something to feel good about in the offseason..."could be something special brewing in Carolina"

[Captain Morgan]

Fox's McKenna says we win the division

enjoy this exerpt

Yes, I have the Panthers in the fourth spot after taking home the NFC South title. Few were paying attention at the end of last year, but Bryce Young put together an eight-game run that completely changed my perspective on him — and coach Dave Canales. There could be something special brewing in Carolina. It won’t take much to win the NFC South. It might simply take an aligned coach and a QB. But on top of that, the Panthers will also have a slew of offseason additions, from WR Tetairoa McMillan to DT Tershawn Wharton to safety Tre’von Moehrig. Carolina is tied for the fifth-easiest strength of schedule, according to last year’s records. Things are lining up.

Interesting that we are in the longest playoff drought ever.  A little odd for a team that has never had back to back winning seasons.  But we are an odd franchise.

More at the link.  Also, has us losing in our first playoff game, but I'll take it.  

[tukafan21]

Unless a miracle happens and we're legit SB contenders, I want to just miss the playoffs due to some close losses, not win the division to lose in the first round.

We finally have all of our picks again next year, I'd rather be picking 5-7 spots higher in each round, while at the same time, then having a 2nd or 3rd place schedule next year instead of a 1st place one.

I just can't see any scenario where we are true contenders this year, but we should find out if Bryce can be our QB of the future.  If he isn't, then we're not making the playoffs anyways and will have a high pick to replace him.  If he is, it means 2026 is the real opening of our SB window once we add some more defensive pieces, so I'd rather go into that season picking earlier and have an easier schedule.

And yes, I know people will say think like "you need to win to gain confidence and experience, blah blah blah"

But just missing out on the playoffs because you lost couple close games is certainly a way to make a team hungry going into the offseason and keep them motivated to be better.

I've said it before and still think it holds true, we need to look at the Lions and hope to repeat their path.

Our last few years were their early 2020s when they sucked.  This year can be our version of their 2022 when they missed the playoffs in week 17.  Then our 2026 can be their 2023 when they made a run to the NFC Championship game (and really should have won it).  Which then puts us in line to be one of the best teams in the league going into 2027, as they were last year.

Edited 10 hours ago by tukafan21

[PadresPanthersFan]

34 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

Unless a miracle happens and we're legit SB contenders, I want to just miss the playoffs due to some close losses, not win the division to lose in the first round.

We finally have all of our picks again next year, I'd rather be picking 5-7 spots higher in each round, while at the same time, then having a 2nd or 3rd place schedule next year instead of a 1st place one.

I just can't see any scenario where we are true contenders this year, but we should find out if Bryce can be our QB of the future.  If he isn't, then we're not making the playoffs anyways and will have a high pick to replace him.  If he is, it means 2026 is the real opening of our SB window once we add some more defensive pieces, so I'd rather go into that season picking earlier and have an easier schedule.

And yes, I know people will say think like "you need to win to gain confidence and experience, blah blah blah"

But just missing out on the playoffs because you lost couple close games is certainly a way to make a team hungry going into the offseason and keep them motivated to be better.

I've said it before and still think it holds true, we need to look at the Lions and hope to repeat their path.

Our last few years were their early 2020s when they sucked.  This year can be our version of their 2022 when they missed the playoffs in week 17.  Then our 2026 can be their 2023 when they made a run to the NFC Championship game (and really should have won it).  Which then puts us in line to be one of the best teams in the league going into 2027, as they were last year.

We had our close losses last year to playoff teams. Ill take winning any day. Fug a couple draft spots. Gimme a couple more wins and a playoff berth all day

[jfra78]

41 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

Unless a miracle happens and we're legit SB contenders, I want to just miss the playoffs due to some close losses, not win the division to lose in the first round.

We finally have all of our picks again next year, I'd rather be picking 5-7 spots higher in each round, while at the same time, then having a 2nd or 3rd place schedule next year instead of a 1st place one.

I just can't see any scenario where we are true contenders this year, but we should find out if Bryce can be our QB of the future.  If he isn't, then we're not making the playoffs anyways and will have a high pick to replace him.  If he is, it means 2026 is the real opening of our SB window once we add some more defensive pieces, so I'd rather go into that season picking earlier and have an easier schedule.

And yes, I know people will say think like "you need to win to gain confidence and experience, blah blah blah"

But just missing out on the playoffs because you lost couple close games is certainly a way to make a team hungry going into the offseason and keep them motivated to be better.

I've said it before and still think it holds true, we need to look at the Lions and hope to repeat their path.

Our last few years were their early 2020s when they sucked.  This year can be our version of their 2022 when they missed the playoffs in week 17.  Then our 2026 can be their 2023 when they made a run to the NFC Championship game (and really should have won it).  Which then puts us in line to be one of the best teams in the league going into 2027, as they were last year.

Naw, I'd rather go to the playoffs than save 5-7 draft spots.  

[theguy]

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME

[jfra78]

4 minutes ago, theguy said:

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME

[Lame Duck]

Is that Boo writing the article?

[tukafan21]

12 minutes ago, PadresPanthersFan said:

We had our close losses last year to playoff teams. Ill take winning any day. Fug a couple draft spots. Gimme a couple more wins and a playoff berth all day

 

6 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Naw, I'd rather go to the playoffs than save 5-7 draft spots.  

It's not only about the draft spots, the scheduling is a huge factor.

We already have a tough 2026 schedule by playing the North divisions, that's possibly 7 playoff contenders there and a few true SB contenders between the Lions, Packers, Vikings, Bears, Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers (Browns will still suck lol), while also pulling the AFC West for the 17th game.

Let's just say for the sake of argument we are going to be true contenders in 2026 in both scenarios

Would you rather go 9-8 and to make the playoffs as the last WC or worst division winner, lose in the first round and then have to add likely the Eagles/Commanders, 49ers/Rams, and Chiefs/Chargers to an already tough schedule because we have a 1st/2nd round finish this year, while picking 19th in the draft (where the worst playoff team picks)

or

Or lose an extra game to finish 8-9, while ending up in 3rd (obviously need Falcons/Bucs to get a WC spot) and miss the playoffs, but then get to add likely the Cowboys/Giants, Seahawks/Cardinals, Broncos/Raiders to the schedule while picking 13th in the draft (the highest an 8-9 team picked this year).

I can understand why some people would just want to go to the playoffs again, and I can't fault that thinking.  But I'm always a bigger picture person and looking at what is best for the future of the franchise and winning a SB, not my immediate feelings that game/season.  

So I'm taking those 3 SIGNIFICANTLY easier games and the 6 better draft spots.

If we're a true contender in 2026, those 3 games based on divisional finish could very well be the difference of a 1 vs whatever seed.  Right now the top teams in the NFC are the teams who play in places you don't want to have road playoff games at... GB, Detroit, Philly are some of the toughest stadiums to play in, especially if cold weather games for the outdoors ones.  Give me the few extra easier games to hopefully make the difference in getting home field advantage.

Making the playoffs to just lose in the first round isn't worth the first scenario to me when the alternative is losing maybe one or two more games while looking better while doing so.  I can stomach those extra losses in a much improved season when it's for the betterment of our future.

 

[jfra78]

30 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

 

It's not only about the draft spots, the scheduling is a huge factor.

We already have a tough 2026 schedule by playing the North divisions, that's possibly 7 playoff contenders there and a few true SB contenders between the Lions, Packers, Vikings, Bears, Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers (Browns will still suck lol), while also pulling the AFC West for the 17th game.

Let's just say for the sake of argument we are going to be true contenders in 2026 in both scenarios

Would you rather go 9-8 and to make the playoffs as the last WC or worst division winner, lose in the first round and then have to add likely the Eagles/Commanders, 49ers/Rams, and Chiefs/Chargers to an already tough schedule because we have a 1st/2nd round finish this year, while picking 19th in the draft (where the worst playoff team picks)

or

Or lose an extra game to finish 8-9, while ending up in 3rd (obviously need Falcons/Bucs to get a WC spot) and miss the playoffs, but then get to add likely the Cowboys/Giants, Seahawks/Cardinals, Broncos/Raiders to the schedule while picking 13th in the draft (the highest an 8-9 team picked this year).

I can understand why some people would just want to go to the playoffs again, and I can't fault that thinking.  But I'm always a bigger picture person and looking at what is best for the future of the franchise and winning a SB, not my immediate feelings that game/season.  

So I'm taking those 3 SIGNIFICANTLY easier games and the 6 better draft spots.

If we're a true contender in 2026, those 3 games based on divisional finish could very well be the difference of a 1 vs whatever seed.  Right now the top teams in the NFC are the teams who play in places you don't want to have road playoff games at... GB, Detroit, Philly are some of the toughest stadiums to play in, especially if cold weather games for the outdoors ones.  Give me the few extra easier games to hopefully make the difference in getting home field advantage.

Making the playoffs to just lose in the first round isn't worth the first scenario to me when the alternative is losing maybe one or two more games while looking better while doing so.  I can stomach those extra losses in a much improved season when it's for the betterment of our future.

 

Whatever, give me the playoffs every tine

[WUnderhill]

It’s time to win. They had their moral victories against the Chiefs, Eagles, etc. last year. We proved we can hang, I’m ready to see the wins. Hope we pick 32nd.

[PootieNunu]

Fug them picks

[PadresPanthersFan]

I'll worry about next year next year. This year I'll take as much winning as possible

[pantherclaw]

Jist win, baby. 

[WarPanthers89]

Only losers think about draft picks. I’ll gladly take a end of the 1st round draft pick to see this team do things.