A few interesting stats: Strength of Schedule; and Playing Close Games

[KB_fan]

Had some time yesterday to do a bit of Panthers' stats crunching....  first time in at least 2 months I've been near a Panthers spreadsheet.

I had a hunch that this season is the strongest strength of schedule Panthers have played in the Cam / Ron era.   That hunch was correct:

Here's the table with all the data on Strength of Schedule and Panthers' record vs. teams with winning records, since 2011:

What I find particularly interesting is Panthers' record versus teams with .500 or better records in 2016 compared to 2017.

In 2016 Panthers went 2-7 vs. 9 such team.

2017 is the total opposite:  we're 7-2 against teams that were .500 or better at the time we played them.

Here's the 2016 and 2017 details:

 

 

Finally, I thought it worth digging a bit deeper into Panthers' record in close games.  It still shocks me that we had 8 games last season where we won or lost by 3 points or fewer. (We lost 6 of the 8)...  This season Panthers are 7-1 in close games (+/- 8 points)

 

Look at those close game records in 2013, 2015, 2017.  Magic happens when Panthers win close games.  I'm feeling like we're about to see something special.

 

[Panthers Fanatic]

I've had several mini heart attacks this year so that makes sense (vs Atlanta, at NY Jets, vs Vikes, vs GB to name a few). Very interesting and thanks for crunching those numbers!

[*FreeFua*]

Nice.

Just goes to show that Rivera and Shula’s style of play can just as easily burn you. When the bounces and little things go our way it’s great. When they don’t, we get last years results. 

It’s all good when you’re winning but to hope that the bounces go your way in 3 or 4 straight games (playoffs/Super Bowl) is really pushing your luck. 

Personally, I’d much rather control the situation than rely on a bounce or two to go our way. Which is the most frustrating part, with Cam and the rest of this team there’s no need to be in as many close games as we’re in.

*And yes, it’s the NFL you’re going to be in some close games but more times than not we allow the game to become close 

[Untouchable]

Great stuff.  This season's SOS is the big reason I think we have a chance to overcome the close game W-L regression toward the mean next year too.

[csx]

Amazing. People still figuring out how to use positive stats to complain. 

[caatfan]

Goes to show that we were, in fact, a pretty good team last year. Win the two games that were one point losses (Broncos and Bucs), and a couple of the 3 point losses, and you're 10-6 instead of 6-10. 

[Zithers]

We have the second hardest SOS in the league behind the Saints. We're at .575 while the Saints are at .580.

Fun fact: The Titans have the easiest schedule with an SOS of .397, which is pathetically low.

[UpstatePanther]

6 hours ago, KB_fan said:

Look at those close game records in 2013, 2015, 2017.  Magic happens when Panthers win close games.  I'm feeling like we're about to see something special.

i sure hope so. After all, the Panthers are the most unpredictable team in the league (thanks @Saca312). I think youre right though KB. this team is primed to do something special in the playoffs this year

5 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

It’s all good when you’re winning but to hope that the bounces go your way in 3 or 4 straight games (playoffs/Super Bowl) is really pushing your luck.

i really think this is one of the biggest reasons we lost SB50. we simply tested our luck and couldnt overcome a few bad bounces/calls when it counted.

[CarolinaSamurai]

4 hours ago, UpstatePanther said:

i sure hope so. After all, the Panthers are the most unpredictable team in the league (thanks @Saca312). I think youre right though KB. this team is primed to do something special in the playoffs this year

i really think this is one of the biggest reasons we lost SB50. we simply tested our luck and couldnt overcome a few bad bounces/calls when it counted.

We lost bc Payton had to ride off into the sunset on his golden pony. Just once I'd like the NFL to want us to win. 

[UpstatePanther]

14 minutes ago, CarolinaSamurai said:

We lost bc Payton had to ride off into the sunset on his golden pony. Just once I'd like the NFL to want us to win. 

I’m not saying that had nothing to do with it, but we also let ourselves be bent over the barrel that day. We were weak-willed in the worst moment. Peyton’s final game could have meant a hill of beans if we had just not let the fix beat us. Underdogs all year. Underestimated and disrespected all year. And we let a few bad calls and a couple bad bounces ruin our best chance for glory. Nah I don’t blame the NFL. I don’t blame Peyton. I blame the Panthers for not earning it. I love them too much to quit on them, but we could have blown Denver out and instead we turned into pussies. All good now though. We have a chance to make it right this year and it all starts on Sunday by punching our playoff ticket with a win.

[RevJ]

That's good info.
Can you "fix" low GPA and bank accounts?

Asking for a friend.

[bigdog10]

Seeing this just makes me even more mad at the league for derailing our 2016 by letting the broncos assault Cam in that first game. 

I firmly believe we would have been a much better team had Cam not been beat to a pulp in that first game.