Week 1: Panthers vs Falcons

[pantherclaw]

24-10 Good guys. 

Defense shows up, and our running game is better than theirs. 

[kungfoodude]

Leaning Falcons because they have some more offensive juice against a little bit of a questionable defensive unit for us. 

Really hard to make any predictions because we just haven't seen any live fire reps yet. Especially with the wholesale coaching turnover.

[Sgt Schultz]

3 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

Leaning Falcons because they have some more offensive juice against a little bit of a questionable defensive unit for us. 

Really hard to make any predictions because we just haven't seen any live fire reps yet. Especially with the wholesale coaching turnover.

Yeah, I have absolutely no idea what to expect from either team.  We do know the Falcons will run the ball.  Otherwise, it is anybody's guess. 

I usually chalk up NFL results in the entire month of September as almost random events.  September is a little like what preseason once was, only the wins and losses count.  We've seen teams own September and then disappear from the Radar, and teams look like the Keystone Kops for most of the first four weeks, and then go on a tear. 

[KatsAzz]

On 9/5/2023 at 2:12 PM, CRA said:

Atlanta in a ugly relatively low scoring one.  I'd give it to whoever was home.  That happens to be Atl.   

Sadly, that seems to be the established trend.

[Mother Grabber]

13 minutes ago, KatsAzz said:

Sadly, that seems to be the established trend.

i’ll be at home. 

[Icege]

QB: Panthers
Young & Dalton vs. Ridder & Heinicke. Fairly straight forward here, even if Bryce is a rookie.

RB: Falcons
That RB room for the Falcons is nuts. Idk how they expect everybody to get their touches, but I don't think there'd be many that would argue for Sanders, Hubbard, and Blackshear over Robinson, Allgeier, and Patterson.

WR: Panthers
I like Chark, Thielen, Mingo, TMJ, Shenault, and SmithMarsette compared to London, Hollins, Miller, Hodge, Ali, and Hart.

TE: Falcons
Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, and MyCole Pruitt is an impressive TE1 - TE3. 

OL: Push
The Falcons OL is a lot better than given credit for. The right side of the line is one of the better run-blocking units in the league. Matthews, Bergeron, Hennessy, Lindstrom, and McGary are all in a system that takes advantage of their ability to move opposing defenses off of the spot. I want to say that the Panthers have the better line, and would even go so far as to say it if Austin Corbett was starting, but missing him along with the rough outting we saw during the preseason makes it difficult to continue to give the Panthers' OL the benefit of the doubt.

ST: Panthers
I like Koo a lot, and Pinion is a solid punter. However, Johnny Hekker is an animal and JJ Jansen's long snapping makes any specialist better.

DL: Falcons
Grady Jarrett, Calais Campbell, and David Onyemata is gonna suck to have to go up against. Then they've got solid depth as well with Harrison, Graham, and Gaziano? Oof.

EDGE: Push
Really expected to be able to say that the Falcons were better here but so long as Burns plays the Panthers might have the better pass rushers. Never thought I'd say that this season.

LB: Panthers
Shaq and Luvu are criminally underrated. Grugier-Hill is solid depth as well. I'd take them over Andersen-Elliss-Davis.

CB: Falcons
Falcons have more depth at the CB position for sure. AJ Terrell is a beast, but they also recently drafted Mike Hughes. Tre Flowers is solid depth and Dee Alford isn't terrible either. The question mark for them I think will be how Jeff Okudah pans out (if he can stay healthy). The Panthers are one injury away from CJ Henderson starting @ CB1 or CB2.

S: Panthers
Jessie Bates III was an awesome addition for the Falcons to pair on the defensive backfield with Richie Grant. But... uh... Jeremy Chinn, Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods, and Sam Franklin Jr are all pretty damn good.

[joemac]

On 9/5/2023 at 1:39 PM, CPcavedweller said:

Our defense? Will frustrate someone? Other than Panthers fans? 

People are going to be shocked out how unprepared we really are. 

WTF are you talking about dude?  How do you even come to that conclusion?  The D will be a strength of this team this year.

[joemac]

On 9/5/2023 at 3:23 PM, rebelrouser said:

We have a better qb. They have a better everything else. Falcons 27 Panthers 13. 

The do not have a better O line or a better defense.  The only things they have better than us are the offensive skill positions.  Actually just one WR, maybe TE and a rookie RB who has never played a snap. 

[joemac]

22 hours ago, Carl Spackler said:

I don't recall a time where I felt less confident in the roster entering Week 1, than I do now. I feel better because Rhule and his bums aren't here, but looking at the lineup without Burns and with such a razor-thin pass rush and defensive line plus a wholly unimpressive offensive line, I don't have much confidence in winning this game or even looking remotely competitive until garbage time. If Burns plays, that'll help -- but if not, it kinda feels like 40-10.

Important Note: What someone thinks might happen does NOT equate to what they want to happen. Blind optimism is understandable in Week 1, but those who do not have it are not lesser fans.

LOL WHAT?!?

What the hell is wrong with some of y'all?  I have NEVER seen this fanbase so down on this team.  Not even in the Rhule years where we started Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold.  I don't get it. 

[Carl Spackler]

58 minutes ago, joemac said:

LOL WHAT?!?

What the hell is wrong with some of y'all?  I have NEVER seen this fanbase so down on this team.  Not even in the Rhule years where we started Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold.  I don't get it. 

Do you have an actual response?

Thoughts on offensive line struggles, lack of DL depth, lack of pass rush and a run-defense weakness against a team that's going to run the ball a lot?

[CPcavedweller]

1 hour ago, joemac said:

WTF are you talking about dude?  How do you even come to that conclusion?  The D will be a strength of this team this year.

I came to that conclusion through everything I saw in Fall Camp, in preseason games, and the fact that Burns isn't playing. Sure, we were running a lot of base defense with little game planning but our 1's were thrashed in every game they played in preseason and in the joint practice.

Nevermind the fact that Arthur Smith is a great offensive minded coach with Bijan, Pitts, and London to work with, as well as Patterson. NFL games are rarely blowouts but our defense is going to experience some growing pains this year. Our 1's are okay but quality depth will be an issue. 

If Ron Rivera can't switch to a 3-4 in one year and make it work, I highly doubt Evero can. Ron switched in 2019 and when we struggled, predictably thanks to not having the personnel, he was fired. This is Year 1 of a switch again and our best, and pretty much only, pass rushing OLB is not going to play. 

So, yeah. It's not what people want to hear and it's not what most are expecting but we have a lot of holes on this team and will probably be fighting for 3rd place with the Bucs in the South. 

[CPcavedweller]

7 hours ago, pantherclaw said:

24-10 Good guys. 

Defense shows up, and our running game is better than theirs. 

You think our running game will be better than the Falcons who not only have Bijan and Patterson but who are returning a 1,000 yard rusher from 2022? Not to mention Pitts and Drake London. 

If the Falcons only score 10 points then we are in for a whale of a season and you better put money on the over for our win total in Vegas.

I think we score between 14 and 24 points but there is no way we hold them to 10, especially if Burns is out.

[gakonline]

8 hours ago, pantherclaw said:

24-10 Good guys. 

Defense shows up, and our running game is better than theirs. 

Finally some optimism!  Not sure why everyone thinks the Panthers have regressed since last season.  We should have beat them in the dome last year with PJ freaking Walker. 

[Deltek44]

Close game, Ridder is not accurate, issue is we wont stop the scrambling.

27-17