Well, let's get down to it

[lightsout]

Short week means less time to enjoy a win for everybody. Big deal, it's Washington. We did what we should have done. Awesome, but now it's time to refocus.

The high from this win will be replaced by the agony of losing to Dallas in the regular season, again, if our boys don't show up to play Thursday. While that's not a concern, what is a concern is their receivers.

I'm not much on "what we have to do to beat Team X" type of conversations. Why? Because they're stupid. All you need is a formula to beat ANY team. I've stated it several times, and I'm repeating it.

-Win the turnover battle
-Win time of possession
-Win the big play battle (limit the opponent's and get as many as you can)
-No stupid penalties
-No foolish plays/don't make a bad play worse (throwing the ball wildly in order to avoid a sack, trying to scoop and run with an offensive fumble, etc)
-Win the kicking game/ST
-Be the most physical team on the field


Do those things, you win the game 99% of the time, simple as that. Sound fundamental football.

Now, each opponent has their own unique things to consider. For Dallas, this includes:

-Stopping their run game. Romo likes working off play action. Take that threat away.
-Shut down Dez. Force the other receivers to win the game for them. Dez can be a game changer.
-Don't give the other WRs space. Similar to GB, their receivers thrive on running in space and trying to beat you deep. Shutting down Dez forces throws into hopefully tight windows, which is ideal.
-Get pressure. Self explanatory. With these receivers, our front 4 are going to have to do it alone more times than not. Good thing CJ is back.

Offensively, stick with what we do. Fire off the ball. OL can't allow pressure up the middle, because Dallas has speed outside, which could limit Cam. Push rushers wide, give Cam the middle to run through. Their LBs aren't going to be able to stop Cam coming up at them and having both sides of the field to cut to. Funch has to continue being a threat in order to free up everybody else.

There is no reason we should lose this game. None at all. We're the better team, point blank. Dallas can absolutely beat us, but it'll take us not playing at the level we have been and them capitalizing on our mistakes. That's what they're going to bank on, Cam or the defense making mistakes, allowing for them to make plays. Don't give them freebies and be more physical, we win.

Good guys 31
Cowgirls 17

[Jackofalltrades]

Same formula as the Packers, keep Romo in the pocket but under pressure and erase Bryant with J_No.

HUGE test for the DL, hope we have both Dwan and CJ back for rotational purposes.

Chip Hardy with Greg or Ed to give Oher some help.

 

11 - 0

[B.BERSIN]

Surprisingly, I'm worried about the Dallas game, we might get fuged by the league simply to make some "headline".

[d-dave]

47 minutes ago, pantherjack77 said:

well we have incentive...gotta stay ahead of Cardinals for home field...have an extended break afterwards...can you imagine 10 days to think about loss?...well maybe that good thing at this point....to be honest I'm a little concerned about Arizona right on our ass

AZ is the scariest team in the NFC for us.  They do have a smart,s avvy, pelvic thrusting QB who has performed a Vulcan mind meld with his HC...  They have a stout, opportunistic D.  They are 8-2 for a reason.  We haven't really faced a team that's that good offensively AND defensively who continues to play at a high level.  That's going to be one heck of a game when we do face them.

I'd rather do it in Charlotte than AZ. While, I am confident we can beat them, they are probably the most dangerous team in the NFC after us.

[Reynman]

the good news is, as underdogs, we cannot claim it to be a "trap game"

[Jmac]

Romo won't be scrambling with the bum wing. Keep him in the pocket and keep the pressure on him. Have #24 on Bryant, keep the head case DE in check and slam the ball with Stew and open up the play action. No mercy untill they tap out.

[IMissChrisWeinke]

With Funchie growing up, we got solid receivers.

Concerning: special teams. NORTMAN messes up too much.

 

[PhillyB]

3 minutes ago, IMissChrisWeinke said:

Concerning: special teams. NORTMAN messes up too much.

 

what is he messing up exactly? he seems to be flipping the field pretty consistently when called upon

[RealBitsOfPanther]

This game makes me uneasy. I seriously hope we don't come out looking flat and lay an egg. 

[stirs]

Olines

There is where the game will be won and lost.

They have a great one and ours is much much better than last season.

Which Oline will dominate the opposing Dline = Winner

[aussiePanther]

This game has me feeling the same way I was leading up to the Seattle & (to a lessor extent) the GB games.

I want this Win BAD.

I have Johnny Winter's awesome track Dallas running on a loop to match my mood:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcOSmmTTiE

Quote

Goin' back to Dallas, take my razor and my gun
Goin' back to Dallas, man, take my razor and my gun, oh yeah
Lotta of people lookin' for trouble, man I'm sure gon' give 'em some

I believe old Dallas, man it's the meanest town I know
I believe that Dallas, man it's the meanest town I know
Because you ain't safe in Dallas, I don't care where you go

You know that I ain't evil, man just there havin' fun
So much poo in Texas, you're bound to step in some
Goin' back to Dallas, take my razor and my gun
Man if people there lookin' for trouble, sure gonna give 'em some

Goin' load up my revolver, sharpen up my knife
Some redneck messin' with me man, I'm bound to end his life
Down to Dallas, take my razor and my gun
Man people there lookin' for trouble, sure gonna give 'em some

 

[UpstatePanther]

8 minutes ago, pantherjack77 said:

veterans like Thomas Davis and Jared Allen will help keep team focused...plus its national television...Cam loves this stage...he will be ready...thing I do worry about is hitting an emotional and physical wall...but this team is very very hungry

More than that. This team is having fun. Tough, hungry team that is also having fun?! Teams don't want no part of that.

[PanthersUnited]

Aside from maybe Seattle or Green Bay, I haven't been worried about a game all season but this one worries me greatly.. Short week, at Dallas, Romo back, refs and Jones. ALL that stacked against us is why I think we lose

[Newtcase]

Good post!

although

I'd like to add to your list of things you must do to win:

-Score more points than your opponent

Because lets face it, you can do everything on your list and still lose if you don't meet this condition! :)