Who is moronic enough to believe we stand a chance against Green Bay?

[eViL jEsTeR]

I am for five reasons:

1. The last time Cam Newton lost a home game that counted was September 8, 2006 when Westlake HS lost at home to the eventual state champions, the Frederick Douglass Astros 25-22. That was over 5 years ago. The man feeds off the energy from the fans and that's why I hope we bring it on Sunday. Keep in mind that his best games by far this preseason were at home.

2. We lost to Arizona solely due to dumb mental errors. Talent-wise, we looked better than they did throughout the day. All of the penalties by the offensive line that killed drives are easily correctable, especially at home. The sloppy breakdowns in coverage against Doucet and King came from defenders still learning McDermott's scheme. Heck, Beason had no preseason and he was the one that blew the Jeff King touchdown by being out of position. The Peterson TD came off inexperienced punt coverage that is also very fixable. If we had played Arizona in December, we would have won by two scores easily.

3. You may have heard about how great the Green Bay secondary is, and they very well may still be, but they were just shredded by Drew Brees for 419 yards and 3 TDs. I'm not saying Cam Newton is as good as Brees yet, but the Panthers supporting cast of 89, Shockey, and Olsen is much better than what the Saints had going up against the Packers secondary. Dom Capers is a master of disguise and gameplanning, but the media that keeps hyping up Woodson and Williams seems to already have forgotten their performance last Thursday.

4. The Packers defense struggles against pass-catching tight ends. Last season, Vernon Davis shredded them for 126 yards and a touchdown. In one bad game against the Lions in the first month of the season last year, Tony Sheffler and Brandon Pettigrew combined for 14 catches for 154 yards. If Sheffler and Pettigrew could do that with Drew Stanton throwing them the ball, what's going to happen when we run Shockey and Olsen and Cam at them?

5. The Packers defense also has had weaknesses against scrambling quarterbacks. In their road opener last year, Michael Vick ran for 100+ yards against them in his coming out performance as the new Eagles starting quarterback.

BELIEVE

1. We're not playing a high school team. We're playing the Superbowl Champions.

2. You mention stupid mistakes. They were made against one of the worst teams in the league last season and we still managed to lose. Do you think we will fix everything in our second game? And in case you haven't heard, we're not playing one of the worst teams in the league this week like we did last week. (see #1 above)

3. Last thursday, the packer defense got "shredded" by one of the best QB's in the game and core of the previous Superbowl Championship team (yet they still lost.) We were the worst team in the league last year and our offense just looked spectacular against a weak defense (yet we still lost.) The packers was one of the best defenses in the league last year.

4. Davis had a touchdown? Really? Do you think that one touchdown by a TE will be enough. Did you watch the game last week? The Saints scored many touchdowns and still lost the game. So what if Vernon Davis scored a touchdown on them last year.

5. We don't have Mike Vick.

And as an added bonus, we just lost our star defensive player for the season.

Are you willing to put money on it? $500?

[SCP]

I hope it is close. I would love to win, but damn we are just behind the 8 ball right now. But I want it to be close because if it's a blow out, all the damn Packers fans in the stadium will be loud and gloating and I just can't take that.

[lightsout]

Quick side note about Otah probably not being out there Sunday. Folks, there are 11 men on offense. 1 guy is not going to ruin us. Yeah, it is going to hurt. Yeah, it is going to make pass rushing easy for the Packers off their left end. But dammit, we have one of the best dual-threat guys in the league. Cam will have time or at least make time with his feet to get passes off. And, if all else fails, hopefully the run game can get going and hopefully Newton has the opportunity to take off with the ball a couple times.

We'll be fine. I am not EXPECTING a win. I am, however, expecting us to compete and not get blown out. Winable game, but it will not come easy.

[beastson]

Well, if u guys want to believe that the Panthers can't beat the Greenbay Packers that is fine, but maybe u can believe that Cam and company can steal the spotlight from them by giving them a real good challenge and keep the game close like the Saints did...Is that hard to ask for?

Nope... go out there and play hard

[Cape Fear Cat]

Aw, what the heck. Count me in!

[Cape Fear Cat]

1. We're not playing a high school team. We're playing the Superbowl Champions.

2. You mention stupid mistakes. They were made against one of the worst teams in the league last season and we still managed to lose. Do you think we will fix everything in our second game? And in case you haven't heard, we're not playing one of the worst teams in the league this week like we did last week. (see #1 above)

3. Last thursday, the packer defense got "shredded" by one of the best QB's in the game and core of the previous Superbowl Championship team (yet they still lost.) We were the worst team in the league last year and our offense just looked spectacular against a weak defense (yet we still lost.) The packers was one of the best defenses in the league last year.

4. Davis had a touchdown? Really? Do you think that one touchdown by a TE will be enough. Did you watch the game last week? The Saints scored many touchdowns and still lost the game. So what if Vernon Davis scored a touchdown on them last year.

5. We don't have Mike Vick.

And as an added bonus, we just lost our star defensive player for the season.

Are you willing to put money on it? $500?

Dude, I think the point of the thread is to enjoy a bit of optimism for a change. Do you also ruin kids' birthday parties by telling how the magic tricks are done? Can't you just let fans have a moment or two of feeling good about their team? Remember Bambi? Remember what Thumper's mom said? "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Try it sometime!

[OneBadassCat]

Odds are that Cam will throw a pick in the this game. Things will be more complex. When it gets to the 4th qtr we are going to need the running game to make some plays and take some pressure off Cam. I don't think he's experienced enough to basically manipulate defenses like play dough, like Rodgers or Brady can.

[PiratePanther189]

Odds are that Cam will throw a pick in the this game. Things will be more complex. When it gets to the 4th qtr we are going to need the running game to make some plays and take some pressure off Cam. I don't think he's experienced enough to basically manipulate defenses like play dough, like Rodgers or Brady can.

I think that's the bottom line, our success on offense is based solely on the running game. Not just D-Will and Stewart, but Cam as well. If Cam can pick up some early yards on the ground, I think it will completely change the Pack's gameplan and coverage schemes to those that might leave zones open since LB's will have to stay home to spy on Cam.

[DC Amp]

I don't think it's moronic to believe in your team more like the contrary. I know they can win and hope they do! :cheers2:

[carolinarolls]

me

I wear moronic like a proud virgin at a fertility orgy

[raleigh-panther]

Let's do it man. I believe. Scream your heads off for our team sunday. Do not let our team leave that stadium without a W.

This.

I say Panthers 34, Packers 31.

I will be at that stadium Sunday, section 342 and I assure you everyone there will be screaming.

This team is so young, they don't know they shouldn't win, and maybe emotion can help them. It sure as hell can't hurt.

We also need for Dwill and that Oline to wake the hell up and show the hell up.

Freaking Otah...don't get me started...

[sml1950]

We can win if:

1. GB sees this game as merely an inconvience between shelling NO and Chicago on the road next week.

2. We're at least +2 in TOs

3. We hold them to less that 30

4. We run for at least 150

This team has talent, and now that they have that competitve spirit back, and a QB that gives them a chance, we'll see the difference. It may still be too early for the team to gel, but it could happen sooner that everyone thinks.

[PrimeTyme]

I'm moronic enough to believe we can win.. i believe

[SOJA]

I opened this thread expecting to trash SMF.....I stand corrected