SI.com's Greg Bedard predicts Panthers win NFC South...in unlikely fashion

[davos]

If we make it through that SEA, Philly, GB, Indy stretch in decent shape, that would be legit.

[rico6]

I mean it seems to follow the pattern we have each year. crappy play for x amount of games then the seat under ron becomes hot so they play really well down the stretch. 

Houston isn't some cupcake team either btw. Their Defense is pretty solid. 

Our Offense will do MUCH better against their Defense, than their Offense against ours, imho.

[Ricky Spanish]

Our Offense will do MUCH better against their Defense, than their Offense against ours, imho.

That's where we disagree. Until I see them do something worthwhile, I am completely skeptical of our passing attack. The weapons we have are Greg Olsen and Ted Ginn as a deep threat. That's it. Funchess is a complete unknown right now and Philly Brown has the yips at the moment. Teams are going to stack the box on us when we run until we prove we can pass, and I'm not confident Shula has the ability to game plan a successful scheme with the receivers he has at his disposal. So while I foresee their offense struggling against our defense, I too, see us struggling against theirs and anyone else's. 

[Nate Dogg]

The Texans might gain fewer yards on us than the Cardinals did in the playoffs.

[CRA]

6 straight losses and ole Riverboat Ron's seat is gonna get mighty toasty.

 

Not to mention I don't know if my liver could handle a 1-6 start.

we went 7 straight games (8 weeks) without a win last season.

sounds like this guy has the Ron formula figured out 

[CRA]

Our Offense will do MUCH better against their Defense, than their Offense against ours, imho.

Houston is has potential to be nasty upfront this year.   Real nasty. 

[rico6]

Houston is has potential to be nasty upfront this year.   Real nasty. 

Agreed.

[Davidson Deac II]

Houston is has potential to be nasty upfront this year.   Real nasty. 

They also have the potential to be horrid on offense.  If both defenses are as good as predicted, and both offenses are as bad, that one could be a snoozefest to fans of offensive football. 

[CPantherKing]

So many people including our fans are making the laziest predictions that practically mirror the kind of season we had last year. Does anyone understand how different this team is just from last year?

Let's see. The WR position is worse. The RB position is worse. The C is lame, which makes the OL starting the season worse. QB and TE are unchanged.

The DL is worse with Star lame. The LBs are starting Klein, so that is a liability. The safety position is a liability if they choose to start Coleman. Might as well have Harper and DeCoud all over again. The CBs are improved compared to the start of last season. 

There you go. A dose of reality to start the season. Panthers 2014 starting group was better than the current bunch they will start against Jax.

As for the Panthers' record, I already predicted something similar with an 8-8 record for the Panthers finishing the season. Sorry, the Panthers do not beat the Packers. I do have them beating the Bucs and Saints before the bye, but I see the Panthers losing their first 2 games in classic Rivera style (in the 4th quarter). I have the Panthers as 2-2 going into the BYE, followed by a 4 game losing streak to be 2-6 at the mid way point.

The bitter sweet part of the season is the Panthers do close out the final 4 games on a win streak to finish 8-8 with a division record of 5-1. I do have the Saints losing to the Falcons in the final week of the season leaving the NFC South in a 3 way tie with the Panthers, Saints, and Falcons all finishing 8-8. Panthers win the division with the tie break based on division record.

Another losing season with a consultation trip to the playoffs only to get bounced by the Seahawks or Packers. Rivera and Gettleman keep their jobs for another season only to stick to the same plan and expect different results. Shula remains on board too for the 2016 season.

[L-TownCat]

They also have the potential to be horrid on offense.  If both defenses are as good as predicted, and both offenses are as bad, that one could be a snoozefest to fans of offensive football. 

Heres an oldie but a goodie...

Oh it will be offensive... LOL ba dump tiss

[Chaos]

History is the greatest teacher, and this guy's been to class.  Can't blame him for throwing our typical M.O. up against the schedule and coming up with this.  As unlikely as it is, if I would have said last year we would lose a bunch of bad games early on, but win the division at 7-8-1  and win a playoff game you would have thought I was crazy.

[UpstatePanther]

I saw this too but felt it was too much hot garbage to actually repost. This dude knows nothing about football 

[CoastalCat]

Greg Bedard has the Panthers winning the NFC South at 9-7 by division tiebreaker over the Saints (also 9-7), but his game-by-game predictions are...well, see for yourself:

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/09/08/nfl-predictions-picks-nfc-south-schedule

 

Historically......I concur.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

As long as we make the playoffs, fine by me.