About this Win

[FootballMaestro]

totally agreed. i haven't seen fight like this from panthers and fans in....well....it's been a while.

 

i absolutely love it. no more mr. nice guy. no more mr. and mrs. pleasant fan.  

 

hello piss and vinegar.

Nice fight indeed. However/in my opinion, It would have helped (their vigor, offensive fluidity, swag etc.) even more, if Rivera would have put up 14 more points on the board during that 4th quarter. That's the ultimate way in demoralizing a team. Remember, in another game (with a different officiating crew, on the road, etc.), Steve Smith or some other Panther could have gotten thrown out for that big melee and the constant jostling and hijinks through out. Why risk it?

 

Rivera essentially (once again) took the air out the ball with a full 15 minutes left, and trusted his defense, by running the ball up the middle with no intention of playing their regular offense throughout the 4th quarter. 

 

The offense needs to live, gain their confidence live to. I know he's a defensive coach. But does he alway have this overtly trust his defense, even when the offense is playing well? He's a Head Coach now. He reminds me so much of Rex Ryan. 

 

Will he ever learn???? He got away with it this time. 

 

Congrats on the win!!

[CardiacCats]

I agree and this is a great post but I'm still terrified to get too excited. I know this team too well and I'm extremely scared we'll lose to Tampa Thursday.

[MadHatter]

Nice fight indeed. However/in my opinion, It would have helped (their vigor, offensive fluidity, swag etc.) even more, if Rivera would have put up 14 more points on the board during that 4th quarter. That's the ultimate way in demoralizing a team.

Rivera essentially (once again) took the air out the ball with a full 15 minutes left, and trusted his defense, by running the ball up the middle with no intention of playing their regular offense throughout the 4th quarter.

The offense needs to live, gain their confidence live to. I know he's a defensive coach. But does he alway have this overtly trust his defense, even when the offense is playing well? He's a Head Coach now. He reminds me so much of Rex Ryan.

Will he ever learn???? He got away with it this time.

Congrats on the win!!

We were up by three scores in the 4th. At that time, the clock was a bigger opponent than the seams. You shorten the game and win by running the ball....giving the rams little time on offense.

You come out throwing and you go 3 and out in 30 sec...giving more offensive chances to the Rams.

We ran the ball well and our defense was stout. Based on that, ground and pound in the 4th WAS the right call.

[therealmjl]

I'd actually love to hear from those at the game of how people in the stands were acting today. The environment seemed so much better, and not just because we were winning. Dare I say, it seemed like a "fun" crowd?

If ANYONE was told to sit down or be quiet, as I have been in the past, the person telling them to do so should receive a swift kick in the genitalia.

Me and a friend were asked to sit down after our goal line stand in the first quarter. I was in shock when the lady asked it...she pointed to her husband who was just just sitting there like a true cocksucker. "Can you please sit we are having a hard time seeing the field."

...really? Go poo in your hand.

[FootballMaestro]

We were up by three scores in the 4th. At that time, the clock was a bigger opponent than the seams. You shorten the game and win by running the ball....giving the rams little time on offense.

You come out throwing and you go 3 and out in 30 sec...giving more offensive chances to the Rams.

We ran the ball well and our defense was stout. Based on that, ground and pound in the 4th WAS the right call.

You run the same offense you were running earlier/to get your lead. However you do it, you certainly can't run the ball up the middle all three downs during every series in the 4th quarter. That's nonsense. They weren't even trying to score or advance the ball. 

 

We've already seen the Panther defense blow numerous similar, bigger or incredulous leads with less time, like the Buffalo (and numerous other games), it seems Rivera's only intention was running the clock out, and not scoring. There has to be a better balance/solution. 

 

PS: If the Rams are playing you to run the ball during the 4th quarter, why don't you take a shot deep or in the endzone?? That's just common sense, if the defense is giving it to you. Rivera's formula (passive on offense and defense with a lead), usually blows more games than wins them, which is why he has such a horrific record in close games. The part that people don't remember is; The Panthers were usually winning those games, including their 3 losses this year.  Nice win yesterday. But Rivera's still a poor game manager in my eyes, till proven otherwise. 

 

 

Plus, you missed my whole point about "sticking it to them on the field", and with NOT the "extracurricular activity", risking an ejection. 

 

That's the Killer Instinct I want to see the Panthers have, burying teams ON THE FIELD/DURING THE GAME, when the opportunity arises!!!

 

Obviously, yesterday was a step up in many fans eyes, cause last Year Ron Ron appeared to yell Hardy and other Panthers off the field during his hijinks against the Falcons last year??

 

 

[AceBoogie]

This helps us with an identity.

The 2003 Panthers were the Cardiac Cat under Jake Delhomme. The fans identified and embraced that team.

Yesterday our fans identified with the "We are Done getting pushed around" attitude this team is portraying.

I love the unity. When J. Gross stood up for Cam that said NO ONE F-Ks with MY QB. Gross is a team leader and though he eventually (smartly) got out of the spotlight. He was as big a part of getting this image out to this team.

It think it was Hardy getting the fans louder and louder (might have been Cam)

You could sense (even through the TV) our fans were getting behind our team.

It was definitely Cam that ran around the field to pump up the crowd and they responded

[CardiacCats]

And I would like to add a lot of people have been saying Cam can't lead key drives. Well yesterday it was 20-12 and the Rams had just scored in 3 plays. This is where the game would start spiraling out of control for the "old" Panthers. I was fully expecting a three and out. But no. Our captain led us down the field on one of the biggest drives of his career which ended in a TD pass, not some shitty FG which really kind of put the game on ice. Rams didn't stand a chance after that

[FootballMaestro]

And I would like to add a lot of people have been saying Cam can't lead key drives. Well yesterday it was 20-12 and the Rams had just scored in 3 plays. This is where the game would start spiraling out of control for the "old" Panthers. I was fully expecting a three and out. But no. Our captain led us down the field on one of the biggest drives of his career which ended in a TD pass, not some shitty FG which really kind of put the game on ice. Rams didn't stand a chance after that

How many times has Cam led key drives during the 4th quarter to retake the lead, just to have the defense blow it down the stretch with no time left (so he can't get the ball back)?? And on top of that, how many times has he and the Panthers had a lead, just to have Rivera take the air out the ball thinking a 3-14 lead was enough during an entire half in the NFL (which of course it wasn't)?

 

So I for one (fan), never looked at it that way. Of course some fans ONLY see the results. They don't know or understand what happens in between (or as a cause), and why. 

[RoaringRiot]

You run the same offense you were running earlier/to get your lead. However you do it, you certainly can't run the ball up the middle all three downs during every series in the 4th quarter. That's nonsense. They weren't even trying to score or advance the ball.

We've already seen the Panther defense blow numerous similar, bigger or incredulous leads with less time, like the Buffalo (and numerous other games), it seems Rivera's only intention was running the clock out, and not scoring. There has to be a better balance/solution.

PS: If the Rams are playing you to run the ball during the 4th quarter, why don't you take a shot deep or in the endzone?? That's just common sense, if the defense is giving it to you. Rivera's formula (passive on offense and defense with a lead), usually blows more games than wins them, which is why he has such a horrific record in close games. The part that people don't remember is; The Panthers were usually winning those games, including their 3 losses this year. Nice win yesterday. But Rivera's still a poor game manager in my eyes, till proven otherwise.

Plus, you missed my whole point about "sticking it to them on the field", and with NOT the "extracurricular activity", risking an ejection.

That's the Killer Instinct I want to see the Panthers have, burying teams ON THE FIELD/DURING THE GAME, when the opportunity arises!!!

Obviously, yesterday was a step up in many fans eyes, cause last Year Ron Ron appeared to yell Hardy and other Panthers off the field during his hijinks against the Falcons last year??

I don't think I could disagree with this more. The Buffalo game was a six point lead. Killing the clock was the right thing to do in that situation. An incomplete pass, QB sack, or interception would have been a killer.

[panthers55]

How many times has Cam led key drives during the 4th quarter to retake the lead, just to have the defense blow it down the stretch with no time left (so he can't get the ball back)?? And on top of that, how many times has he and the Panthers had a lead, just to have Rivera take the air out the ball thinking a 3-14 lead was enough during an entire half in the NFL (which of course it wasn't)?

 

So I for one (fan), never looked at it that way. Of course some fans ONLY see the results. They don't know or understand what happens in between (or as a cause), and why. 

Different context and different scenario.  First of all we were up by 15 which is at least 2 TDs with a 2 point conversion.  They had their backup quarterback in the game and they were going nowhere. It is all fine and good to bring up the blown games and last minute collapses but football is about situations and matchups.  Yesterday there was no need to throw the ball down the field in the fourth quarter.  We did show a lot of fight and poise yesterday and had the game under control.  

 

Sure down the road in a different circumstance we might need to do exactly what you advocate but Rivera and Shula called a good game and did a good job yesterday.  Why nitpick or try and find something wrong?  Enjoy the win.  Lets see how he does the next two games against division rivals.  Tampa and Atlanta both won on big comebacks in the fourth quarter last year.  We might be a little more aggressive at the end against them. We will see.

[DaveThePanther2008]

It was definitely Cam that ran around the field to pump up the crowd and they responded

 

 

That is what I initially thought.  Then I started thinking we were on defense but your right it was Cam.

 

I get overly excited watching these games.   But my damn heart was beating out of my chest that last quarter.

[rayzor]

Different context and different scenario.  First of all we were up by 15 which is at least 2 TDs with a 2 point conversion.  They had their backup quarterback in the game and they were going nowhere. It is all fine and good to bring up the blown games and last minute collapses but football is about situations and matchups.  Yesterday there was no need to throw the ball down the field in the fourth quarter.  We did show a lot of fight and poise yesterday and had the game under control.  

 

Sure down the road in a different circumstance we might need to do exactly what you advocate but Rivera and Shula called a good game and did a good job yesterday.  Why nitpick or try and find something wrong?  Enjoy the win.  Lets see how he does the next two games against division rivals.  Tampa and Atlanta both won on big comebacks in the fourth quarter last year.  We might be a little more aggressive at the end against them. We will see.

great response. add to that, it was a home game in which the fans were actually engaged and taking ownership of their stadium. much different than being away and having the opposing fans getting their team fired up.

 

plus, like you said, we were up by 15 heading into the 4th and then after we stopped that drive they were on we tacked on another three, making it a three possession game at the very least. and then consider that the panthers had gotten into the rams heads and the rams were out of control with their emotions. they were getting toyed with by the panthers and the rams couldn't help themselves and kept racking up dumb 15 yard penalties.

 

AND THEN...their QB goes down and they are stuck with kellen frikkin clemens under center...in a VERY hostile environment...down by 15 or whatever...and their team spiraled out of control. 

 

they weren't coming back and any points they put up were going to be answered by us.  

 

we had the cushion we needed. a fifteen point lead in the fourth with momentum and the clock and the crowd on our side is quite enough to come out with a win, and we did. rivera didn't skate by here. rivera and shula called the right game and the players executed well and the fans did what they were supposed to. 

 

it was as good of a game as you could want to have. we fought hard for that win and it was every bit as convincing a win as our other two. 

 

more than that, this team established it's identity. the team and the fans found themselves. 

 

rivera said early on something about us being the little brother that everybody liked to pick on, but one day we were going to start punching back. 

 

i think the punching back has started.

[tailg8or]

I'd actually love to hear from those at the game of how people in the stands were acting today. The environment seemed so much better, and not just because we were winning. Dare I say, it seemed like a "fun" crowd? 

 

If ANYONE was told to sit down or be quiet, as I have been in the past, the person telling them to do so should receive a swift kick in the genitalia. 

 

It was different ... loud, fun and at times .... rowdy.  The fans were fueling the emotion on the field.  Gross set the tone when he went after Quick after the hit on Cam.  It was close to my seats and Jordan was going after him.  It wasn't just for show.  Also, our defense plays with attitude.  They expect to dominate.

 

 I am looking forward to the next home game against the Falcons.  It runs deep with these teams and for one, I don't care for Ryan.  Expect more fireworks at that game. 

[FutureDynasty]

Looks like Lil' Smitty picked the best game in the last 4 years to come to Charlotte for his first game.  I hope he enjoyed the game and makes it back for a playoff game very soon!  :)