No MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.... this season is a WIN in my books

[therealmjl]

It’s been a great year

[Candler Cat]

[Bama Panther]

44 minutes ago, CPcavedweller said:

Most people expected we should be at 10 wins. It’s year three of a quarterback on a rookie contract. Year three is the year you make a playoff push and year four is the year you make a Superb Owl run. If you can’t do it then, and the QB isn’t a Josh Allen or Mahomes, you may have screwed yourself into mediocrity. 

No one expected 10 wins this season. The over/under before the season was 6.5. 

[csx]

47 minutes ago, CPcavedweller said:

Most people expected we should be at 10 wins. It’s year three of a quarterback on a rookie contract. Year three is the year you make a playoff push and year four is the year you make a Superb Owl run. If you can’t do it then, and the QB isn’t a Josh Allen or Mahomes, you may have screwed yourself into mediocrity. 

Literally nobody expected 10. 

Vegas said 6.5

Observer topped out at 8

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article311839798.html

 

9 is tops of this roundup, mostly around 6

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/09/04/carolina-panthers-schedule-expert-predictions-record/85967094007/

 

[L-TownCat]

56 minutes ago, TheBigKat said:

while I hate bend but don't break defenses... the D was in a spot for the INT because of the soft shell coverage

While they were in zone… Ransom made that play.  He was watching Baker the whole way.  He flat ignored Evans’ change of direction and followed the ball.  Just great great stuff from the rookie.

[bigjohn]

1 hour ago, CPcavedweller said:

Most people expected we should be at 10 wins. It’s year three of a quarterback on a rookie contract. Year three is the year you make a playoff push and year four is the year you make a Superb Owl run. If you can’t do it then, and the QB isn’t a Josh Allen or Mahomes, you may have screwed yourself into mediocrity. 

Who was expecting 10 wins? I mean, besides overeager fans?  Every preseason media outlet had us between 4-7 wins.

[csx]

1 hour ago, TheBigKat said:

while I hate bend but don't break defenses... the D was in a spot for the INT because of the soft shell coverage

Soft shell.....Are you mixing seafood and defense?

 

[PanthersATL]

1 hour ago, SCO96 said:

we have an entire off-season to acquire more talent.

and we're building an environment that those on the outside looking in could legitimately say, "i want to play for/with THESE guys".

[PanthersATL]

1 hour ago, CPF4LIFE said:

I agree...but honestly I thought it was even if we didnt make the playoffs. The team has been bad so long you take whatever improvement you can get and build off it. 

said it before: last season, we were the happiest 5-12 fanbase vs other teams at the same record.  We saw the potential and ended the season on an upswing. There was hope of what could come

[PanthersATL]

it's also nice to have our highlights near the top of the NFL recap shows rather than shoved into the final 2 minutes.

I'm sure the graphics departments were racing to dust off the Panthers logo collection after years of non-use.

[CanadianCat]

All I wanted was meaningful games in December. 

It's exciting to look forward to games again.

[SCO96]

1 hour ago, Candler Cat said:

Hey....KOOL AID! I haven't seen one of those commercials since the 80's!

[Soul Rebel]

As most have pointed out, most realistic and logical Panthers fans predicted 7 or 8 wins, with 9 or 10 being best case scenario if the chips fell the right way.

This season is already a success and lots to build off of.

Biggest off-szn priorities is drafting our new Luke/Morgan/Beason to wear the dot and finding an A’Shawn replacement to put with DB. I don’t want to waste Brown’s best years by putting Shy Tuttle caliber DL around him. 
 

I also wouldn’t object to an upgrade at DC if there is one. Evero is mid but we can’t take a step back just for the hell of it. We could do a lot worse than EE.

 

EDIT: I like Robinson a lot, but given his age and soon to be declining play, I’d like to find a younger compliment with 95. I did not mean he was the same level of player as Shy. A’Shawn is a solid vet that has been a great add the past couple years. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Soul Rebel

[SCO96]

54 minutes ago, Soul Rebel said:

I also wouldn’t object to an upgrade at DC if there is one. Evero is mid but we can’t take a step back just for the hell of it. We could do a lot worse than EE.

This is how I feel. Could we find a better DC this off-season? I think so.

Could we do worse than EE? I think so.

We rank 14th in points allowed per game (22.5). Last year we gave up 31.4 points per game. We've only given up 30 points in 2 games this season, the blow out losses to Buffalo (40) and NE (42).

If we could find a double digit sack guy to come off of the edge and find ONE STUD ILB, we could easily be a top 10 defense in 2026 with this current scheme.

Edited 37 minutes ago by SCO96