Next week is very big

[Mr. Scot]

If you're watching the race for the top pick, you should definitely pay attention next week.

The Panthers and the Bengals are currently the top contenders for the number one overall pick. Both have home games next week against winnable. The other games on the schedule look far less so. Thus, either team's week fifteen outcome could be a watershed or a Waterloo.

Bengals Remaining Schedule

- home against Cleveland

- home against San Diego

- at Baltimore

Panthers Remaining Schedule

- home against Arizona

- at Pittsburgh

- at Atlanta

Playoff races for the winning opponents are close enough that it's no lock anybody winds up resting their starters.

After next week, we'll know a lot more. No offense to anyone'es education, but I'm fairly sure most Panthers fans would prefer the final result not come down to math.

[Swarly]

If the Falcons keep this up they could possibly rest their starters in the final game, making that 2 winnable games for the Panthers.

The Saints/Falcons game will probably determine whether we're facing backups or starters playing for home field advantage..

[Spaceballs83]

why do we have Arizona on our schedule. Give us any other team but frecking Arizona. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. Scot]

If the Falcons keep this up they could possibly rest their starters in the final game, making that 2 winnable games for the Panthers.

The Saints/Falcons game will probably determine whether we're facing backups or starters playing for home field advantage..

They rested some of their starters for part of the second half today, but only when they had a big lead.

Didn't seem to matter much

[Darth Biscuit]

Cin can beat Cleveland but I don't know about the other two...

[top dawg]

Scottie, you aren't wishing for the unthinkable are you...?

Don't answer that!

[Mr. Scot]

Cin can beat Cleveland but I don't know about the other two...

Likewise, I'm pretty sure we can beat Arizona, but not so sure of the others.

[UNCrules2187]

Zona is up 13-3 on Broncos team that has a leagues better QB then we do, though looking at the boxscore it looks to be more because of their defense and special teams then their offense.

[Mr. Scot]

Denver's in their first week with a new coach. Wouldn't read much into that game.

To be clear, I can't cheer for my team to lose, but deep down it's tough not to admit that it'd be for the best

[top dawg]

But, Scottie, don't you wish for the best for the team?

[top dawg]

To be "clear", I would never "cheer" for my team to lose either. ***tongue-in-cheek***

[Ccat]

On Sundays I root for the team to perform well, but I know every other day that it is probably in our best interests to lose. If Andrew Luck is the real deal, think about how we will feel about this season for the next decade plus.

[Mr. Scot]

I remember how I felt about 2001. That stung for a long time.

Make no mistake. Losing hurts. It discourages the players, puts the team in a bad light, makes outside free agents doubt whether they'd want to sign here and your own free agents question whether they should stay, makes it difficult to evaluate young players and, of course, people lose their jobs.

You can sometimes come out the other end of the tunnel being better off overall...

...but the tunnel sucks

[Seamonk]

I root for other teams to win, so we can win and still get Luck. That said, the Baltimore game tomorrow night is VERY important in terms of Strength of Schedule for Cincy. We need Baltimore to win.