Potential Postseason Advantage

[dldove77]

As long as things don't get severely mucked up, there's a good chance the NFC playoffs will look something like this: 

LA Rams, Philadelphia, Carolina, New Orleans, Minnesota, and Seattle/Dallas/Washington

What sticks out here is that we have a real advantage in player and coach postseason experience, especially if the Sherman injury (among other issues) keeps Seattle from advancing to January. 

It absolutely cannot be discounted how much the experience of 2013-2015 will help these guys when playing teams that are just getting their postseason feet wet. Think about that 2013 12-4 Panthers team and how they handled hosting a Divisional Round game against a team that went to the Super Bowl the year before. One team played like they'd been there. The other team was Carolina.

	Last Playoff Appearance	Playoff Record Since 2011
Seattle	2016	8-4
Dallas	2016	1-2
Carolina	2015	3-3
Washington	2015	0-2
Minnesota	2015	0-2
New Orleans	2013	2-2
Philadelphia	2013	0-1
LA Rams	2004	0-0

[thefuzz]

Strangely enough, I was looking at the standings, and noticed that if the Panthers went 10-6 we could still miss the playoffs if a couple teams go on a run....

But you are correct, we should have a slight advantage on the experience side, and a strong advantage because it seems our defense is legit....barring injury.

[t96]

23 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

Strangely enough, I was looking at the standings, and noticed that if the Panthers went 10-6 we could still miss the playoffs if a couple teams go on a run....

But you are correct, we should have a slight advantage on the experience side, and a strong advantage because it seems our defense is legit....barring injury.

We're going to be 12-4 or 13-3.

[joemac]

26 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

We're going to be 12-4 or 13-3.

You honestly think we're gonna run the table the rest of the season? 

11-5 may be a little more realistic 

[Nails]

31 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

We're going to be 12-4 or 13-3.

I too truly believe that.  Common sense/most likely really.

[TheCasillas]

8 minutes ago, joemac said:

You honestly think we're gonna run the table the rest of the season? 

11-5 may be a little more realistic 

We have one of the easiest schedules remaining in the NFL. Injuries help.

[Nails]

7 minutes ago, joemac said:

You honestly think we're gonna run the table the rest of the season? 

11-5 may be a little more realistic 

I do.  Odds are we might drop one in New Orleans or Atlanta but even if we split those we’re 12-4.  New Orleans simply isn’t good enough to sweep us IMO, we’ll have Olsen, and we have a winning record all time down there.

The Falcons can beat us too of course but might have nothing to play for.

50/50 at worst odds for both games.

[Saca312]

Panthers get back Olsen. Our offense is trending to more a quick strike offense that can finally be initiated due to having the right players. Samuel's a legitimate rookie who'll likely blow up sooner than later. 

Add our already stout defense, and I expect 12-4 with maybe a loss to the Vikings or the Saints.

[TheCasillas]

3 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Panthers get back Olsen. Our offense is trending to more a quick strike offense that can finally be initiated due to having the right players. Samuel's a legitimate rookie who'll likely blow up sooner than later. 

Add our already stout defense, and I expect 12-4 with maybe a loss to the Vikings or the Saints.

Nailed it.

[thefuzz]

Ya'll are a little more optimistic than me. 

 

Hoping for 10-11 wins honestly.

[joemac]

Im thinking we lose to Atlanta in ATL, and possibly Minnesota depending on how Teddy B looks when he comes back.

[t96]

23 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Panthers get back Olsen. Our offense is trending to more a quick strike offense that can finally be initiated due to having the right players. Samuel's a legitimate rookie who'll likely blow up sooner than later. 

Add our already stout defense, and I expect 12-4 with maybe a loss to the Vikings or the Saints.

I don't see losses outside of possibly Vikings or Aints--and I expect to win at least one of those, probably both. Vikings we're at home and I really don't see them scoring much on us with Teddy or Keenum, offense with Greg and possibly Kalil should be able to be good enough by then. Aints seem to be good but every win has been against a bad team except their win over us and it being a divisional game after a loss to them already I think our guys will be ready to smack them down in NO--like in '13 (even though we each won at home that year not away).

By the time we play the Falcons in week 17 their season will be over and they will have thrown in the towel. What other teams would we lose to? And don't bring up the Bears game that was an anomaly. If Rodgers somehow came back when eligible against us (he won't) then maybe the Packers game could be a loss, but even still I think we'd smack them down. That team is horrible without Rodgers and not good enough with him to beat us.

[RelaxImaPro]

The Chicago game combined with the litany of dumbass coaching moments and fug ups on offense we've seen this year have really tempered my expectations for the season.  Hoping for 12-4 but expecting 10-6, or hell, even worse.  We've got the potential to be good once we get out of our own way.  Until then, I just don't see it happening this season.

Would obviously love to be wrong tho

[Nails]

13 minutes ago, joemac said:

Im thinking we lose to Atlanta in ATL, and possibly Minnesota depending on how Teddy B looks when he comes back.

Not losing to Toothpick Teddy and/or the Vikings at home again.  This is a new year and even last year we should have been up double digits at half.  Won’t happen again.