kansas City (1-5), Detroit (1-5), Minnesota (3-2), Oakland (2-3), and Cleveland (2-4).  Denver's opponent winning percentage? A *strong* 29.41%.

In other words, only one team stands out:  the Patriots.  Everything else at this point is merely the media's attempt to self-fulfill their own prophecies.

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cardiaccat52 Newbie

cardiaccat52

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I agree that the "they haven't played anyone" comments are getting old. Undefeated is undefeated. But I also think that commentators are taking into consideration performance and point differential when saying this. If you play teams with bad records then you should probably win pretty convincingly...this is something Carolina hasn't really done when you look at the total scores. With the exception of Denver, all of the other teams are +60 or more in point differential...Carolina is +41, so the margin of victories is pretty low. Prime example is NE beat JAX 51-17....we beat JAX 20-9....

But IMHO, a win is still a win. I'm more annoyed now that they are discrediting the Seattle win by saying it was more of a Seattle let down then a Carolina win...

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tiger7_88 Experienced

tiger7_88

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I agree that the "they haven't played anyone" comments are getting old. Undefeated is undefeated. But I also think that commentators are taking into consideration performance and point differential when saying this. If you play teams with bad records then you should probably win pretty convincingly...this is something Carolina hasn't really done when you look at the total scores. With the exception of Denver, all of the other teams are +60 or more in point differential...Carolina is +41, so the margin of victories is pretty low. Prime example is NE beat JAX 51-17....we beat JAX 20-9....

But IMHO, a win is still a win. I'm more annoyed now that they are discrediting the Seattle win by saying it was more of a Seattle let down then a Carolina win...

Green Bay's performance and "point differential" yesterday against the sad sack San Diego Chargers was 7 points.

Carolina beat Seattle by 4 points *in* Seattle. 

Cincinnati beat Seattle by 3 points at home.  Green Bay beat Seattle by only 10 in a Green Bay home game.  Carolina beat Seattle by 4 away in what most consider the most difficult environment to play in in the NFL.

"Point differential" also many times comes down to style of play and personnel. If Carolina had a Julio Jones or an A.J. Green, what do you think that would do for our "point differential"?  So you think Carolina should be *punished* because they are able to accomplish the same record with less talent than teams with more talent?

Again, the only time "performance" and "point differential" seems to mean anything is when it can be used FOR the media's darlings and AGAINST the media's red-headed step children.

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cardiaccat52 Newbie

cardiaccat52

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No, I agree with you. I'm just trying to rationalize (in my view) why some commentators are still pulling the weak schedule card. I could care less if Carolina wins every game by 1 point - a win is a win. And I agree with you regarding our style. The team is a defensive team that grinds out football games and doesn't have the offensive weapons of the other non defeated team, so the margin of victory is going to relatively low. Just playing devils advocate...but again, a win is a win in my book. 

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tiger7_88 Experienced

tiger7_88

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Agreed.

The *BEST* thing about pro football as opposed to college football is this: win and you're in.

Period.

Opinions of media and sports information directors (does anyone thing the coaches do their own polls?) have long been the bane of college football, with many very deserving teams left on the outside looking in because they weren't one of the Favored Programs.

The NFL doesn't have that problem.

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pstall Newbie

pstall

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It is odd that Philly will be the 10th consecutive regular season opponent with a losing record.  The odds of that happening is high.

Why some of you get bent out of shape over the media is beyond me.

Enjoy the ride and don't let someone else steal your sports sway. 

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