Into the Panthers-Verse—How Carolina could’ve gone 11-5

[WarPanthers89]

In the spirit of exploring alternate universes, in another dimension the Carolina Panthersfinished the 2018 season with an 11-5 record and are prepping for the playoffs right now. Here’s how:

Week 11 - Panthers 19, Detroit Lions 20

Our Reality: The Panthers scored a touchdown with 1:14 remaining to trim Detroit’s lead to 20-19. Carolina went for a go-ahead two-point conversion. Jarius Wright got open in the end zone but Cam Newton overthrew him on the failed attempt. 

Panthers-Verse: Cam connects with Wright to give the Panthers a 21-20 lead. Luke Kuechly seals the game with an interception and the the Panthers go to 7-3 on the season. 

Week 12 - Panthers 27, Seattle Seahawks30

Our Reality: The Panthers led 27-20 with 3:33 remaining. The Seahawks faced a 4th-and-3 at the Carolina 35. David Moore beat Corn Elder (who was filling in for an injured Donte Jackson) for a touchdown to tie the game, and Seattle went on to win. 

Panthers-Verse: Donte Jackson never gets injured and knocks away the deep pass to David Moore. The Panthers get the ball back with a 27-20 lead with 3:33 left, punt with 1:07 remaining, then knock down a Russell Wilson Hail Mary on the last play of the game. Carolina goes to 8-3. 

Week 14 - Panthers 20, Cleveland Browns26

Our Reality: In Week 13 the Panthers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in every universe (due to Cam’s four interceptions) then faced the Browns in Week 14. With 2:35 remaining, Cam overthrew Jarius Wright on 4th-and-Goal from the three yard line on a play that would’ve put the Panthers up 27-26 late in the game. 

Panthers-Verse: Cam hits Wright with a perfect pass and the Panthers go up 27-26 with 2:35 left. The Browns drive down for a game-winning 52-yard field goal attempt but miss it wide left as the Panthers go to 9-4. 

Week 15 - Panthers 9, New Orleans Saints12

Our Reality: The Panthers led 7-6 and had the ball at the New Orleans 13 with just 18 seconds left in the second quarter. Cam threw a devastating interception which took at least a field goal off the board. Then, late in the third quarter with the Panthers still leading 7-6, D.J. Moore lost a fumble at the New Orleans 28. 

Panthers-Verse: Cam doesn’t throw the interception and Carolina kicks a field goal to go up 10-6 at the half. D.J. Later, D.J. Mooredoesn’t fumble late in the third and his run sets up a Christian McCaffrey touchdown to put the Panthers up 17-6. Carolina wins and improves to 10-4. 

In the Panthers-Verse, Carolina still splits with the Falcons and Saints to finish the season, but in reverse order. Week 16 turns into a home win against the Falcons with a dinged-up but hungry Cam Newton playing (instead of Taylor Heinicke) to go to 11-4, then Week 17 at New Orleans turns into a loss as the Saints now have to play for the No. 1 seed due to their Week 15 loss to the Panthers. 

In the Panthers-Verse, Carolina is 11-5 and headed to the playoffs right now. All it took was five plays going our way:

• Cam connects with Jarius Wright on a two-point conversion to beat the Lions. 
• Carolina’s defense doesn’t surrender a touchdown to Seattle on 4th-and-3. 
• Cam doesn’t overthrow Jarius Wright from the three yard line against the Bucs. 
• Against the Saints, Cam doesn’t throw the pick to end the half and D.J. Moore doesn’t fumble. 

Football really is a game of inches. So many games swing on just one or two big plays. 

With that in mind there is another Panthers-Verse where the 2018 Panthers go 4-12 because two incredible plays don’t go their way and the Saints don’t tank in Week 17. 

• Week 5 - Panthers 33, New York Giants31: Graham Gano misses the game-winning 63-yard field goal. 
• Week 7 - Panthers 21, Philadelphia Eagles17: Cam doesn’t make an incredible play to connect with Torrey Smith on 4th-and-10with 2:06 remaining while trailing 17-14, setting up the game-winning score. 
• Week 17 - Panthers 33, New Orleans Saints 14: The Saints don’t have the No. 1 seed wrapped up and actually play Drew Breesand the starters, beating Carolina 142-6 (or thereabouts). Instead of 7-9 in our current universe, the Panthers just finished 4-12 in this terrible Panthers-Verse. 

The 2018 Panthers are who their record says they are, a disappointing 7-9 squad that choked away the second half of the season with questionable coaching and sloppy execution on both sides of the ball. 

For the optimists, we could’ve gone 11-5 by just making a couple of big plays. 

For the pessimists, we were just a couple of lucky breaks away from a putrid 4-12 season.

Unfortunately for us as Carolina fans, our Panthers-Verse is a 7-9 record and a team in flux. Here’s to hoping the universe allows a few more things to break our way in 2019. 

https://www.derp/2019/1/2/18164364/spider-cam-into-the-panthers-verse-how-carolina-couldve-gone-11-5

[tondi]

That's the long version of "If Cam had stayed healthy" 

[uncfan888]

Good teams make plays. We used all our season luck against new York 

[WarPanthers89]

4 minutes ago, tondi said:

That's the long version of "If Cam had stayed healthy" 

Very true. It makes me sick thinking of hearing Ron Rivera say “missed opportunities” but it is wild to see how each game came down to a play or two and the end to win/lose. 

[Jangler]

when life is not what you wanted, make up another timeline.

[WarPanthers89]

1 minute ago, Jangler said:

when life is not what you wanted, make up another timeline.

Lol sad but true. I mainly posted because I thought it was interesting to recap the games at the end and see how close we really were to winning each game even with cams shoulder being done. Imagine how the games would go if Cam could throw over 20 yards. It was exciting to see Allen throwing the deep pass against the saints. It’s been a while since Cam was healthy enough to do so.

 

[JawnyBlaze]

Short version: fired Rivera before the season

[mc52beast]

I’m not sure that even a healthy Cam would’ve saved this season. We were very lucky to go 6-2, probably one of the worst 6-2 teams ever. A healthy Cam doesn’t make up for a terrible defense 

[JARROD]

The Japanese radios don’t fail during the Battle of Midway, the Japanese sink all of the American aircraft carriers and the least that happens is WW2 is extended by many years and many more people die.

worst case is the world is literally like the Man in the High Castle and everyone hates football.

all over radios failing— divine intervention?

[SOJA]

But honestly even if this stuff does go right we're in the playoffs with a Cam Newton that desperately needs to rest. 

[Chaos]

Who’s cutting onions in here?