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

[Frizzy350]

  We got slower in the secondary....and have more questions than people realize IMO

Even so I think the crop of DBs we currently have is certainly the most talented we've had in quite a few years.  Norman has shown the ability to shut down some big name receivers.  Bene is a playmaker.  Tillman is a man you can trust to have on the field.

Yea Harper is old and slow, but I think Ron wises up and spells him relatively often and gets the other safeties involved.  Coleman certainly has potential too.

[Panfan35]

This is the easiest schedule the panthers have had in close to 10 yrs, name one year it was this easy. We are dominate at the line of scrimmage and thats where games are won. I see a 4-0 start even the rough part of our schedule is not really that bad Seattle's not the same team their oline looked bad this preseason. 12 or 14 win season the bad news is shula will stay apart of this team if only we could get wins while making shula look like complete poo would be ideal.

[CPantherKing]

If we start 1-6 I'm gonna be mighty sad

2-2 at the bye for September. 0-4 at the mid point during the tough stretch in October. 2-2 in November. 4-0 to finish the season in December.

I can not pick an opener, post bye, Seattle, or Green Bay game until Rivera proves otherwise.

Rivera's record by 4 game blocks:

Game 1-4:     5W-11L

Game 5-8:     7W-8L-1T

Game 9-12:   7W-9L

Game 13-16: 13W-3L

So, how about a fan base that actively let's reality set in during September for Rivera/Gettleman instead of letting them coast for 8 losses? The rainbows and unicorns of a 12+ win season need to be squashed, and a full on critically charged fan/media based offensive needs to be applied to this organization to hit championship status. Otherwise, you can just expect more of the same. Produce a winning record by mid season or time to start searching for a new coach/gm. Hot seat motivation with a realistic fan base perspective is necessary for this organization if you want it to develop a championship culture.

[London Loves Luke]

2-2 at the bye for September. 0-4 at the mid point during the tough stretch in October. 2-2 in November. 4-0 to finish the season in December.

I can not pick an opener, post bye, Seattle, or Green Bay game until Rivera proves otherwise.

Rivera's record by 4 game blocks:

Game 1-4:     5W-11L

Game 5-8:     7W-8L-1T

Game 9-12:   7W-9L

Game 13-16: 13W-3L

So, how about a fan base that actively let's reality set in during September for Rivera/Gettleman instead of letting them coast for 8 losses? The rainbows and unicorns of a 12+ win season need to be squashed, and a full on critically charged fan/media based offensive needs to be applied to this organization to hit championship status. Otherwise, you can just expect more of the same. Produce a winning record by mid season or time to start searching for a new coach/gm. Hot seat motivation with a realistic fan base perspective is necessary for this organization if you want it to develop a championship culture.

exactly what benefit does winning the first half of the season give us if we end hot and reach the playoffs?

I honestly couldn't care whether we go 8-8 or 11-5 as long as we finish the season strong, healthy and in the playoffs.

Your not the only one that's noticed this and the stats don't point out anything new. Take a step back and realise that ending the season well is infinitely better than starting it strong.

[Jangler]

But... Having a winning opening month, means having a better a season overall statistically speaking. Can't see how that is a bad thing. 

[CPantherKing]

exactly what benefit does winning the first half of the season give us if we end hot and reach the playoffs?

I honestly couldn't care whether we go 8-8 or 11-5 as long as we finish the season strong, healthy and in the playoffs.

Your not the only one that's noticed this and the stats don't point out anything new. Take a step back and realise that ending the season well is infinitely better than starting it strong.

For getting to the playoffs you are correct. For winning a championship you are incorrect. The probability of getting to the Super Bowl with a losing record to start the season is a 0.001% chance. No team to ever win their own conference championship has ever had a losing record in the first half of a season.

Reality begins to set in on what type of coach and front office you need to win a championship.

Now, 7 teams have gone to the Super Bowl and failed to have a winning record in the last half of the season. Only one of those 7 teams had a losing record in their last 8 games - the 2011 NY Giants went 3-5 in their final 8 games. Funny thing is of those 7 teams the NY Giants are the only team to win a Super Bowl.

There have been 98 Super Bowl teams. No team has had a losing record in the first half of the season to go on to the Super Bowl, and only 1 team has had a losing 2nd half to go on to the Super Bowl.

You may want to revise your argument that a losing record does not matter in the first half of the season, and finishing strong is more important. History tells us different, and sets an extremely steep hill to achieve it with the Rivera/Gettleman plan. You could say improbable.

It is extremely important to have a winning record in the first half of the season if you want a Super Bowl. A HC and GM who want to win championships should know this, and whether you keep them for the long term should be solely dependent on the first half of the season. A HC/GM who waste the first half of the season developing and retooling their team over taking the necessary risk to win are a waste of time for any organization.

So, set the fire under the team now if you want a championship.