Seltzer

One of the greatest coaching jobs in franchise history. Defense has had almost as many devastating injuries as the offense and Evero has kept them balling. They would be getting a lot more respect if the offense did their part (the points given up too are out-of-whack relative to how good they've been overall b/c the offense has constantly put them in bad situations).

On that final drive he absolutely was. You don't know ball if you can't see that.

So you're really just going to pretend that it wasn't a monsoon out there yesterday with a ball slippery as fug with wind gusts... was Ridder slinging it around b/c I must have missed that? Again, and not to be mean, but did you ever play football? Or even any other sport out in weather like that? Cause again, this is completely untethered from reality yesterday. I'm at a loss as to why this should even be a question. Of all the yearlong valid criticisms, this ain't it. BY9 was amazing on that final drive, and we hope we will continue to build off that. Why can't we just leave it there?

What other monsoon game have you ever watched where there was a litany of offensive highlights? Have you ever watched football before this season... I'm not sure how we are even watching the same thing.. and I'm seriously not trying to be mean in this instance... I'm tired of even going back & forth with you, I just don't even remotely understand some of your takes... in particular, this critique right here is completely untethered to objective reality IMHO. Of course, there was nothing pretty about yesterday. The point was that it was an ugly, ugly game where the normal offensive bug-a-boos showed up again repeatedly, but Bryce (and the rest of the offense b/c they deserve some credit too) persevered in the monsoon and came up big when it mattered most. That's sports, at least as I have always understood it. Regardless, I'm done engaging with you on this particular topic. I hope you have a great rest of your day, and I mean that sincerely.

If Fitterer is here after January 8th then Tepper really is going full Jerry Jones and only keeping a token GM to try to insulate himself. I like Bryce and want to see him succeed, but trading up and overestimating the roster he built is a fireable offense, and it better be for this fanbase's sake.

They are insufferable over our rookie QB leading a game-winning drive in a monsoon... think about it... I'm just thankful plenty of other people see it too... this is like the Twilight Zone... Bryce has had plenty of rough games this year, but his overall play was good given the conditions, and that last drive was elite. There's nothing more to it than that, and these "Panthers fans" lose their minds... Make it make sense....

Tepper's going to have to "overpay," but that isn't an obstacle. It really just comes down to picking the right person. Crazy thing is that both of our DC the past 2 seasons have looked like the right choice for the job, only to watch Tepper cling to his fascination with finding the next great young offensive mind...

I guess I'm old and had never heard of copium until a few years back, but damn if it's not a real thing with this younger generation... Imagine looking for negatives after the best game-winning drive (and hell we've only had 2- both by Bryce) since Cam in Philly in 2018. In a literal monsoon nonetheless... There really must be some of you on here who are beyond miserable in your lives... it's figuratively bleeding out all over the pages on this message board. Like honestly to the point I genuinely am starting to wonder about the mental health of some of you... This board has had some down times in the past, but now we've got people actively trolling anyone who is happy about an incredible come-from-behind win... these truly are strange times for a depressed fanbase...

That really is the only pertinent question. The rest makes for good hot-take media, but it's all speculative nonsense.

Fair list. I definitely see Chargers as #1 and Bears as #2 given the draft capital. For #3, that gets a little tricky. I think the Falcons and Panthers are neck-and-neck. The Falcons probably have a better overall roster (especially on offense) but I like our defense and QB right now significantly better. I also don't see Atlanta getting Williams or Maye, so they will still be spinning the QB carousel next year too. However, I don't think any of these openings are "bad." So, so much changes in the NFL on an annual basis. The Texans looked absolutely hopeless last year and are competing for a playoff spot. As awful as this year has been, I've also watched enough football to know that we could easily compete for the NFC South next year (what we were promised this year). I still think the Chargers are in a tier above (b/c of Herbert) and the Bears draft capital and big market make that attractive. The others are pretty closely bunched together IMHO. And in the grand scheme of life, is there a "bad" NFL HC opening when you're going to be making guaranteed millions no matter what?

It makes for compelling radio, especially for his big market audience who loves to think they are the center of the world and everywhere else is meaningless. However, Tepper's money will always make this attractive... "attractive" is a very subjective word there. Just b/c the pundits want to clown on Tepper doesn't mean there isn't a boatload of candidates willing to take one of the 32 highest profile jobs in America making guaranteed millions, even if you have to deal with a meddling boss. Many, many of us do that for far, far less fame & money. I think objectively the Chargers job is better, but outside of that, meh... Tepper's wallets will get us a coach... it's a matter of spending that money on the right coach.

Give it rest... seriously... you've had all season to troll & clown around with all your clown buddies, literally & figuratively while everyone with a an IQ above 100 avoided this place. The grown ups are back... you need to head back to the kiddies tables with all the other hot-take artists... literally no one here with even a passing knowledge of football wants to converse with you or your ilk...

Thank God you are still one of the moderators... this is a fair take. Not one single person that I've known on this board with any football sense is wanting to crown Bryce anything. However, I truly cannot believe all the hot-take artists that have simply taken over this joint and people who just want to troll and spew incandescent hate & vitriol at everything related to this team and Bryce... it's effing December and the holidays... I can't deal with that level of constant negativity. I pity anyone who would willingly live their life this way. Trading up was one of the worst moves in franchise history. In retrospect, I think we all can agree. Other than the Sean Gilbert trade, this might be 2nd worse. That's the objective truth. I don't see any reason to sugar coat that. But to me, the blame for that decision lies with the impetus 66-year-old owner who has effed up everything- not the 22 rookie who is doing his best in what has been offensive dysfunction for the ages. Even still, that ink is dry. Bryce is our QB at least through next season unless something unexpected happens. I want him to succeed, and I genuinely believe he can and will if he is provided with the same tools literally any other QB needs (an Oline that can block & guys that can get open & catch). If other people disagree, I understand the validity, but I will debate that fact. My enduring point is the absolute absurdity of people crucifying him when this whole offensive operation (from the coaches hired, to the scheme, to being outlandishly gaslit by Fitterer about where this roster was), has made this situation (in retrospect) one where literally no QB on Earth would thrive. Also, we played what like 15 different interior offensive line combos... nobody wants to hear it, but it textbook insanity to think any of this would be a recipe for success. Back to your original point, the QB is always the easiest lightning rod in a season like this. One on hand, these guys are being paid millions, and the NFL is not about what is fair, it's about wins. No one should be immune from criticism, least alone a #1 pick like Bryce Young... everyone should be clear on that. But, and I can say this unequivocally as someone in my 40's who played (and coached) a lot of sports, there is no effing way I could have handled this situation without mentally breaking at 22, and I feel confidently none or exceedingly few people on this board could have. The fact that this kid hasn't been broken by everything and was able to lead that drive yesterday... I wonder how many people have held any sort of leadership role in either sports or professionally?... b/c if you have then you know the mental toughness (let alone the physical ability to perform) is off the charts. I think we as a fanbase should be able to recognize the trade up was a mistake, full stop. You don't do that unless you think you can compete for the playoffs and not give up a high pick, let alone potentially the #1 pick. Fitterer needs to pay for this (amongst many other mistakes). That being said, and even though the trade up was a mistake, I think Bryce can be a very good QB. Both things can be true, and only time and a supporting cast to fairly evaluate him will give a clear picture.

That's embarrassing, objectively wrong, and straight-up pathetic... Why not just find another team? No one here is going to blame or shame you if you honestly believe that... The kid just led one of the gutsiest game-winning drives in franchise history and this is the garbage take you want to make?? I just don't understand... either you just want to miserable or you want to see Bryce fail... I'm not sure if was Covid, us sucking for years, the general devolution of social discourse due to social media or what, but it is jarring to see so many people here actively clamoring for us to fail, and for Bryce specifically... It is as bizarre as anything I've see in franchise history, and that includes the Weinke Truthers and the Cam Haters. Either stance is fine, but it makes zero logical sense to continue on as a Panthers fan, right? Like, why continue to carry this massive mental burden that is weighing you down?? Just let it go, man. The rest of here who don't live in hot-take world will manage, I assure you.

True statements about your evaluations in terms of where the team and franchise is at overall. All I was saying in any of this was that Bryce had an amazing final drive. I'm happy about that, b/c 1)It would have been amazing for prime Tom Brady to lead that drive, let along maligned rookie Bryce and 2) I still want to avoid the #1 pick if at all possible If this was any other QB besides a rookie that a substantial amount of our fanbase wants to crucify, there would be no objections to how amazing that was, especially in the worst conditions I've ever seen at BOA (and I've been to most bad weather games over the past 15 years). There's nothing more than that to what I'm saying. And Tepper deserves every ounce of criticism thrown his way. He is the puppet master that has overseen this tragedy. I've just seen so many fans direct their anger at anyone else but Tepper over the past 6 years. And literally none of them have deserved it. Neither does Bryce- he deserves plenty of criticism, but not this incandescent hate that he hasn't magically saved the bad decision this franchise has made for 6 seasons and counting.

Totally fair statement. Both game winning drives have been incredible, but unfortunately, there really hasn't been much on offense outside of that to be excited about. And pretty much every single person on offense has had more than their fair share of screw-ups (I'm inclined to give Hubbard and maybe Moton a pass). However, a rookie QB making mistakes is somewhat expected. A rookie QB dealing with historic levels of dysfunction should cause you to expect more. What's disappointing is that Bryce has made so many plays this year where guys who shouldn't be making these types of mistakes are making them repeatedly. That objectively has made it almost impossible to fairly evaluate (let alone support) his development. We need to get everything right going into next season so we can make the proper evaluation we should have been able to make this year. I know that isn't hot-takeish enough for some people, but it's true. And you're right about next week... I certainly hope we can carry some momentum, but there's no evidence in this season to believe that.

Tua is a game manager. Purdy is a game manager. You think any of that matters to those fans if they win a SB. Most QB's are game managers. That's really the bulk of their responsibilities. I'll take a game manager that can manager a drive like that final one 17/17 games.

See, this is the kind of debate/criticism I can get behind 100%. These are legitimate questions, and they haven't yet been answered. And trading up was a mistake- there is no question in retrospect. But the absolute nonsense emanating from so many people on this board has been embarrassing. Bryce is going to be here starting next year. I support this team, so I want to see him improve and to succeed. And maybe I'm just older than some of these people or coached too long, but damn some of these takes are so divorced from reality (and still celebrated as the only acceptable groupthink in here) it's just hard to take. Good game (in terms of we got the win) and elite final drive. Hoping to see a better offensive performance next week.

Take your copium clown boy... not your day

This has been an awful season, but both game winning drives by Bryce have been something to build on. People can hate on him all they want, but if you want to believe he's not tough as hell mentally & physically you're just a miserable person. I don't know that he will ever become the guy we want him to be, but anyone not giving him his flowers today for persevering all day in those conditions & with the normal drops and penalty nonsense & still being able to be at his best at the end was remarkable. I was honestly thinking more Delhomme-esque than Cam. Delhomme could be mediocre all game and come through clutch as hell at the end.

That's really the takeaway for the team. It certainly was as ugly a game as you can have offensively before the final drive, but this was the epitome of extreme weather conditions today. The previous monsoon game in 2011 was an UGLY win also. That's all you can hope for in this environment.

It was pouring with 30 miles wind gusts. The Falcons didn't even want Ridder to throw at all after his braindead pick... It wasn't a situation where you want your QB to have to throw in, especially backed up. It was as bad of conditions as I've seen at BOA stadium. There's only been a few games that were even close to this one... basically a tropical depression sitting over the stadium the whole game.

He was throwing against massive wind gusts in the rain. I know some of them didn't look rifled in there but you are throwing against the wind and also trying to make the ball as catchable as possible in the pouring rain. Cam Newton throwing lasers in that weather wouldn't work either. Ridder had several throws that were dropped that he put too much mustard on given the conditions... I think you are massively underestimating how hard it would be to balance throwing the ball with touch in these conditions and fighting the elements. Every single player and coach knows how impressive that final drive was... it's amazing the amount of hate people can have against something so beautiful... LOL literally eveyone talked about how Cam could never throw with touch a decade ago... I'm convinced so many people here just don't want to be happy.

That was the work of a franchise QB and a guy worthy of a #1 pick. Incredible drive for any QB, let alone a maligned, rookie QB backed up against the wind and in the worst weather conditions imaginable against a talented Falcons secondary. Unlike the litany of people on this board who want so badly to crucify this kid & ignore the almost comical level of dysfunction he has had to deal with this year, I'm not crowning him by any means. It is still 100% valid & fair to say it was a mistake to trade up for Bryce. I will never argue against that; I just vehemently disagree with the assertion that any other QB would have been justified for us trading up for given how unbelievably inept everything else has been this year. We are stuck with Bryce for at least next year, and I'm neither a masochist nor a Bryce hater, so I am incredibly excited by this drive. 5/5 for 68 yards is objectively good for any drive, and almost impossible in the weather conditions out there. Hope he can continue to build on this in hopefully better weather next week.

Top 5 in terms of fun experiences for me. I've never seen so much rain in a 30 minute window. Literally, the only place anywhere around where it was raining was directly over the stadium, and it was a monsoon for real.