NanuqoftheNorth

FWIW, Steve Wilks defense in 2017 had one of the better performances in the last decade for the Panthers. https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/panthers-defensive-rankings-by-year-1986-to-2021

Those pining for Fields may just get their wish. Chicago very well may choose a QB with their first pick and trade Fields. There are several teams looking to upgrade at QB, obviously the Panthers are one of them.

Last year's playoffs had some of the most memorable finishes in recent memory. Hoping for some exciting competition again this year. Don't really have any favorites, but Cowboys having an early exit from the playoffs would help brighten my day.

Lovie Smith: The Texans are who we thought they were.

Lion's Aidan Hutchinson is certainly impressive. Wouldn't mind seeing them take over the NFC North.

Good to see the Lions on a resurgence after decades of disappointment.

Haha, bye, bye Aaron!

Lions need 1 more first down and this game is in the books.

Beautiful play just before the 2 minute warning by the Lions!

Sad clowns like Aaron Rodgers make me smile.

YES!!! GO LIONS!!!

Having a capable coaching staff and front office makes a much bigger difference than a few places either way in a draft. You should focus on what is important and stop wallowing in your own misery.

Wilks appears to be a decent chap, who also happens to be a capable motivator of young men. He is clearly heads and shoulders above Matt Rhule when it comes to coaching in the NFL. Having said all that, I'm skeptical of any coach that chooses to punt, rather than to attempt a first down, (twice) when the ball is near midfield with one yard to go. This is especially true when the game, season and the coach's future job prospects are all on the line. An ultra conservative approach, especially when Tom Brady is your opponent, isn't a game winning formula (shades of SB Atlanta Falcons). Being risk adverse in critical moments (that often shift game momentum) simply doesn't bode well for the team's future playoff prospects. Bottom line: Hard pass on any coach that makes Ron Rivera look like a riverboat gambler.

Best record in four seasons! Granted, it is a low threshold to cross.

Wilks not willing to go for it on 4th and 1 while having nothing to lose and everything to gain? Yeah, a coach who is that conservative isn't getting the Panthers to the promised land. Hard pass.

Losing when it matters and winning when it doesn't, is pretty much the definition of a poorly coached, mediocre team.

Pretty sure another twelve weeks of Rhule would have qualified as human rights abuse for fans, certainly for players.

Chances are good that Sam will end up someone's #2.

This may be one of the Carolina Panthers few long held traditions; losing the games that matter, winning the games that don't. Rivera achieved a .500 record based on this approach.

Best hope for Sam is to be picked up by KC for their practice squad 3rd string QB and sit for a year or two. Short of that he'll probably wash out of the NFL in the next year or so.

No. Panthers need to aim higher for their next HC. Wilks is too risk adverse when his future employment and the Panthers playoff hopes are on the line. Low B to High C. Congrats to Wilks for elevating what was a pathetic Rhule built team to mediocre. Took another man's chicken poo and created chicken salad.

Carolina Panthers: Celebrating 4 straight years of Top Ten picks

Not sure if this means anything, but if Wilks had started the season as the Panthers head coach, chances are that the Panthers would be in the playoffs today.