No one has given a legit reason why the Broncos would beat us

[countryboi]

wade phillips and a saints game style turnover fest....even then we could still win

[pantherj]

You want to see turnovers? Wait for 39 year old neck surgery immobile Peyton to start taking hits. He's going to chuck dead ducks like a damn Labrador retriever. And let's not forget about their butter fingers RB. Good lord. He's pretty stupid at taking hand offs.

[outlaw4]

There are legitimate rationales out there but I haven't heard much of them. To play a little devil's advocate:

1. Special Teams - We've had blocked field goals in the past. Heck, we had an extra point blocked that the Saints returned for 2 points. Let's not forget the dumb penalties we occasionally make that gives the opponent more field position. Nortman hasn't been perfect either. That bad one against the Cardinals could've been big except we got a major break in our favor. Finally, we've given up big returns like the one against the Seahawks that started their comeback.

Counter: It's not Bersin fielding punts. Ginn has almost broken off returns for touchdowns. Some of the aforementioned issues were noticed in the regular season and hasn't crept up lately.

2. Shula - The man we once torched hasn't given us reason to do so lately. Of course, who knows if he tries being too cute in the biggest stage or is too stubborn to go away with plays that aren't working, especially if our protection isn't holding up well.

Counter: Cam has more control of the offense now. Shula has improved in making adjustments.

3. Death by a Thousand Slices - Rather than the Denver offense trying to go vertical, they'll dink and dunk their way down the field. We let Luke McCown, a journeyman, almost take us down only for Norman to make the saving interception. Don't forget how often we get opponents to third and longs and allow a first down with a slant, crossing pattern or similar.

Counter: Peyton Manning isn't Drew Brees or Tom Brady. He can try but he won't be consistent enough, resulting in opportunities for interceptions.

4. Bad Cam - Denver defense could get him into bad habits such as poor mechanics, running way too far back for costly sacks or forcing him to throw on the run where his accuracy is more suspect. Additionally, Denver could be working to clog up those passing lanes since that has been a problem in the past.

Counter: Cam has found ways to get out of 2nd and 20 scenarios before and even with wobblers, have made big plays throw while running. He's got the cushion of the run game and our defense in case he's not at his best.

I can come up with more but I think you get the point. There are ways for Denver to win but their path to victory is a lot more narrow. Therefore, there should be multiple factors listed. Otherwise, it's like how people thought the Cubs were finally going to win the World Series because Back to the Future predicted it.

[DaveThePanther2008]

It is funny.   I had posted in another thread about the great Denver Defense.  They talk and talk and talk about how we haven't faced anyone.  I was running stats through NFL.com and noticed the following.

Based on YPG.

Denver had face 10 games where the opponent was in 20 or below in YPG.  Two were in the lower teens and the remaining 6 games they played were against top 10 and 2 of those games were in the playoffs.   5-1 against those teams BTW. (Three Teams Twice)

For Carolina it was pretty much the opposite.  We had 10 games against top 10 offenses, 4 teens and 4 below 20.

While good I don't think they are as historically great like some might think.  

In PPG they were 4th and we were 6th.  IMO a more telling stat on who is better defensively.

 

[GoobyPls]

12 minutes ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

It is funny.   I had posted in another thread about the great Denver Defense.  They talk and talk and talk about how we haven't faced anyone.  I was running stats through NFL.com and noticed the following.

Based on YPG.

Denver had face 10 games where the opponent was in 20 or below in YPG.  Two were in the lower teens and the remaining 6 games they played were against top 10 and 2 of those games were in the playoffs.   5-1 against those teams BTW. (Three Teams Twice)

For Carolina it was pretty much the opposite.  We had 10 games against top 10 offenses, 4 teens and 4 below 20.

While good I don't think they are as historically great like some might think.  

In PPG they were 4th and we were 6th.  IMO a more telling stat on who is better defensively.

 

Considering how awful Denver offense has been, I think Denver D has been phenomenal this season, Usually a great D is followed by a ball control offense, Denver offense is the opposite of ball control 

[uncfan888]

2 hours ago, hammertime said:

Perhaps because Denver has the #1 passing defense, and the #1 rushing defense in the NFL. 

#3 rushing defense. No one factors in postseason results when determining a ranking

[L-TownCat]

4 hours ago, hammertime said:

Perhaps because Denver has the #1 passing defense, and the #1 rushing defense in the NFL. 

Skewed stats.  Our team played off coveragse and allowed pass and rush yards after the games were well in hand.

Dirty little secret, our D is better than Denver's.  Doesn't mean they aren't good but this perceived advantage is smoke and mirrors.

[d-dave]

"Didn't you known the Denver is just better? I mean if you can't agree with that than you have been fooled by the media and are delusional."

That has been passed around here a few times here by supposed "realists." looking at the season stats, both Panthers and Broncos benefited from playing bad teams. But the stats show that if you keep runnignon Denver's vaunted D, you score points. And who is the better running team akin this game? Yeah...

Run the ball, play good defense l, control the clock.

Denver Will win if they score more points.

[BIGH2001]

Every scenario that I have seen requires about 4 or 5 "ifs."  if denever wins the turnover battle, if they contain our rushing attack, if they get to cam in the backfield, if they get a big special teams play.

No one has said "if denver plays an ordinary game they will win."  However, if the panthers play their average game they will win.  We are far more talented on offense and closer to equal on defense.  Bottom line is we win by two scores unless we make a lot of mistakes and denver plays it's best game.  See the Atlanta game - that's their only formula.

[FootballMaestro]

6 hours ago, pantherj said:

We should be able run on Denver's defense rather well. Taking out the fact that I'm a Panthers fan I still think we should win. If I had to bet by picking the winner there is no way in hell I would pick Denver.

How in the world are experts picking against us? They don't even offer good reasons as to why we should lose. It's unfuging believable. I have to wonder if you forced these experts to put money on the game if they would change their tune. It's like when experts came out picking the Jags to beat us. What the fug? Didn't even give good reasons why we should lose. It's Panthers hate. It's hatred toward the South. Or it's inexplicable. The tip is that they don't give good reasons why they are making their pick. They give "I feel a tickle in my balls about Denver" type reasons. Unreal. They should be fired. God I would fire them in a heartbeat for being incompetent.

Nostalgia and wistful thinking long on Peyton remembrance.

[ThPantherFan]

Hasn't it been mentioned that defense wins superbowls?  Of course, not this time.

[truthjuice]

4 minutes ago, ThPantherFan said:

Hasn't it been mentioned that defense wins superbowls?  Of course, not this time.

That still may be true, and we have the defense to do it. 

I think Denver has too much focus on pressure Cam or contain Cam. Arizona made that their game plan too and we see how it worked out. Carolina goes to play Carolina football and win. 

[JJT]

7 hours ago, cookinbrak said:

"Number One Defense vs Number One Offense"....

Fine. Let them negate each other. Our defense would still score more than their offense.

Stats are for losers. You know we're better than the Broncos. 

[thefuzz]

Biggest reasons.

 

1: It's football, and they are really good at it too.

2: Bright lights.  Our most important players have never seen them this bright.

3:  Defense always travels.  Typically this would be the biggest issue, however, it's not normal that a top offensive team is also a top defensive team.\

We should win, but I don't think it will be as easy as many on this board are expecting.