Win and loss projections from Cat Scratch Reader

[LinvilleGorge]

Overall, 7-10 seems decently reasonable. 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

No matter the logic or lack thereof, 7-10 matches my feel but I’m no expert.  Just a guy with uneducated opinions.  

[DaveThePanther2008]

15 hours ago, CPsinceDay1 said:

Week 1 vs New York Jets - Loss (0-1). There’s no better way starting off a new season than a home game against a rookie quarterback and a new opposing head coach. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is pumped up for the ultimate revenge game. Zach Wilson throws for 365 yards 0TDs in his NFL debut but still winds up with the win. 

Week 2 vs New Orleans Saints - Loss (0-2). Yes, they’ve lost Drew Brees, but the Saints still have a talented roster and a top coaching staff.  Jameis Winston outperforms Sam Darnold.  

Week 3 at Houston Texans - Loss (0-3). The Texans without Deshaun Watson could very well be the worst team in the NFL. Darnold’s first season pick-six is the turning point in another Carolina’s lost. 

Week 4 at Dallas Cowboys - Loss (0-4). The Cowboys deep receiving corps shreds the Panthers corners while Ezekiel Elliott reminds us Jermaine Carter Jr. isn’t the long-term solution at middle linebacker. Dallas scores somewhere between 35 and 42 points in a blowout win. Darnold is benched after his 2nd picked six for the season. 

Week 5 vs Philadelphia Eagles - Win (1-4). Carolina returns home to win a 13-10 defensive slugfest featuring lots and lots of punts. Brian Burns records 2.5 sacks as the Panthers defense bottles up Jalen Hurts. PJ "All I Do Is Win" Walker makes his debut start for the 2021 season. 

Week 6 Minnesota Vikings - Win (2-4). This one hurts. A back-and-forth contest ultimately goes to overtime where PJ puts the team on his back, and leads us to victory. Many start to wonder what if he just started last year against the Vikings, the Huddle is down for a couple of days. 

Week 7 at New York Giants - Win (3-4). In a matchup between two equally below-average teams, the Giants can not overcome PJ's 4th quarter heroics. After two frustratingly wins in back-to-back weeks, Panthers fans lament how they could have a 2nd round pick to get help on the O-line for PJ. 

Week 8 at Atlanta Falcons - Win (4-4). Christian McCaffrey exceeds 100 yards both rushing and receiving as the Panthers put together their most complete game of the season in a blowout win on the road against a division rival. 

Week 9 vs New England Patriots - Win (5-4). Rookie quarterback Mac Jones gets outplayed by PJ Walker and Panthers fans start to justifiably criticize GM Scott Fitterer for drafting a cornerback at No. 8 (Jaycee Horn) over quarterbacks Justin Fields (No. 11) and Jones (No. 15) all the while PJ was sitting right there to be their true franchise quarterback. 

Week 10 at Arizona Cardinals - Win (6-4). Carolina wins a close, entertaining, high-scoring road game between two fairly evenly matched teams. 

Week 11 vs Washington Football Team - Win (7-4). Despite having a top tier defense, coach Ron Rivera dials up an uber-conservative game plan which allows the Panthers to keep things close until late. A late Washington punt from inside the Panthers 50 yard line sets up Carolina’s game-winning drive. 

Week 12 at Miami Dolphins - Win (8-4). Carolina goes on the road and picks up a tough game to a Dolphins team that is on course for a double-digit win season and a playoff appearance. Carolina is now a darkhorse to win the NFC 

Week 13 - Bye week

Week 14 vs Atlanta Falcons - Win (9-4). Coming off the bye week the Panthers coaching staff responds with a great game plan. PJ Walker passes for over 400 yards, Christian McCaffrey gets over 200 scrimmage yards, and the defense sacks Matt Ryan six times in a blowout win. Carolina now favorite in the NFC.

Week 15 at Buffalo Bills - Loss (9-5). Carolina gets manhandled by the “Panthers North” as Josh Allen’s name is in the thick of the MVP discussion and the Bills are gunning for a first round playoff bye. PJ's first lost of the season, but the lost was needed because players were losing focus due to the national exposure.

Week 16 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Win (10-5). The defending Super Bowl champs are locked and loaded on a championship repeat. The Panthers fight hard and find a way to win a close one at home to their more experienced, more talented NFC South rivals. 

Week 17 at New Orleans Saints - Win (11-5). With the playoffs ahead, a host of Panthers fans will be annoyed when Carolina wins against the Saints because PJ was left in the 4th quarter when the game was clearly won. 

Week 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Win (12-5). With playoff seeding still on the line, the Panthers pick apart the Bucs for the second time in three weeks. Darnold makes an appearance at the beginning of the 4th to seal the deal for the number one seed in the NFC.

Your mancrush on PJ is annoying.

Edited September 9, 2021 by DaveThePanther2008

[BrianS]

7-9 wins in the second year of a massive rebuild should give all of us hope for the future.  I think we can get there.  I can even get behind 4-6 wins if it makes the clear case that Darnold is not the answer.

My only concern this year is that we get a definitive answer to the question:  Is Sam Darnold a franchise QB?

[DeeJay]

16-1

Cat scratch reader smoking the ganja

[shaqattaq]

16 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

BYU’s Taysom Hill will replace a shaky Jameis Winston in the second half and lead the Saints on a game-winning two-minute drive.

 

 

Lost me with this 

I have tickets to that game, he better be wrong! I'll accept nothing less than a good old-fashioned ass whooping after not being allowed in the stadium last year. I got 2 years worth of cheering to get out of my system.

BTW, The Golden Calf of Bristol is (notice I didn't say was) a better QB than Hill!

[shaqattaq]

26 minutes ago, Pejorative Miscreant said:

No matter the logic or lack thereof, 7-10 matches my feel but I’m no expert.  Just a guy with uneducated opinions.  

So are 99% of us, whether we admit it or not. I wouldn't cry over 7 wins, but I really think (hope) we can pull off a winning season. 9-10 wins.

[CPsinceDay1]

1 hour ago, DeeJay said:

16-1

Cat scratch reader smoking the ganja

And he gave us a losing record and got at least one pie, I post a winning record poo all day, 

What y'all smoking K2?

[mbarbour21]

Week 1 vs New York Jets - Win (1-0). If we lose this game, pack up the season. We have too many weapons on offense to drop this game. So, either we lose because of Darnold or the offensive line. Neither will be replaced this season.

W 27-13.

Week 2 vs New Orleans Saints - Win (2-0). I predict Winston has a huge game Week 1 and throws 4 TDs with no INTs. Which means, it's quite possible he does the opposite against us the next week. I just think he will be riding high and so he starts the game slinging it. Bottling Kamara will be a problem.

W 24-20.

Week 3 at Houston Texans - Win (3-0). This should not be close if Watson isn't playing. Their team is a mess. If we trotted out our team of TEs against their team of RBs it might would be interesting. They don't have the firepower or the defense to hang. 

W 35-10

Week 4 at Dallas Cowboys - Loss (3-1). Our defense surprisingly does well against their offense, but our offense has an off day. Our rush defense is greatly improved and forces them to be one dimensional all day. The difference is the vet WRs make one more play against our rookie CBs to pull out the victory. Huddle implodes. 

L 20-17  

Week 5 vs Philadelphia Eagles - Win (4-1). Defense should be all over Hurts, forcing him to beat us with his arm. He falls short. We lost a lot of games last year close, this one falls our way. 

W 17-14

Minnesota Vikings - Loss (4-2). Unless Chinn scores 3 TDs in a row this year, I don't see us winning this game. Our offensive line just isn't good enough and they should have Cook back this time. Score will be closer than it actually was. Will feel more like a 24-10.

L 24-16

Week 7 at New York Giants - Win (5-2). Lack of LB play shows up pretty big this week as Barkley reels off some big runs. Close win as we get shredded on the ground, but hold up well in pass coverage. Panthers fans argue they could just as easily be sitting at 3-4 instead of 5-2, and they aren't wrong. 

W 24-23

Week 8 at Atlanta Falcons - Loss (5-3). This one really hurts. Kyle Pitts and Hurst develop into one of the best TE tandems with Ridley over the top. We just come up a little bit too short. 

L 21-20

Week 9 vs New England Patriots - Win (6-3). By this time, Mac has finally started getting things together. However, so have our rookie corners. Hard fought match-up. But we limp away with the victory.

W 27-24

Week 10 at Arizona Cardinals - Win (7-3). We win in an exciting defensive game. Big plays in pass coverage for both teams. No running lanes to be found on either side. Low-scoring, but action-packed. Our kicking game is consistent enough to squeak out a win.  

W 16-13 

Week 11 vs Washington Football Team - Loss (7-4). The offensive line is no match for the rushers. Darnold has no time. Eerily similar to the year it looked like Cam might have a snap intercepted. Ron does get conservative in good ol' Ron fashion, but even Quiver Goat Ron can't mess this one up. Score is closer than should be because of late conservative play by WFT.

L 21-17

Week 12 at Miami Dolphins - Win (8-4). Carolina takes advantage of an offensive line that Greg Little has a chance to start on. Defense really starts to gel at this point. Best overall game by defense so far this season.  

Week 13 - Bye week

Week 14 vs Atlanta Falcons - Win (9-4). By this time, our defense is looking like a legit top 10. After dropping a game to ATL early, we make adjustments (which we do now) after having extra time and recent game film. This one isn't close.

W 24-10 

Week 15 at Buffalo Bills - Loss (9-5). There are no moral victories in the NFL, but if there was one, this one would be it. We play the most complete game we have all year. Their defense is just too much for our line. We don't even cross the 50 yard line on the last possession.

L 27-24

Week 16 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Win (10-5). We throw everything we can at them defensively and come away with an upset victory. Defense creates turnovers in this one. At least one or two tipped INTs. Huddle thinks we are Super Bowl bound.

W 31-27

Week 17 at New Orleans Saints - Loss (10-6). With the Saints out of reach for a playoff run, this is their Super Bowl. They remind us that a playoff team really needs a consistent offensive-line. 

L 24-20

Week 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Loss (10-7). This one isn't close. We take our worst loss of the season as the Bucs seek a first-round bye.  

L 31-17

We make playoffs and win Super Bowl. Thank you. 

[TheoJay10]

The season could go many ways. We improved every where, no matter how marginal. I can’t see us close to the same record as last year. Darnold can get us over the hump Teddy couldn’t. 8 games we basically lost ourselves was wholly on Teddy and the lack of experience of the staff. This year will be different I say we get no less than 8 wins. 

[JawnyBlaze]

Getting blown out by Dallas? 

[BurnNChinn]

3 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

Your mancrush on PJ is annoying.

I’m starting to wonder of PJ has an account lol!

[glenwo2]

2 hours ago, mbarbour21 said:

Week 1 vs New York Jets - Win (1-0). If we lose this game, pack up the season. We have too many weapons on offense to drop this game. So, either we lose because of Darnold or the offensive line. Neither will be replaced this season.

W 27-13.

Week 2 vs New Orleans Saints - Win (2-0). I predict Winston has a huge game Week 1 and throws 4 TDs with no INTs. Which means, it's quite possible he does the opposite against us the next week. I just think he will be riding high and so he starts the game slinging it. Bottling Kamara will be a problem.

W 24-20.

Week 3 at Houston Texans - Win (3-0). This should not be close if Watson isn't playing. Their team is a mess. If we trotted out our team of TEs against their team of RBs it might would be interesting. They don't have the firepower or the defense to hang. 

W 35-10

Week 4 at Dallas Cowboys - Loss (3-1). Our defense surprisingly does well against their offense, but our offense has an off day. Our rush defense is greatly improved and forces them to be one dimensional all day. The difference is the vet WRs make one more play against our rookie CBs to pull out the victory. Huddle implodes. 

L 20-17  

Week 5 vs Philadelphia Eagles - Win (4-1). Defense should be all over Hurts, forcing him to beat us with his arm. He falls short. We lost a lot of games last year close, this one falls our way. 

W 17-14

Minnesota Vikings - Loss (4-2). Unless Chinn scores 3 TDs in a row this year, I don't see us winning this game. Our offensive line just isn't good enough and they should have Cook back this time. Score will be closer than it actually was. Will feel more like a 24-10.

L 24-16

Week 7 at New York Giants - Win (5-2). Lack of LB play shows up pretty big this week as Barkley reels off some big runs. Close win as we get shredded on the ground, but hold up well in pass coverage. Panthers fans argue they could just as easily be sitting at 3-4 instead of 5-2, and they aren't wrong. 

W 24-23

Week 8 at Atlanta Falcons - Loss (5-3). This one really hurts. Kyle Pitts and Hurst develop into one of the best TE tandems with Ridley over the top. We just come up a little bit too short. 

L 21-20

Week 9 vs New England Patriots - Win (6-3). By this time, Mac has finally started getting things together. However, so have our rookie corners. Hard fought match-up. But we limp away with the victory.

W 27-24

Week 10 at Arizona Cardinals - Win (7-3). We win in an exciting defensive game. Big plays in pass coverage for both teams. No running lanes to be found on either side. Low-scoring, but action-packed. Our kicking game is consistent enough to squeak out a win.  

W 16-13 

Week 11 vs Washington Football Team - Loss (7-4). The offensive line is no match for the rushers. Darnold has no time. Eerily similar to the year it looked like Cam might have a snap intercepted. Ron does get conservative in good ol' Ron fashion, but even Quiver Goat Ron can't mess this one up. Score is closer than should be because of late conservative play by WFT.

L 21-17

Week 12 at Miami Dolphins - Win (8-4). Carolina takes advantage of an offensive line that Greg Little has a chance to start on. Defense really starts to gel at this point. Best overall game by defense so far this season.  

Week 13 - Bye week

Week 14 vs Atlanta Falcons - Win (9-4). By this time, our defense is looking like a legit top 10. After dropping a game to ATL early, we make adjustments (which we do now) after having extra time and recent game film. This one isn't close.

W 24-10 

Week 15 at Buffalo Bills - Loss (9-5). There are no moral victories in the NFL, but if there was one, this one would be it. We play the most complete game we have all year. Their defense is just too much for our line. We don't even cross the 50 yard line on the last possession.

L 27-24

Week 16 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Win (10-5). We throw everything we can at them defensively and come away with an upset victory. Defense creates turnovers in this one. At least one or two tipped INTs. Huddle thinks we are Super Bowl bound.

W 31-27

Week 17 at New Orleans Saints - Loss (10-6). With the Saints out of reach for a playoff run, this is their Super Bowl. They remind us that a playoff team really needs a consistent offensive-line. 

L 24-20

Week 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Loss (10-7). This one isn't close. We take our worst loss of the season as the Bucs seek a first-round bye.  

L 31-17

We make playoffs and win Super Bowl. Thank you. 

I think one of those games you penciled in as a Loss turns out to be a Win, and they end up 11-6.