SI looks at the Panthers

[Sgt Schultz]

21 hours ago, UnluckyforSome said:

Win close, 1 score games so the national narrative will be along the lines of worst 10-7 team ever.

Most likely, they would get a nickname like "Cardiac Panthers" and probably become media darlings to some degree.  That is, provided their close or last-second wins are not all against doormats.  Sprinkle in some last-minute/second wins against good teams, and the media generally eats that stuff up.  Especially if one is against Dallas.

In 1974 the then St. Louis Cardinals had a season where they went 10-4, including 6-3 in one-score games, many come from behind (and several on FGs as time expired).  St. Louis was not exactly a football hotbed, but they got the national nickname "Cardiac Cardinals."

A few years later, in 1980, it was the Cleveland Browns emerging as the "Kardiac Kids."  They went 11-5, and 9-3 in one score games.

[UnluckyforSome]

58 minutes ago, Sgt Schultz said:

Most likely, they would get a nickname like "Cardiac Panthers" and probably become media darlings to some degree.  That is, provided their close or last-second wins are not all against doormats.  Sprinkle in some last-minute/second wins against good teams, and the media generally eats that stuff up.  Especially if one is against Dallas.

In 1974 the then St. Louis Cardinals had a season where they went 10-4, including 6-3 in one-score games, many come from behind (and several on FGs as time expired).  St. Louis was not exactly a football hotbed, but they got the national nickname "Cardiac Cardinals."

A few years later, in 1980, it was the Cleveland Browns emerging as the "Kardiac Kids."  They went 11-5, and 9-3 in one score games.

The formula worked pretty well for the 2003 team. The 2005 team is probably my favorite, even considering 2015. Running out of gas, on the road, to a good team, in a tough venue in the NFC championship game was a better ending than that Superbowl.

Edited June 29, 2023 by UnluckyforSome