9-7 Could Win the Division

[KendrickPanther]

I could really see a 9-7 record winning the NFC South this year. I think within our division the consensus top 3 can all beat each other. If Schiano can play that ground and pound, mistake free offense you could see the Buccaneers win a few division games as well. We play the NFC East with 3 legit playoff contenders and the Redskins have an explosive talent at QB. We play the AFC West were everyone finished close to .500 last year and the Chiefs/Broncos got better in the off season. The wild card in the AFC West would be Peyton Manning's health. The Saints* drew the Packers and Niners for their other games. You could really see them drop 2 games right there. The Falcons lucked out with the Cardinals but could have trouble with the Lions. We have the Seahawks and Bears who could go either way.

Let's not forget the coaching carousel. Suddenly the Panthers staff is looking like hardened vets. The Falcons replaced coordinators. The Bucs brought in an entire new staff. The Saints* are shuffling responsibility with a couple coaches and a GM suspended. We upgraded at defensive backs coach and brought in help for special teams.

Conventional wisdom is the division winner will be around 11 wins but if everyone starts splitting in the division it could be a fight to the end like the AFC West was last year. Making the playoffs all comes down to dominating the division in my opinion.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Yeah, I call bull-sh*t.

11 wins will win the division.

[janderson20vt]

Yeah, no.

[PhillyB]

Who's to say either way?

I expect there to be a massive logjam for wildcats spots any way it shakes out.

[pantherj]

It's not unusual for at least one team in the NFCS to be decimated by injuries, allowing for the other teams to get one or two easy wins a piece. The Saints*, barring injury, should not lose 7 games with a HOF QB, and an elite offense in a passing league.

[Razzy]

10-11 wins is more likely. I like that the Panthers are +600 in vegas to win the division. Good odds.

[Davidson Deac II]

Possible yes, but highly unlikely.

[DeeJay]

14 wins plz

[Ivan The Awesome]

Double digit wins...

[iamhubby1]

With the South playing each team in the East, and one each of the North. There could be some screwy tie-breakers coming into play.

At 9 wins, we had better win the Division, cuz we won't sniff the wild card. There are basically 10 teams, or more with the West, fighting for 6 spots. And the competition is fierce. Which is why I have been saying we need to start fast. We have to finish what we started late last year.

Going to be a wild ride. Better buckle up folks.

[KendrickPanther]

9-7 Won the Super Bowl, no reason it can't win the NFC South. When you start talking wild card it becomes a complex equation because it's all about how different divisions match up with one another. I know in 2004 we could have locked up a wild card at 9-7 but we lost on the last day of the regular season. 9-7 Wild cards definitely happen. Then again we have seen 11-5 miss the playoffs.

[Borat]

Not a chance.

[MasterAwesome]

With how competitive and talented our division is...I wouldn't be all that surprised if 9-7 was the WORST record in the division.

[KendrickPanther]

With how competitive and talented our division is...I wouldn't be all that surprised if 9-7 was the WORST record in the division.

Mathematically that would be almost impossible. There are only 12 division wins to be split amongst 4 teams whilst no team going over 6. Every team would have to average a minimum of 6 wins out of the division from 10 games. So I suppose it is possible but the NFC East and AFC West would have to lose a ton of games.