Carolina is the only team left with ALL of the ingredients

[Udogg]

You lost me at Elite Defense :-(

[dksmith17]

It is the NFL, everyone is elite.

-okay with the exception of the Lions

[ChucktownK]

Play nice.

[Delhommey]

Our D could turn elite real quick like.

[PantherFanForLife]

Not to disagree with a lot of your sentiments, but I remember our defense being pretty damn good in the begining of the year, and saved out asses a couple of times when our offense stunk.

I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt based on two things:

-they got tired and worn down as the season ended

-our offense has been amazing this year, taking a lot of pressure off of the defense. this could have caused some complacency.

I just highly doubt the actual talent and skill of this defense somehow got worse as the season went on. No, they just got lazier and more laid back, knowing our offense can, arguably, for the first time in franchise history, light up the scoreboard on BOTH sides of the ball.

I expect our defense to play a lot differenct in the playoffs when its win or go home, versus how they have played when we pretty much led our division all year long and more or less "guaranteed" ourselves a playoff spot weeks in advance.(Yes i know it was a close race, but honestly did any of us panic that we wouldn't make the playoffs after week 9?. I know I didn't)

Peppers may have played to secure his contract this year, but now I expect him to do it JUST because it's the freaking playoffs. I think he's going to be more fired up than he has been all year, tomorrow. There are a lot of guys on our team that not only want a SB badly, but really truly NEED IT in order for them to complete their careers and establish their names as one of the greats. Peppers needs a ring. Badly.

PS: Smith does too. And so does Jake. Let alone Kasay, who would retire as the original Panther WITH a SB ring. Seriously these guys were emotional and excited in their first SB. Now, it's different. They will be HUNGRY for it.

[Zod]

Run game : Check

Stop the run: Check

All you need to have a chance at a ring.

[catz]

Well you left off coaching - all that talent is great but I think Fox - for the most part - has done a great job of managing the game AND motivating the players at half time to win some of those games.

[Cyberjag]

By Cardinal rules, if the defense plays well today they're back and one of the best in the NFL.

I don't hang the elite label on our defense either, but we are the most complete team left in the playoffs. Warner, McNabb and Rivers are the only QBs left who can really give us any trouble. None of the defenses out there can stop our offense. And I think our coaching staff can hang with anyone, particularly this time of year.

Game on!

[JJT]

...knowing our offense can, arguably, ... light up the scoreboard on BOTH sides of the ball.

How do we do that?

[HGG]

Our defense is far from elite.

Some people clearly can't stop living in the past, thinking this defense is elite.

However, I do expect much better defensive effort from this team in the playoffs, because they have the ability to be good.

How do we do that?

LOL.

I'm guessing they meant both dimensions of the offensive game...running and passing, but they just couldn't find the right words, LOL.

[dimbee]

That such a homer list. I love it, haha.

:ack2:

[CharlotteBeer.com]

How do we do that?

Pick six, silly. We've done it so often this year.

[pstall]

Stopping 3rd down conversions and we will be fine. Don't do that, uh oh.

[Tweeder]

That such a homer list. I love it, haha.

dimbee is a Bears fan.

It is the 3% talking