Seltzer

Come on. I liked Matt Moore and he was a solid backup, but Sam has played better over the past month than Matt Moore ever did in his entire career. Full stop. And Sam's ceiling is light years higher. Anyone coronating Sam as the 2023 starter is stupid, but I also think it's crazy to act like we're automatically going to find anyone off the street or in the draft that is guaranteed to come in and be better than the guy that has played really good ball here over the past month. Anyone who think Sam is the reason we lost needs to have their head examined. If CJ & Keith Taylor don't embarrass themselves out there today, the narrative is how Sam Darnold outdueled Tom Brady on the road in a quasi- playoff game. And look around the league. 2 Things: 1) There are way too many teams needing starting level QB's and not near enough QB's capable of being the long-term answer. 2) With a 17th game (and potentially an 18th), having a good backup is paramount b/c they are going to play in meaningful games. There will be a market for Sam Darnold. And Baker Mayfield. And PJ Walker. Not necessarily starting, although I think Sam & Baker will probably be in the mix for some team based on the way they finished the season. PJ will almost certainly be on an NFL roster next year. I understand not wanting to settle for Sam Darnold. I truly do, and I think the Panthers feel the same way. But I also think they understand that Sam is still only 25, showed some really good promise the last month, and could be a great bridge starter and/or backup next year. And if he could somehow play an entire season like he has for the past month, he could legitimately lead this team (or another team) to the playoffs.

I think Reddick was our best defensive player last year. I think the main reason we didn't re-sign him was all the BS going after QB's and trying to save money for that ultimately futile endeavor. Anyway, Reddick has been good this year, but I think Burns has honestly been better, at least this year. Reddick has double digit sacks, but he's on a much better line overall and not getting double teamed like Burns. Regardless, Edge Rusher is IMO the most important need on this team, right up there with QB. Any maybe moreso given that Darnold has played like a competent starter over the past month. YGM has been a little better lately (he did have a nice ST block on that FG and some pressures today), but both him and Haynes are really rotational players. We need another guy who can consistently get pressure, and we don't have it. The only thing I will say, having Reddick and Burns on the field last year gave us 2 very capable pass rushers, but it left us very vulnerable against the run since both guys are somewhat undersized in terms of being a run stopper.

I saw a stat that showed since Sam became the starter, we had the biggest increase in offensive efficiency in the league. Obviously this is on the Oline also, but Sam has been playing the best ball of his career. McAdoo IMHO has called some good games too since Sam has taken over. The flip side is that the defensive efficiency plummeted by the 2nd highest amount. Al Holcomb may be Wilks' friend, and I know Luke & TD are fans from way back, but he hasn't done a good job, especially over the past month. Absolutely inexcusable to have CJ & Taylor man-to-man on Evans after being burned multiple times. Honestly, almost all the big changes this year have been to the offensive side of the ball, and they got better while the defense got worse. If Wilks is retained, I'm certainly ok with dumping McAdoo, but Holcomb definitely deserves to see the door, too. I'd be cool with Wilks if he can convince Frank Reich to come here and find a good DC. I think Wilks is a good HC in terms of leading the team and being respected, but he needs to be lining up top-notch coordinators if he wants the job here or elsewhere.

Feel the exact same way except I think another edge rusher is the biggest need

This 100%. There will be teams that do worse than 2022 Darnold next year. The need for starter level QBs far exceeds the number available. It's easy to say we need to upgrade Darnold. It's not as easy to make it happen. There is absolutely no guarantee even a highly drafted rookie QB will outplay Darnold (especially next year), or that we would be able to land a FA QB we wanted (hasn't happened the last 3 offseasons). No one in their right mind wants to coronate Darnold as the starter next season. But counting on Corral and/or discounting Darnold would be foolish too. We did a lot worse at QB, especially with Baker, before Sam started even this year.

Both polar extremes of this are dumb IMO. Nothing about Darnold's overall body of work should guarantee him anything next year. That being said, Darnold has been playing the best ball of his career over the past month and has been top 10 or higher on almost all advanced metrics. He's only 25. To just let him walk without seeing if he can build off of that next year is folly too IMO. Darnold will be on a roster next year. If we are going to draft a rookie, then why not have him on our roster to be the bridge guy (or longer). I would hope Darnold would like some stability after his turbulent NFL career so far and would take a high-end backup type deal. I don't see the logic in signing a high profile veteran and then taking a QB high in the draft after just using a 3rd on Corral along with all the other draft capital we've given up for QBs. Otherwise, we need to cut bait and try to sign a veteran like Carr that will cost more. Then there's no need for Darnold and we keep and develop Corral.

DE, QB, CB are our biggest needs IMO DE is by far the biggest need. YGM & Haynes are decent #3/4 DEs, but we desperately need another edge rusher besides Burns that can consistently get pressure

Sam has been overall the best player on offense since he started. He hasn't been perfect, but he has played well enough for us to win. In no world should he be the unquestioned starter next year, but I think it would be equally stupid not to resign him to compete. Throw in all the other qualifiers, but he is only 25. In almost any other game this season (where we have CBs who just decided to not play and coaching that didn't adjust) we would have won. Pass rusher is by far our biggest need IMO. YGM played better down the stretch, but he has done nothing to warrant starting. Nothing is guaranteed in the future, but I personally think this team is on the best trajectory it has been in years

I still think 100% we need to bring a QB in the mix, but Sam has looked like a good starter behind this line. It's foolish to go it alone with him, but I think it would also be foolish not to bring him back if we can reasonably. Another pass rusher is by far priority #1 IMO in terms of draft needs. I agree with you about QB, CB, & WR as well. Resigning Bozeman is priority #1 for FA. Would like Foreman if he comes back reasonably. Future definitely looks so much brighter than it did last year at this time.

I know some teams have made efforts in the past to boot ticket holders who constantly sell their tickets, but I don't know from a legal standpoint if there is any recourse with the PSL owner agreement. And yeah, supply has definitely outpaced demand the last few years. The Panthers are ranked high in attendance (meaning tickets sold), but there are plenty of open seats in the stadium. Back to your original point about scalpers, yeah they are going to sell exclusively to the highest bidder, which will undoubtedly be idiot Cowboy fans if we host them on Wildcard weekend. I feel like the vast majority of the lower bowl on the visitor side must be scalpers at this point, b/c even compared to 5 years ago there are consistently a lot of opposing fans on that side, which certainly validates that scalpers own most of those tickets at this point and just auction them off.

Good post OP. Really enjoyed it

It really depends on how many PSL owners want profit over atmosphere. Cowboys fans (especially those living locally) would probably spend their January mortgage payment to see "The Boys." The lower the IQ and the less likely the fan to actually know where Dallas is on the map, the more "hardcore" they are. I would be happy if there was no more than 40% Dallas fans in that scenario. Given how the last few seasons have went, I would hope it's no more than 50/50. It's absolutely disgusting, but as someone who has had PSL's for 17 seasons now, I am a realist. Way, way too many PSL owners have gotten comfortable with making money about everything else, especially over the last 4 years of irrelevancy and the fact there are always transplants here willing to pay a premium to see their hometown and/or preferred team. The capitalist in me understands this is their prerogative. The fan in me hates this with every fiber of my being. Anyway, just my take, but I think the Cowboys (which is almost assuredly the matchup) would be worst case in terms of PSL owners selling out, literally and figuratively. Regardless, I will be there if we can win the division, doing my best to represent.

I'm usually an optimist, but the only way I think we win this game is if we dominate and leave no doubt. If the score is anywhere close near the end of the game, Brady is going to get every call and every chance to win. I'm already mentally preparing myself for some bs calls to go against us. I do think we are the better team right now, but losing Jaycee is a massive, massive blow. On the whole though, I'm just happy for relevant football in January. Panthers either win by 10+ or the Bucs squeak out a win (with a heavy-handed assist from the NFL & the refs). Only 2 scenarios I can see

If we lose to this Bucs team, they are doing us a favor by keeping us out of the playoffs. Todd Bowles knows Darnold well, and he is going to do everything he can to put the game in Sam's hands. It's undoubtedly the biggest game Sam has ever played as a professional, and its the biggest game this late in the season for the Panthers in 5 years. Can't wait for Sunday

So we won't be on Sunday night. Wonder if we get flexed to 4:25 though

Josh Norman? He's played for Wilks and is available. I do know it's real slim pickings this time of year for a CB

Same and same. I hate the fact that so many fans sell their tickets, which inevitably end up going to opposing fans. But it is a valid point about sucking for 5 years straight. My financial situation is better than some fans who really have to make harder decisions and I can't fault them, especially given how bad we have been. Why not make the money to finance your tickets in the future when the team might be good again? Even yesterday, the stadium was at least half Steelers fans, possibly much more (it's depressing to even speculate). Us Panthers fans did everything we could, but there really wasn't that much to cheer for. We got dominated in the trenches. It sucks every way possible, but only winning is going to change this.

I think it's going to be a great atmosphere even with all the Steelers fans. Hopefully the stadium will be full with people actually in the seats. The only game in the last 4+ years at BOA that has had a truly great atmosphere was Cam's return last year, and that was short-lived. This should be playoff level intensity, which is ironic for two 5-8 teams, but I think it could be. Also, if we win, that game against the Lions will be an intense one to close out the season at home.

As a long-timer, I want to bring this back. It's been a LONG time since this type of thread had any validity in December here other than draft positioning other so let's do this: 49ers (10-4) @ Seahawks (7-7): Niners won to win NFC West drop Seahawks back out of the wildcard standings. Good for Panthers who could potentially still claim a wildcard spot if we don't win the division since we own the tiebreaker over Seakawks, although odds are low and best path to playoffs is to still win division Colts (4-8-1) @ Vikings (10-3): Colts win would potentially help our draft position if we don't win division. Vikings will pretty much wrap up NFC North with victory. Ravens (9-4) @ Browns (5-8): Browns win would potentially help our draft position if we don't win division. Dolphins (8-5) @ Bills (10-3): No real implications from this game Chiefs (10-3) @ Texans (1-11-1): Probably no implications from this game since Texans have pretty much locked in #1 draft pick Steelers (5-8) @ Panthers (5-8): A win coupled with a Bucs loss would put us in 1st place in the NFC South this late in the year for the first time since 2015! What an insane season! Lions (6-7) @ Jets (7-6): Jets win would help the Panthers wildcard chances. Zach Wilson is starting with Mike White in concussion protocol Cowboys (10-3) @ Jaguars (5-8): Jaguars win would potentially help our draft position if we don't win division. Eagles (12-1) @ Bears (3-10): Bears win would keep Eagles from potentially finishing the season with only 1 loss, but little overall implications for Panthers Falcons (5-8) @ Saints (4-9): Wish both could lose. A Saints loss would probably eliminate them from division contention, but it would keep the Falcons hanging around. Regardless, one of them will lose which will help the Panthers. Patriots (7-6) @ Raiders (5-8): Raiders win would potentially help our draft position if we don't win division. Cardinals (4-9) @ Broncos (3-10): 2 awful teams playing out the string. I guess Cardinals since it could potentially help draft position if we don't win division but both will probably finish with a worse record and won't matter. Bengals (9-4) @ Buccaneers (6-7): Obviously the game with the most implications for the Panthers. A Bengals win would continue the Bucs decline and elevate the Panthers to the top of the NFC South with a Panthers win. Cowboys (10-3) @ Jaguars (5-8): Jaguars win would potentially help our draft position if we don't win division. Titans (7-6) @ Chargers (7-6): No real implications from this game Giants (7-5-1) @ Commanders (7-5-1): Biggest game in NFC this week in terms of wildcard positioning. Hard to know who is best to root for as a Panthers fan since both have equally hard schedule to finish the season. Maybe another tie for both would be best? Rams (4-9) @ Packers (5-8): Packers win would probably be best for Panthers in terms of draft if we don't win the division, but a Rams win would probably eliminate the Packers from any real chance at a wild card. I'm rooting for more misery for Aaron Rodgers, but I think it's much more likely that this is game Baker comes back to Earth. Anyway, it has been cathartic to do this post after being irrelevant for 4 straight seasons in December. A win on Sunday (especially combined with a Bucs loss) would put us in a spot we haven't been in since 2015, records be damned. #Keep Pounding and please show up Sunday at BOA if you can.

Everything is digital. Positive is you don't have to worry about fake tickets. Negative is Ticketmaster is going to get their cut no matter what.

I like Geno, especially as a WVU fan, and he is undoubtedly having a great year, but like many others have said, it seems obvious Pete Carroll and his offensive scheme have elevated him and not the other way around. If McAdoo somehow stays I guess it would be possible, but beyond the fact I think Seattle keeps him even if under the franchise tag, I think he would be Teddy 2.0 here. It is nice to see how respected Wilks is around the league. I don't ever remember opposing players telling Rhule something like that post-game.

I think that game will actually get some significant national attention, since we are 2 of the best underdog stories of the 2022 season. But, the only way to remain relevant is to keep winning...

I think a lot of the tank crowd never actually attends games. I have 2 boys that really just got old enough to start watching the Panthers in 2019. Obviously, we sucked most of 2019, couldn't attend games in 2020, and were absolutely wretched offensively at home last year. People complain about the environment at BOA and selling tickets to opposing fans, but then actively root for us to fail for some imagined future, all the while it destroys the engagement of the fanbase. It's absolute lunacy. I want my boys to witness BOA like it can be when we are relevant. Hosting a playoff game under any circumstance is awesome. Absolutely nothing is guaranteed for the future. After 4 seasons of utter failure, I want to live in the now and enjoy this with my boys. And I'm also old enough to remember all the naysayers complaining about winning the lowly NFC South in 2014 and how it was going to be a bad thing long term. In fact, it led to a SB appearance the next year. Now, without a QB like prime Cam, that might not be the case next year, but this current group would benefit greatly from the experience. CJ Stroud or Bryce Young aren't setting the league on fire next year. I'll eat my words if I'm wrong, but they have the absolute feel of a Jamies Winston/Marcus Mariota vibe to me. The NFC is as bad this year as any year I can ever, ever remember. Other than the Eagles, there is honestly not one team in the NFC I feel like we would not stand a chance against. So why not do this? No one would have imagined we could take down the Eagles in the 2003 playoffs either. In one game anything can happen. Regardless, this is so, so much better than the last 4 miserable ass seasons.

Imagine him and Horn... would honestly be the best CB duo in the league.

That is a man you want on the offensive line. Just within the bounds of crazy and violence that is acceptable. We better resign him and Foreman. This is a group that instills fear in defensive lineman. Could not love it more! Pure Authenticity... Keep Pounding!!