Captroop

Here's where I'm at. As crazy as it sounds *deep inhale*... I think we need to seriously need a QB to gear up for a playoff run. I know! I know! Hear me out. Windows and Parity. Windows are fleeting in the NFL, and we seem to have surprisingly found ourselves with a pretty complete team. We have a deep bench of receiving threats. We have a defense that, while maybe not world-beaters, is still capable of keeping winning within reach. We have a really solid game-clinching kicker. And we have a genuinely scary running attack. Teams like that don't come around all the time. And again, while this team, on paper, is not championship caliber, that leads into my next point. Parity. This year is really strange in that the top flight of the league from the last few years (Chiefs, Ravens, Chargers, Bengals, Eagles, 49ers) seem more beatable than they have been for several season. Outside of the Colts, I don't see any team in the league that the Panthers couldn't beat if the ball bounces the right way once or twice. And currently, we're only 1 win behind our division leader. I think with Bryce, we're a 7-11 team. But if you add a above-average QB to this particular team in this particular season, I think they are capable of making a playoff run. Bryce is hurt this week, so now is the time to make the move without it completely looking like an indictment of Bryce. And if you get a win or two (especially against the Bills and Packers) then I think you just keep rolling with him.

You should win the games you should win. This honestly seemed like the kind of game the Panthers would lose so I'm pleasantly surprised. Considering the way the season started, I'm genuinely shocked to see us with a winning record.

He might be able to string together some wins, but I still feel like the team is winning in spite of him, not because of him. He could be a long-term starter, and he might even win more games than he loses. But we'd be fools for not looking for an answer for the future and a legitimate star.

I'd rather Bryce develop a rapport with the receivers of the future. If we had AT, we wouldn't know what we've got with Tet. Horn Jr. wouldn't be on the roster. And I guarantee you we wouldn't know the name Mitch Evans. I am grateful for AT for the time he spent here, and for helping to develop Bryce. But he was the training wheels that we needed to take off at a certain point.

We're 2-0 in games my wife prayed for in church. Be sure to leave an offer, people!

I won't depress myself by getting wistful about the good ole days. I'll just say I'm so happy that Cam is getting recognition as one of the all-time great players in NFL history. The Panthers will always have that.

We have absolutely no right to contend in, much less win this game. But it would be so on brand for us to win a heavily outmatched game, just to give me hope.

In spite of what anyone says about the player-to-coach pipeline, what's undeniable was Luke was already the coach, defensive coordinator and playcaller when he was on the field. He would be a natural DC, and arguably HC. I've been in favor of this move since his retirement, and I'd love to see it happen.

Here's the problem. No matter how many times you shell it, one thing remains the same:

Good. Play this out. Play this out until there are no more excuses so we can end this sad era.

This is definitely the lowest point in the team's history. The difference between this era and any other, is I can't see a way out. Tepper is the only common thread for the ignominy we've dealt with since 2018.

Crazy that after tonight, one of THESE two teams will have the same record as the Carolina Panthers.

The best outcome of Bryce's career. A 30-0 shutout. He put up 121 passing yards. Says a lot about how important he is to our team.

I'm so fuggin' hard right now. Which is impressive after this many pumpkin beers!

OMG. Did we actually blank an opponent?!

30%of his career wins have come against the Falcons.

Who is this team?

I didn't want to jinx it but I woke up this morning knowing somehow that we'd win this one. Still time to fug it up. But I know it'll happen.

Pick your poison. No traction on injury. Fuggin' Tepper.

Well, except for recovering the muffed punt

The game is so different now. I always say, when I started watching, a 55 yarder was desperation. In Madden 2005 it was basically impossible. Now it's expected.

Wow! After Piñero it's so nice to have a kicker with 55+ distance

I'm of the opinion that your O-Line is the foundation of your entire team. It covers all manner of sins. Is our QB group weak? Yes, but they can look a lot better when they have protection. Are our running backs world beaters? No, but they can run through holes if the O-Line creates them. Is our defense bad? Yes. Legendarily in the history of the NFL. But the an offense that's able to sustain drives and doesn't ask them to constantly start on short fields can help that immensely. I can't think of a single area of the team that wouldn't be playing better if we had a stout O-Line.

Yup. I'm exactly as dedicated to this team as they are to putting a quality product on the field. Life is too short to spend getting upset about garbage. I'm a fan. I'll (probably) always be a fan. But because I am not submitting myself to weekly torture doesn't mean my fandom is less pure than anyone else's.