Mage

Washington's defense is pretty bad this year too. 28th in points allowed. IMO Rivera is still a good defensive mind, but he chooses the WORST coordinators. Rivera should just take control over defensive play-calling. The only DC he's ever hired that was good is McDermott. Wilks was okay, not good but not quite as bad as a few people think. Del Rio (in Washington) is bad and bland. And Washington... my goodness.

I love Jaycee Horn, gonna be an All-Pro without a doubt he's that skilled, but if this team had Stafford... man. I think we'd be a top 3 seed right now. I actually think we're a lot similar to the Rams. Their offensive line is better, but Stafford can make it work. Moore and Anderson would be lighting it up with Stafford.

I've said it several times. Outside of the QB position (which yes, is important, and is a huge black mark they need to fix), Rhule has done a great job building this team since he got here. I really think people on here can be prisoners of the moment and forget the kind of disarray this team was in when he got here. Newton was coming off two injury-plagued seasons. And post-Steelers game in 2018, his arm was completely shot and to be frank he looked bad. Olsen was donezo. TD was donezo. Defense was not only bad, but old as hell. Burns, Shaq, Donte, and Carter are the only 4 people left from that defense. In 2019, we allowed 29 PPG. In 2020, we allowed 25th PPG (which was SOOO much better than anyone expected given the personnel, and the defense got stronger and stronger every week). This year, we are allowing 19 PPG. Yes we need to correct the QB position. And we've got to make an effort to get a long-term solution at LT, although maybe Brady can be that down the road. But look at the game yesterday. QB-aside, the Panthers > Cardinals. I think we need to not let Rhule be the one to solely decide our QBs going forward. Leave that to the GM and talent evaluators - it isn't like we don't have a good group of them ie Pat Stewart. As long as that is the case, I have full confidence in Rhule and the FO. LIS, we aren't far off. We just need to find that guy at QB. We're just as good everywhere else on our roster as most other teams.

I agree with this. I think people look at letting Cam go the wrong way. It wasn't necessarily letting him go that was the problem. It was the moves we made after (Teddy, Sam) that were the issue. We absolutely should have stuck with Kyle Allen, or signed a vet QB to a cheap 1 year deal (ala what WFT did with Fitz). Tank the season. Instead we overly-committed to an average at best QB and a bad QB. I didn't want Cam to get released back then, but I understood the rationale. Never understood the Teddy signing. Somewhat understood trading for Sam, but never understood picking up his 5th year option.

PJ Walker cheeks

Why was Darnold starting

Dude I've never been more grateful of Cam Newton than I am right now What a star Never let him leave us again

DONTE THE GAWD JACKSON

CAM

LMFAO WHY WOULD YOU TRY THAT VS US

CAAAAAAAAAM

On a whole, you are probably right, but DJ Moore is definitely going to be the best receiver on the field today with Hopkins out.

Even if Cam isn't playing today, I hope he's on the sidelines. He is always a great morale boost.

Apparently Stephon Gilmore asked to wear #1 out of respect to Cam, but Tepper said no. Didn't know that. Also pushes back against the silly narrative that the Panthers were trying to "erase" Cam lol

It's one thing to put up good numbers. It is one thing to put up good numbers and look good doing so. The former is much more likely than the latter with PJ Walker, and hopefully the coaching staff would be able to differentiate between the two. If Murray and Hopkins are out today (Edmonds too), then I think the defense could put Walker in a lot of situations to put up points.

What's crazy is what they saw on film isn't too far from the truth. Darnold does have some similarities to Stafford (play-style wise). Not quite the same arm strength but Darnold side-arms it a lot like Stafford does, and is able to still get a lot of velocity on it. Both are gunslingers. Both have some mobility, Darnold a bit more than Stafford at this point in their careers. LIS. I didn't mind the trade. It was worth the risk to see if you could tap into his upside. But picking up the 5th year option was so moronic.

If Murray and Hopkins don't play... The Panthers have the better defense, top to bottom (DL, LBs, DBs) They (Panthers) have the better wide receivers They have the better running-back If we lose, assuming Murray and Hopkins don't play, you will never see me defend Matt Rhule again. I'm all for limiting McCaffrey's touches but tomorrow is the day to abuse him. Rely on him. We need to win and get to 5-5. Cam entering a 5-5 situation, I believe in him to will us to the playoffs. But 5-5 is a lot different than 4-6. Come on Rhule!!

If anything, PJ Walker is what "Keep Pounding" is all about. Screw the obstacles. Screw the outside noise. Screw what is SUPPOSED to be the case. Just keep fighting, keep playing, keep pounding.

I'm so ready for Cam time But I am rooting HARD for PJ Walker. I want to see him do well. I want to see this man ball the hell out. It isn't his fault the Panthers signed him to be the #2 back-up. It isn't his fault Sam Darnold was the only QB ahead of him in the depth chart. Quite frankly PJ Walker shouldn't be in this position, because in all likelihood, he will fail. But I hope he doesn't. I hope he proves everyone wrong and just has the game of his life, a game so good that it helps him earn another job with a team next year. And knowing Cam, he probably feels the same way. Let's get this W PJ.

Honestly, Cam Newton looks so at peace that it is amazing to see. I want to win and I want Newton to perform well. But ultimately I'm just so happy to see him back, I'm happy to see him happy, and I'm happy to know that things between the Panthers and Newton might actually end on good terms.

We can't. They were likely posting the old rules about the 5th-year option. It used to be guaranteed only for injury (a big part of why RG3 was inactive for all of 2015) and/or when the new league year starts. However it is now guaranteed as soon as you exercise it.

As someone who really liked Wilson in the pre-draft process... He has looked absolutely horrendous. And not in a, "well, he's just a rookie" way like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. Those guys at least look comfortable with the speed of the game. Wilson looks like the game moves way too fast for him. Makes the OL look worse because of his horrendous feel for the pocket. Locks onto the first-read and never goes off of it. Accuracy is putrid. He could still get better, but I wouldn't count on it.

I don't think Cam talks today but could be wrong

Also a possibility that if Cam and the Panthers have been talking since before this week, that Newton was already given the playbook and had a chance to learn over it.