Is The Season Opener A "Must Win" For You?

[nosuchthingasapanther]

I don't think the sky is falling if we lose to a great Seattle team...

 

the sky may not be falling, but a week one loss paints the same lame picture from past seasons and indicates little to no progress from an overall lukewarm team.

 

my fondest memory of 2008 was the win in week 1. when that game was over, you knew the season was going to be good.

[Proudiddy]

I might just go blow my brains out.

No the first game of the season is not a "must win".

It would be a great win. It is always important to win at home. It is nice to start the season off right.

But if we start 0-1 we aren't going to pack it in and start evaluating our younger guys.

I think some of you guys don't quite get what "must wins" are. They are the games that if you lose your season or postseason seeding is literally on the line.

That won't be game one. I hope we win it though. It would be a great win.

 

So, our history of underperforming under Rivera, and even Fox before him, in season openers will have no bearing on the players' thinking if we lose this one?

Our history of not bouncing back from early/tough losses has no carryover to the present?

 

Yes, this is a new year, and technically a new team, but considering our recent history and the fact that our seasons have essentially been lost after the first game and subsequently the first 5 games, I'd say that would qualify the season opener as a must win.

 

Again, just my opinion, but I think the weight of recent seasons does indeed weigh on our players...  Especially guys like Cam, Smitty, CJ, etc., but moreso on Cam.

[AceBoogie]

The first game of the season is never a must win game. There are a lot of good week 1 matchups meaning a lot of good teams will lose week 1. It's a home game and you need to win your home games so its a "should" win not a must.

Yea I know not what you would expect me to say given my critique of the preseason.

[JawnyBlaze]

I do agree it would be a big boost to the players' (and fans') confidence if we do win that game, but "must win"? The season is over if we don't win it (the definition of a must win game)?  Far from it.  Just means we'll be 18-1 instead of 19-0.

[Proudiddy]

When was the last home opener we won?

 

2008 against the Chargers...  The last season we last had a winning record, lol.  Even more evidence of how big it is for us.

[AceBoogie]

Also remember Mike Shanahan was ready to mail it in last year after they lost to us. Who knew they wouldn't lose another game and make the playoffs. It's all about getting hot at the right time in the NFL. Hot start doesn't equal hot finish see the Bills and Cardinals.

[Cary Kollins]

So if we lose week one, being week one is a must win game, we should just go ahead and tank the rest of the season?

[nosuchthingasapanther]

The first game of the season is never a must win game. There are a lot of good week 1 matchups meaning a lot of good teams will lose week 1. It's a home game and you need to win your home games so its a "should" win not a must.

 

and herein lies the problem...despite what we as fans might like to believe, carolina is not a good team.

[Guest]

If we play a competitive close game and end up losing, I'll still feel good about the season. A blowout loss and I'll be depressed. Like someone else said, more important to head into the bye with a winning record.

[Proudiddy]

So if we lose week one, being week one is a must win game, we should just go ahead and tank the rest of the season?

 

No, that's not what I'm implying.  What I am implying is that losing the season opener has historically predicated a losing season for our team.

 

Furthermore, they have never shown the ability to win when games actually matter under Rivera.

 

As AceBoogie mentioned with the Redskins last year, it's about getting hot at the right time, but my concern is that we have not shown the resiliency to "get hot" after starting slow.

[AceBoogie]

and herein lies the problem...despite what we as fans might like to believe, carolina is not a good team.

I think we are a good team. I don't think we are a Great team. But great teams don't always win the SuperBowl. The giants weren't great the two years they won it. Baltimore wasn't great last year. Nobody said the Redskins or the Colts going into the last season were good teams but they made the playoffs.

We aren't opening against the Bucs again. We are opening against one of if not the toughest defenses in the league. No shame in losing to a better team. It's a must win for the Seahawks. It's Super Bowl or bust for them. We aren't there yet. Beating them is a good step but it doesn't equal playoffs.

[frash.exe]

Pretty much nobody in the entire NFL universe expects us to do anything this season except for a handful of people on this board

It'll be a huge confidence booster to start the season with a W, and it'll make it easier for this team to snowball it into a streak. Poor Septembers have been killing our chances for years

[Zod]

2008 against the Chargers... The last season we last had a winning record, lol. Even more evidence of how big it is for us.

I thought that was in San Diego?

[SIGCHI222]

I thought that was in San Diego?

 

It was.