So, Putting The Bears Game In Perspective

[CarolinaSamurai]

10 hours ago, Saca312 said:

It's been very apparent our coaching staff is holding back this team. Much like how Sarkisian makes the Falcons look like a DIII team offensively, Rivera and Shula make this group look like high schoolers. With poor time management, situational awareness, and lack of urgency, it's pretty obvious this team won't go far if this keeps up.

However, if you take away our poor time management, three fluke plays, and coaching influences, we probably would've dominated the Bears.

Had we not gotten any turnovers, it's very likely we would've been at least 9-3 against the Bears. Our defense was absolutely demolishing Trubisky and shutting down their offense. The Panthers were moving down the field pretty well before those turnovers and would likely have gotten at least a few FGs. Had Rivera and co. actually managed the situation well (i.e. not burning down the clock with so many runs/putting the game on Cam), we probably would've won.

We were the better team. The sad thing is, the Bears capitalized on our mistakes big-time, and it ultimately cost us.

But alas, our mistakes and turnovers have cost us two games so far - one against the Eagles, the other the Bears. Props especially to the Bears for covering our receivers well. Luckily, it appears we won't be facing as formidable of a defense until the Vikings, so we'll likely be getting on a hot streak soon.

Going against an injured Bucs defense that has been pretty bad as of late, it's fair to expect our offense to rebound in a positive way. Considering the state of Jameis and their oline, we could probably get our first turnovers. And afterwards, we face a demoralized Falcons team coming off a depressing loss to the former SB champs. Sarkisian is worse than Shula, and their defense is undisciplined too.

Very likely we turn things around soon. I personally expect to see us get around the 10-12 win range. We've looked good outside costly mistakes. Just need to start ensuring we're doing what we're supposed to do and win some games, and we should be playoff bound.

However, if Rivera keeps up his poor coaching, and Shula remains a terrible situational play-caller, we could very well suck once again despite my optimism.

Every week we hear how bad the defenses we are going to play are. Every week we make them look incredible regardless of where they are ranked. Our offense is a defenses get right game. So forgive me if I don't think we will do well vs any defense in the league right now.

[Thanatos]

I will point out that the Bears were coached by John Fox. As soon as they went up 14-0 he basically shut down the offense. They weren't even trying to score really, except one shot to Cohen, they were just trying not to turn the ball over and run the clock.

[Khyber53]

Right now, the coaching (at least on the offensive side -- defense and ST seem to be good) does suck. Even so, you'd expect someone out there to score more than 3 points. Hell, even the frikkin' Browns managed to coozy up far enough up the field to bang in three field goals and nine points.

It is just unfathomable how bad the offense is. Perhaps the entire starting offensive group should be in the concussion protocol... it's gotta be dain bramage. Even with bad coaching, those guys should have been able to accidentally score more than 3 points.

They laid an egg here, the biggest in franchise history, imo. Hell, bench 'em all and suit up Gilbert and any practice squadders that can find their helmets at this point.

 

[grateflday]

10 hours ago, Saca312 said:

I mean in all honesty we'd be talking a whole different game had it not been for the fluky turnovers. Bad luck happens, but overall the team performed nicely.

The defense was dominant again. Three games this year they've shut down offenses to score 3 or less points. 

Fix up mistakes, and we can push through in this league.

Of course, coaching is always going to be the main factor that could tip us either way.

Can change "had it not been for the fluky turnovers" to "had they not face any adversity" .....  the Panthers are barely ever able to overcome any adversity.  The second something bad happens or things don't going their way they stay in that kind of funk for the entire game.  I can barely remember when they have been able to overcome something like yesterday.  It was 17-3 and they had almost an entire game to right the ship, against, a mediocre team and were not able to.  That is the Panthers, except for maybe the Superbowl year. 

[Ornias]

35 minutes ago, Thanatos said:

I will point out that the Bears were coached by John Fox. As soon as they went up 14-0 he basically shut down the offense. They weren't even trying to score really, except one shot to Cohen, they were just trying not to turn the ball over and run the clock.

Problem was, so was Shula. 

[Mojo]

Nothing wrong with optimism but way too many if's and kool aid sipping.  Deal only with the facts and not hypotheticals and it's very hard to justify this as a 10-12 win team.