Virtually everyone is picking us to beat the Jags

[CRA]

It is a home game and the Jags have a rookie making his debut on the road.......just about any team would be expected to win this game in this scenario.

[Kevin Greene]

The Patriots are favored every week.

Doesn't seem to bother them.

[footballisasport]

Virtually everyone is saying Cam will have another monster game. Virtually everyone is saying Blaine Gabbert will play horribly.

This is a team that has lost 16 of its past 18 games.

So I want you to ask yourself something: When was the last time the Carolina Panthers lived up to expectations in a game where everybody expected them to beat the other team down? It hardly ever happens, especially at home. So why should we expect it to happen on Sunday? Is it simply because all of that underperforming was done under Fox and Jake and we're expecting it to be different with Rivera and Cam?

I think we're going to squeak out a win and Cam will have an efficient, less eye popping game. But if you think it's a slam-dunk that Cam is going to pass for 500 yards and we're going to beat the Jags by 30, you're ignoring what's been happening with this team over the years and even what's been happening with this team in the past week. Don't be surprised and become clinically depressed if we do lose. After all, we're 2-16 over our past 18 games.

It's going to be between Cam and Blaine, not the Jags and Panthers.

The talking heads are intentionally lowering the expectation for Blaine so even if he does half decent and lose they will hype it into a whole heap of praises. If he wins, then Cam is going to get benched for Anderson cause the media will practically have Blaine in the HOF and annointed ROTY. There will be nonestop boasting that he was a third string QB who was given a chance after the failure of the previous two and ESPN will then make a movie about Blaine's life. :D:D

[footballisasport]

I don't think Newton will throw for 500, I see the running backs showing up on sunday

I don't care how much Newton throws, as long as u win.

[Panths]

All I know is year after year we poo the bed when everyone has us as the favorite. Let's hope the Rivera Era makes that a thing of the past.

[Tarheels23]

I'm concerned with stopping their running game, and the lack of ours. The team with the most rushing yards win, and no I'm not including check down passes.

[PantherBrew]

This is a game where Dan Connor is going to be the key player.

Him making tackles and not allow MJD to get to the second third level is vital.

We have to keep them out of 3rd and 2 or 1. We have to force them into obvious passing downs. Blaine could have a good day if they get the running going thus making playaction very, very effective.

[Herb]

The days of cherishing the underdog role and wanting to surprise everyone needs to stop. We are in the process of building a great team and establishing ourselves as one of the most consistently great teams in the league. It has been fun to be underdogs in the past and to always have comeback wins and nail biters, but it's also why people have never taken us seriously as a franchise. We have been far too inconsistent. We need to live up to our expectations and make sure that each game and each new season becomes easier and easier from here on out. It's time for the playoffs to be the expectation each season, not the expectation every other 3 or 4 seasons.

[dugbug]

Good test for Cam: Being favored and keep the energy level high.

Also, our defense has got to stop the run. Yeah, Connor will definitely have to have his day. He was always sold as good against the run

[nosuchthingasapanther]

i'll believe carolina can win when i see them win.

[Gipetto]

CAm throws for 500 yards easily even if were leading were still gonna throw

[XClown1986]

We are going to blitz the hell out of Gabbert. If we can rattle him, game is over, but if he can step up in the pocket and make some plays I don't see us winning it. Defense is going to have to win this one I think.

[lightsout]

I see it going like this.

We come out swinging. Cam is...well, Cam for the first drive. 7-0. Our defense gets a few consecutive 3 and outs/turnovers, we go into half probably 17-3 or 6. They come out, make it interesting. We've been running the ball more than the previous two weeks, and it is being effective (at least 4 yards a pop). Score becomes something like 20-13, then Chud says "fug it" and tells Cam to whoop ass. We step on their necks and keep them down, end up winning with the score being around (rough estimate ) 37-13.

I honestly feel like if we're up, we're going to be aggressive while at the same time playing it semi-conservative (just to be sure we get a win out of it, to help with team morale). Once we see Jacksonville still has life, we say to hell with it and try to score 100. I just think that is the way Chud and Rivera think (or at least, I hope so). I want the post-game presser with Rivera to go something like this IF that is the case:

Reporter: "So, you guys seemed like you wanted to run the score up. Cam threw for a lot of yards in the 2nd half and it seemed like you maybe didn't need to. Was that the case?"

Rivera: "Are you fuging kidding me? Look, it isn't our job to stop ourselves. It is the opposing defenses job to do that. When they stop trying to score, we'll stop trying to score. This is football, not soccer."

That is followed by the huddle exploding with laughter and beer.

[footballisasport]

I really believe the Panther will win if they treat every game as a must win and play like Tom Brady. Don't stop racking up the points until the game is officially over. And please don't let anything the talking heads say get to their heads.