Which "loss" / Season end did you feel Better about? (2013 vs 2014)

[LinvilleGorge]

I definitely feel better about it this year.  Last year, I felt we were legit Super Bowl contenders so the loss really stung.  This year, I was more just happy to be there.  Sure, we could've caught on fire at the right time and made a run, but I honestly didn't think there was much of a chance of it.  Plus, last year, I felt there were some very questionable calls that played a big role in the outcome of that game.  We simply got beat by a better football team last night.  I can live with that.  I didn't feel that way last year.

[UpstatePanther]

last year i was left wondering if this team was for real. great season only to be knocked out convincingly in the playoffs in the first game. this year we showed grit and game back from the abyss to earn a playoff spot and beat an 11-5 team (albeit with a rookie 4-th string QB). we are the first ever back to back NFC South Champions. we earned the first back to back playoff berths in our history. the rest of our division is roiling and hitting the reset button on their franchises, meanwhile its obvious that the Panthers are already almost out of rebuilding mode. 

 

this season we proved that we were real and backed it up by giving the Champs a run for their money, in their house, in the divisional round of the playoffs. our team is obviously upset with the loss and obviously hungry. we arent losing many key cogs to free agency this year, and we are gaining cap space. 

 

this team is going to rule the South for at least a few more years. and we are just beginning to glimpse their potential. 

 

the Lombardi will come to Charlotte within 3 seasons...

[Peppers90 NC]

We are a far better team right now than last year.

[PanthersClinic]

We were incompetent and outclassed in both games. Also both games were a slow torture with the Panthers playing pussyfoot to keep the scoreboard looking respectable.

 

Last year was probably worst since the Panthers had beaten the 49ers in SF, had won 12 games and were playing at home.

[UKPanther94]

We played better last night than in the 49'ers game even if the scoreline doesn't show it, just ultimately we were killed by turnovers and costly drops, those little things that great teams do we didn't do

[bLACKpANTHER]

1- all of our 'key' players are not FAs at the end of the season.

2- a ton of key players are young guys still on rookie contracts

3- we won a playoff game this year

 

 

bottom line is we resemble the Seahawks about 3-4 years ago.. a nice team all on rookie contracts that will be together for awhile..

[t96]

We won a playoff game and fought the defending Champs like a fuging bull through 3 and a half quarters. All after going 7-8-1 and having millions of holes and starting 7 rookies. Damn I'm excited about this season. I thought 2013 was Super Bowl or bust. Our cap was bad and we weren't going to retain everybody. Gross' retirement and Hardy's dumbassery was the nail in the coffin. We've got a brighter future after this season than I thought we did after last year.

[t96]

1- all of our 'key' players are not FAs at the end of the season.

2- a ton of key players are young guys still on rookie contracts

3- we won a playoff game this year

 

 

bottom line is we resemble the Seahawks about 3-4 years ago.. a nice team all on rookie contracts that will be together for awhile..

 

Yep and they'll be screwed very soon. Gotta pay a lotta players a lotta money if they want to keep them all. Could be us as well but I'm glad it's not yet. Gotta win it all while we have the chance.

[OneBadCat]

I felt way better about the loss last night. The Seahawks are the defending champs. There is no shame in losing to those guys. Especially in what should have nearly been a 24-17 loss. I also didn't feel like the refs were purposely taking us out of the game like last year either.

[mbarbour21]

This year, we were just lucky our division was crap. Neither felt great.