panthers schedule doesn't look as tough anymore...

[rayzor]

this is why SOS is stupid

think about the difference between how good the colts are this year and how good they were last year

the only SOS that's relevant is one that is based in the current year, and you can't project that in august

100% agreed.

[rico6]

Next 4 games are about as nearly guaranteed wins we could get.

That final 4 game stretch will be brutal.

[rayzor]

Next 4 games are about as nearly guaranteed wins we could get.

That final 4 game stretch will be brutal.

falcons and bucs play here. we'll have a legit homefield advantage.

saints will be resting their key players. they barely beat us with their key guys on the field.

[Shufdog]

yes we cam

Please stop.

[Montsta]

As much as I love my team; I only see 4 problems: 1) Peterson 2) Johnson 3) Best 4) Addai

That unknown Foster guy in HOU that had 100+ REC yards and 100+ Rush yards scares the hell out of me too.

[Montsta]

falcons and bucs play here. we'll have a legit homefield advantage.

saints will be resting their key players. they barely beat us with their key guys on the field.

What if we are rolling and the Saints pull the same thing the Yankees did this year when they let Tampa Bay win out so the Red Sox couldn't make the playoffs? If resting their guys gets us in, and beating us keeps us out, they might actually play just to f**k us.

[Dont Check My Chicken]

The schedule probably looks easier because of different expectations. For example.. Without Manning, the Colts have become a gimme game and the Titans aren't playing up to their previous standards either. Of course, credit should also go to an attacking mindset that is explosive on offense with Cam developing beyond our expectations.

The disappointing expectations from our opponents accentuate the elevated ones from our improvement. IMHO

[Davidson Deac II]

I like it when we play teams that suck. :)

[pstall]

playoffs?

[jks85]

did you see the texans against the ravens? they def miss andre johnson

[Jackofalltrades]

Chris Johnson?

L

M

A

O

Paid and done.

[rayzor]

playoffs?

why not? it's not like there are very many teams in the NFC that look anything like contenders. there are a lot of very week teams out there. i think we are improving, but most of our chances has to do with how incredibly poorly other teams are doing. there's a whole lot of blah out there.

[MADCAT]

Every game is difficult

Every team we play needs to win

[Smiling_Bob]

this is why SOS is stupid

think about the difference between how good the colts are this year and how good they were last year

the only SOS that's relevant is one that is based in the current year, and you can't project that in august

Last year's SOS is all you can go on to start the year, everything else is WORSE speculation. If Manning were healthy, there's no way you could make the Colts your example of this year/last year.

More often than not, last year's performance can give you a REASONABLE expectation of how good a team will be this year. Most teams don't go from worst to first or vice-versa. As a guess, it's just 1-3 games difference. Ofc, that's playoffs or not, most of the time.

Will be interesting to compare the actual SOS at the end of the year to the SOS based on last year.

Speaking of Manning, it's obvious one player can have a big impact on a team - I think the Panthers get at least six wins this season, tripling last year's total. A large (OK, huge) part of that is Newton.

If the injury fairy hadn't hit the LB's, the Panthers be scaring the poo out of the rest of the NFC south.