The X Factor: Playoff Experience

[MillionDollarCam]

To give you Panther fans a slight glimmer of hope I want to take you back to the 2012-2013 season where our Carolina Panthers fell flat on their face at home in a playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

That 49ers team had a wealth of experience in Vernon Davis, Joe Staley, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Mike Iupati, Justin Smith, Anquan Boldin, Ahmad Brooks, NaVorro Bowman, and Donte Whitner. The 49ers were ready and prepared for that playoff atmosphere. Our young Cam Newton-led Panthers were not.

This time our veteran group is going on the road against a young Saints team. We must remember that the Saints have not been to the playoffs since 2013. Furthermore, they have a LARGE number of players at important positions that have never even played a snap in the playoffs (Michael Thomas, Brandon Coleman, Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Larry Warford, Ryan Ramczyk, Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, Ken Crawley, P.J. Williams, Muhammad Al-Quadin, Sheldon Rankins, Trey Hendeickson, Vonn Bell etc.).

The point is, there are a lot of players on the Saints who have never been in this position as where the Panthers are chalked full of guys at every position who have playoff experience.

The Panthers will need to go into New Orleans and use this experience to get the win.

There's hope! The 2013 Ravens ended up finishing the season 1-3 before Flacco went on a tear in the playoffs and brought the Super Bowl trophy back to Baltimore. If Cam can get into a rythem like Flacco did, there is enough talent on this team to make a run.

/End Optimism - Carry On With Your Negativity

[Snake]

That was also with a ton of help from the refs. Don't expect us to get that treatment. The NFL will want to see a Shootout with the Rams and Saints so they will get all the calls. 

[LA_Panther]

Point taken ...

But you forgot Drew Brews and Sean Payton. 

Only way I see us winning is forcing early turnovers and building a big lead ... Then survive the inevitable defensive capitulation in the 4th quarter for the win