Good teams win games they have no business winning

[TN05]

I’m actually pretty confident about our team after last game. We did virtually everything we could to lose and still won. The fact we are winning games like this now is a sign we’re good enough to win even when we aren’t playing our best.

[uncfan888]

That's great, but we play like that in the playoffs and we'll get the doors blown off

[SCO96]

20 minutes ago, TN05 said:

I’m actually pretty confident about our team after last game. We did virtually everything we could to lose and still won. The fact we are winning games like this now is a sign we’re good enough to win even when we aren’t playing our best.

I think there is some truth in what you're saying. NE is 9-2, but until recently they haven't played that well and won some games they could have (or should have lost).

Houston, TB, and NYJ, all had them on the ropes in the 2nd half and managed to lose the games because of poor play calls/decisions (Texans) , failure to execute in critical moments (TB), and suspect calls by the referee in big moments (Jets). The team didn't fold in either of those games and managed to pull them out in the end.

NE should be 7-4 or even 6-5,  but now they appear poised to get home field advantage again for the playoffs, which gives them an easier road to the SB. They could be on the verge of winning the SB 3 times in 4 years for the 2nd time during the Brady/Belichik era.

[TheRumGone]

Just win. Don’t care how we do it.

[Bronn]

NE is going to be the #3 or #4 seed. Pittsburgh is probably gonna be the #1 on the AFC side. NE isn't gonna just coast. They are gonna have trouble with Buffalo this week, I think.

That said, we NEED to beat NO, MIN, and ATL to be legit. GB looks like a gimme game, and TB doesn't scare me in Charlotte.

I actually think we could lose all three of those NEED games and still make a #5 or #6 seed, but nobody wants to back into the playoffs.

We owe both NO and MIN... NO for our last game in Charlotte, and Minnesota for the past two times we've faced them.

I think we still owe ATL for marring our regular season in 2015.

[Khyber53]

Champions win the ugly games. And that one was ugly.

That being said, if DA rides off into the sunset soon, think we could grab McCown again? The guy's still got it. Heck, I don't remember him ever playing that well before.

 

[Khyber53]

1 minute ago, Bronn said:

I think we still owe ATL for marring our regular season in 2015.

We need to beat ATL if nothing else than to nail the coffin lid shut on their threat to us this season.

[SCO96]

1 minute ago, Bronn said:

NE is going to be the #3 or #4 seed. Pittsburgh is probably gonna be the #1 on the AFC side. NE isn't gonna just coast. They are gonna have trouble with Buffalo this week, I think.

That said, we NEED to beat NO, MIN, and ATL to be legit. GB looks like a gimme game, and TB doesn't scare me in Charlotte.

I actually think we could lose all three of those NEED games and still make a #5 or #6 seed, but nobody wants to back into the playoffs.

We owe both NO and MIN... NO for our last game in Charlotte, and Minnesota for the past two times we've faced them.

I think we still owe ATL for marring our regular season in 2015.

How do you figure they are gonna be a #3 or #4 seed?

They close with 3 straight road games (Buffalo, Miami and Pittsburgh) and the final 2 at home (Buffalo and NYJ). I think they will (or should be) the favorite in all 5 of those games. Miami usually plays them tough at home so I could see an upset there. Pittsburgh actually has a more talented roster from top to bottom so they could win at home, but until they can figure out how to beat the Pats in a game that actually matters I'm going with NE.

Even if they lose those 2 or 3 that's a 12-4/11-5 record.  That should still get them a 2nd seed for the playoffs. Every other team in the AFC already has more than 4 losses (amazing isn't it) except Tennessee and Jacksonville. I can't see either of those teams finishing with a better record than NE and one will probably be a wildcard considering the fact that they play in the same division.

 

[Mr. Scot]

12 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Champions win the ugly games. And that one was ugly.

That being said, if DA rides off into the sunset soon, think we could grab McCown again? The guy's still got it. Heck, I don't remember him ever playing that well before.

 

McCown has always been a passable backup at least.  A while back he was showing up Cutler in Chicago before Bears brass decided they had to stick with Cutler regardless of whether it was the best option or not.

That one decision to try and throw it away rather than just holding the ball and taking the sack cost them, though.

[Cary Kollins]

yes, see 2015

[Snake]

17 minutes ago, Bronn said:

NE is going to be the #3 or #4 seed. Pittsburgh is probably gonna be the #1 on the AFC side. NE isn't gonna just coast. They are gonna have trouble with Buffalo this week, I think.

That said, we NEED to beat NO, MIN, and ATL to be legit. GB looks like a gimme game, and TB doesn't scare me in Charlotte.

I actually think we could lose all three of those NEED games and still make a #5 or #6 seed, but nobody wants to back into the playoffs.

We owe both NO and MIN... NO for our last game in Charlotte, and Minnesota for the past two times we've faced them.

I think we still owe ATL for marring our regular season in 2015.

If we beat all three of those teams we are probably the best team in the NFC. I mean thats 3 playoff games. 

[Bronn]

4 minutes ago, SCO96 said:

How do you figure they are gonna be a #3 or #4 seed?

They close with 3 straight road games (Buffalo, Miami and Pittsburgh) and the final 2 at home (Buffalo and NYJ). I think they will (or should be) the favorite in all 5 of those games. Miami usually plays them tough at home so I could see an upset there. Pittsburgh actually has a more talented roster from top to bottom so they could win at home, but until they can figure out how to beat the Pats in a game that actually matters I'm going with NE.

Even if they lose those 2 or 3 that's a 12-4/11-5 record.  That should still get them a 2nd seed for the playoffs. Every other team in the AFC already has more than 4 losses (amazing isn't it) except Tennessee and Jacksonville. I can't see either of those teams finishing with a better record than NE and one will probably be a wildcard considering the fact that they play in the same division.

 

Jacksonville OR Tennessee could both beat NE for the #2.

NE, I think, will lose to Pittsburgh, Buffalo at least once, and potentially the NYJ. Their defense still isn't that great, and if you can shut down Gronk and their run game, they are pretty much just like the Panthers on offense. hit and miss. Buffalo is a good team when they can put it all together. Like it or not, they are basically the Panthers with a slightly worse offense and defense. Their defense actually can hang with most teams, and they hope their offense keeps them competitive. I think they match up well with NE and both games could be close.

People are sleeping on Jax. I was a little disappointed in their outing yesterday, but they are a good team. Tennessee has a good squad too, just inconsistent.

[Peppers90 NC]

It's good to be 8-3 and find things to improve on

[UpstatePanther]

This game reminded me of a few games over the last few seasons:

2013: Starting in Week 12 we had multiple games that were too close for comfort against teams that we had no business losing to. Remember... we had literally pulled a 2017 Saints, going 1-3 before ripping off 7 games, some in epic fashion (@SF and vsNE on MNF). Those games included @Miami (20-16), vsNYJ (30-20), vsNO (17-13 in a monsoon), and @ATL (21-20). 

2014: After going 3-8-1 the Panthers trashed the Saints in New Orleans and proceeded to have two close home games against the Bucs and Johnny-Football-led Browns before trashing Atlanta to win our second division title in a row (unprecedented in the NFC South to this day). 

2015: After steam rolling the entire fuging league to go 11-0, the Panthers faced New Orleans in the Dome again. It was a game that got out of hand early, but the Panthers recovered and gutted out a close win to win our 12th in as many games. After trashing the Falcons via shutout the next week, the Giants surprised us at MetLife and the Panthers won on a last second field goal. For those who don't remember, the Panthers jumped out to a 28-7 lead and then blew it, necessitating the last-second game winner. The following week, the Falcons handed the Panthers their first loss of the season when the Panthers barely showed up to play. 

Point being, despite our stellar Nov/Dec record under Cam/Rivera, the Panthers are not immune to lackluster games late in the season. Lets hope Rivera is reminding the boys of this and doing everything he can to keep them focused.