Reasons for Optimism

[GarthMcGrath]

1.) Panthers have been alternating wins and losses. Which means we are gonna win against Tampa twice and make the playoffs.

2.) No new injuries coming out of last night that I am aware of. We are very healthy compared to other teams and if we get Hunt back that would be amazing.

3.) Maybe that loss ticked them off enough to take it seriously and play disciplined. Put in the extra time because you are running out!

4.) We cannot afford to let up through the remainder of the year unless we win the next two and Tampa loses to MIA. I did not like idea of people resting. Just look what happened after the bye.

5.) Even if we do not make it to the dance, the guys are getting playoff experience right now. If we are close but just miss it, they can pack that feeling up and into next season. Maybe we can continue to retain critical pieces at an affordable rate if they want to run it back.

6.) We are set up better as far as salary cap/dead money next year compared to the last several years. Tillis and Morgan will get to play some.

7.)  ATL is unsettled at QB position and will have a new coach. TB may be at end of window. NO honestly seems like biggest problem to me but hopefully the salary cap situation there will continue to hamstring them.

8.) Our rookie class looked really good, should see a lot of production from them in Year 2. Year 3 of Morgan/Tillis should see us be able to fill the remaining holes. Next year is really the year we would be on schedule to do something. 
 

 

 

[ThPantherFan]

I'm sorry but I don't agree.  Maybe a win but will not be in the playoffs.  

[GarthMcGrath]

2 minutes ago, ThPantherFan said:

I'm sorry but I don't agree.  Maybe a win but will not be in the playoffs.  

Yeah the first one is more of a coincidental thing, I do not think there is any correlation there but it just sounds good!

[Moonraker]

Losing to the 3-10 Saints is not what I'd consider playoff experience. 

[PantherChris]

53 minutes ago, Moonraker said:

Losing to the 3-10 Saints is not what I'd consider playoff experience. 

They would be 2-10 vs everyone else

[djp14]

15 hours ago, GarthMcGrath said:

Maybe that loss ticked them off enough to take it seriously and play disciplined. Put in the extra time because you are running out!

The previous loss to NO didn't seem to have that effect on the last game. 

Edited 7 hours ago by djp14

[PleaseCutStewart]

Pretty sure any ounce of optimism we have is quickly extinguished when you get swept by a talent depleted Saints team...

[Doc LRB]

Maybe,just as our beating Rams was a wake up call for them, the Saints could have been that call for our team.  It all comes down to wanting it.  I'm with George Allen old Redskin Couch when he said "The Future is Now!!!!!!!!!!!!  Go Panthers!!!!!!!!!!

[Moonraker]

Our record has severely outpaced where we actually are as a team, in my opinion. Outside of the 30-0 win where Penix literally played like a Pop Warner QB, we have struggled to win any of our games. We have no problem getting blown out, though. We have invested a ton in our offense and it is still bad. We will never be good until we can get on the right side of the league scoring avg. 

[LinvilleGorge]

11 minutes ago, Moonraker said:

Our record has severely outpaced where we actually are as a team, in my opinion. Outside of the 30-0 win where Penix literally played like a Pop Warner QB, we have struggled to win any of our games. We have no problem getting blown out, though. We have invested a ton in our offense and it is still bad. We will never be good until we can get on the right side of the league scoring avg. 

Yep, we've found ways to win a lot of games we should've lost and had the good fortune of playing two playoff teams in offensive limiting bad weather conditions. The only difference between us and the Giants is that they've lost most of their one possession games and we've won most of ours.

[kungfoodude]

20 hours ago, GarthMcGrath said:

1.) Panthers have been alternating wins and losses. Which means we are gonna win against Tampa twice and make the playoffs.

2.) No new injuries coming out of last night that I am aware of. We are very healthy compared to other teams and if we get Hunt back that would be amazing.

3.) Maybe that loss ticked them off enough to take it seriously and play disciplined. Put in the extra time because you are running out!

4.) We cannot afford to let up through the remainder of the year unless we win the next two and Tampa loses to MIA. I did not like idea of people resting. Just look what happened after the bye.

5.) Even if we do not make it to the dance, the guys are getting playoff experience right now. If we are close but just miss it, they can pack that feeling up and into next season. Maybe we can continue to retain critical pieces at an affordable rate if they want to run it back.

6.) We are set up better as far as salary cap/dead money next year compared to the last several years. Tillis and Morgan will get to play some.

7.)  ATL is unsettled at QB position and will have a new coach. TB may be at end of window. NO honestly seems like biggest problem to me but hopefully the salary cap situation there will continue to hamstring them.

8.) Our rookie class looked really good, should see a lot of production from them in Year 2. Year 3 of Morgan/Tillis should see us be able to fill the remaining holes. Next year is really the year we would be on schedule to do something. 
 

 

 

I am thoroughly perplexed by 7. How in the world can you look at the Saints situation and the Tampa situation and think the Saints are better off????

[kungfoodude]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Yep, we've found ways to win a lot of games we should've lost and had the good fortune of playing two playoff teams in offensive limiting bad weather conditions. The only difference between us and the Giants is that they've lost most of their one possession games and we've won most of ours.

I think we just play to the opponent. Even in two of the blowouts(which, neither are very good teams, admittedly) Buffalo and New England, those games were fairly close to being competitive, minus a lot of coaching/execution blunders. 

Oddly, Jacksonville was the only game it just felt like we were never really in it.

It's progress to an extent.

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I think we just play to the opponent. Even in two of the blowouts(which, neither are very good teams, admittedly) Buffalo and New England, those games were fairly close to being competitive, minus a lot of coaching/execution blunders. 

Oddly, Jacksonville was the only game it just felt like we were never really in it.

It's progress to an extent.

Oh, they're good teams. You're just jaded by the Pats/Chiefs dynasties of recent years. There's no dominant teams this year on the NFL but the Pats and Bills are legit SB contenders in this year's league.

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Oh, they're good teams. You're just jaded by the Pats/Chiefs dynasties of recent years. There's no dominant teams this year on the NFL but the Pats and Bills are legit SB contenders in this year's league.

No, I genuinely don't think they are good teams. I think they are extremely well coached teams but New England has an atrocious roster and a top 5 easiest schedule in NFL history.

The Bills are having to get into shootout wins with .500 or lower teams. They are going to very much struggle with that poor of a defense and few weapons outside of Josh Allen. This isn't the 2015 Panthers with Cam toting around a bunch of bums and dominating. It's scratching out hard fought wins against the who's who of who dat.

When they finally hit the playoffs, I think it's gonna be a different story. For both of those teams.