Winter storm... advantage or disadvantage?

[UpstatePanther]

Want to preface this thread by saying that I'm not being a chicken little. I have full faith and confidence in our team to overcome the elements. Anyway...

So the Cardinals aren't in town yet (RE: thread) and perhaps the storm may interfere with their travel plans. It's also likely that the soggy turf may also affect them during the game in the Panthers favor.

However, as ESPN reported, Rivera claims it was lack of preparation that kept the team from playing well against the Falcons in Atlanta. With this winter storm and possible changes to the practice schedule, could this make the Panthers less prepared than they need to be?

My thoughts are that the disadvantages to each team will cancel out. But it caught my eye that preparation, not complacency, was the issue in ATL. And now we may be faced with a similar situation. 

What are your thoughts y'all? Is the winter storm a good, neutral, or bad thing for the Panthers?

[PhillyB]

it could actually substantially affect the crowd noise if a bunch of losers decide not to make the trip to charlotte because they're worried about roads.

[Jon Snow]

Push on practice time, disadvantage on bad weather crowd turnout.

[Ihatedook]

7 minutes ago, PhillyB said:

it could actually substantially affect the crowd noise if a bunch of losers decide not to make the trip to charlotte because they're worried about roads.

and if thats the case i will gladly take their tickets. greensboro isn't far and I'm willing lol

[Jangler]

Cardinals will be landing at Greenville international airport...

[UpstatePanther]

12 minutes ago, PhillyB said:

it could actually substantially affect the crowd noise if a bunch of losers decide not to make the trip to charlotte because they're worried about roads.

I didn't think about that. But you're right. Though, I live 1.5 hours west of Charlotte and I am going to be there come hell or high (frozen?) water. There are very few things that would keep me from going to this game, and weather isn't one of them. And I hope our fanbase as a whole feels the same way. After the showing we had for the hell-game of Houston and the chilly monsoon of the Colts, I have alittle more faith in the fanbase.

[Cary Kollins]

Advantage Panthers. The Cardinals have been living in 75 degree temps out in Arizona. They will be in for a rude fugging awakening Sunday night. 

 

Also, Rivera specifically mentioned how the preparation for the Atlanta game was all screwed up, which led to the team not performing well. He's learned from those mistakes. That loss ultimately was beneficial for the team in a number of ways.

[Semaj]

I agree with Philly regarding the fans possibly not showing up for the game, but I do believe that the poor field conditions if they exist will benefit our team, because Arizona's weapons will be slowed down, meanwhile we will just pound the ball down the Cardinals throat irregardless.  So lets hope the fans show up and the field is complete poo.  

[UpstatePanther]

Just now, Cary Kollins said:

Advantage Panthers. The Cardinals have been living in 75 degree temps out in Arizona. They will be in for a rude fugging awakening Sunday night. 

Yeah gametime temp will be hovering around freezing I think. AccuWeather says 35 at 6pm going down to 25 by 11pm. Mostly clear. Light breeze.

Advantage -> Panthers

[Cary Kollins]

4 minutes ago, UpstatePanther said:

Yeah gametime temp will be hovering around freezing I think. AccuWeather says 35 at 6pm going down to 25 by 11pm. Mostly clear. Light breeze.

Advantage -> Panthers

 

Big time. This is why home field advantage is so crucial. Can you imagine playing these a-holes in a dome on turf?

[GRWatcher]

I can see practice being called a little earlier in the morning tomorrow before most of the weather shows up. And it's supposed to be gone by early Saturday afternoon. So I don't think the practice preps will be affected that much.

And as for a thinner crowd on game day, I've heard a drastically reduced crowd (down by almost half) sound really loud because, I think, the people left are die hard, stop-at-nothing fans who will yell & scream and, just maybe, the empty seats reflect the crowd sound back to the field better. Also, hopefully having the game late will be a plus with the roads clearing up nicely.

[LUUUUUKE]

Advantage this guy, someone will drop their tickets low on Saturday afternoon into my waiting lap!

 

[Floppin]

34 minutes ago, PhillyB said:

it could actually substantially affect the crowd noise if a bunch of losers decide not to make the trip to charlotte because they're worried about roads.

fug those people. My flight back from Denver to wilmington for tomorrow was canceled due to a Charlotte connection. No other flights are available for transfer until Sunday anywhere in NC or SC so I bought a new fuging ticket to Atlanta For tomorrow morning and a buddy who happens to be coming up from Miami is going to pick me up and drive me the rest of the way to wilmington so I can get my car. Then immediately changing out my bag for fresh clothes and driving to Charlotte.

 

I don't give a fug if I had to hitchhike from Denver to Wilmington I'm not fuging missing this game.

[UpstatePanther]

17 minutes ago, Cary Kollins said:

 

Big time. This is why home field advantage is so crucial. Can you imagine playing these a-holes in a dome on turf?

With their fans screaming while we are on offense instead of vice versa. Yes I know our fans still make too much noise on offense, but it's not like having an entire dome full of opposing fans making racket.

12 minutes ago, GRWatcher said:

And as for a thinner crowd on game day, I've heard a drastically reduced crowd (down by almost half) sound really loud because, I think, the people left are die hard, stop-at-nothing fans who will yell & scream and, just maybe, the empty seats reflect the crowd sound back to the field better. Also, hopefully having the game late will be a plus with the roads clearing up nicely.

Both your points about the fans and the roads are good ones. I'm honestly not worried about fan turn out. There has never been such a big game in Charlotte in Panther history. Even last week and 2013 vs Patriots weren't this big of a deal. Plus tickets are expensive enough that people probably cant afford to let weather stand in their way. They'll just drive alittle more careful, or perhaps start driving alittle later. 

I still expect a huge, rabid turnout of Panther fans. I'll be disappointed if the stadium is less than 90% full