Season of Dreams or Season of Illusions?

[Jangler]

I have had a good feeling since the Viking game, nothing has changed this week.

[stankowalski]

We could easily have been 7-1 at this point (the Arizona game was just a debacle all the way around.  I think we have a lot of areas for improvement but so do a lot of teams.  I think we make the playoffs this year btw.  If we beat San Fran that chance goes up quite a bit.  A lot riding on this game.

[propagandamachine]

Were most physical than 49'ers on all phases - Kap will be harassed like nothing he has seen before. 

 

This is our superbowl game right here. Its going to be beautiful. 

[Verge]

I think we are the best team in the NFC as of right now.

[the butch]

My gut tells me that it will be a close game either way.  The team that makes a critical play in the game, whether it is in the first 8 minutes of the game, will win.  I'm predicting something like 17-24.  Hopefully, it's my Panthers.

[pantherclaw]

Panthers are better than their record. How good, is yet to be seen.

We have the best defense in the league, and cam and this offense is capable of a lot of things.

We'll see how good this team is.

If you ask me, we can beat any team in the league.

[KendrickPanther]

There are some things that concern me.

 

-If you go back and look at all of our scoring drives. An alarming number of them would have stalled out had it not been for penalties. I wonder if a more disciplined team won't give us those free first downs.

 

-We have seen teams run on us. Not consistently but at times they blocked the right people and gashed us for nice runs.

 

-Can our secondary hold up against the Tom Brady and Drew Brees type guys? Our pass rush hasn't looked that good to be honest. They prey on the week and dejected but we haven't seen many sacks at key moments. Our blitzes have looked good I'll give us that.

 

-Our right side of the line is still very poor. What happens when we play gifted pass rushers?

[ed bell]

Gut feeling? The Defense is a full blown, legitimate contender for the best in the NFL. Week to week has seemed to show their dominance, but I also think they are still learning and developing. I doubt they have played their best game yet. Keep Pounding.

[Gabeking]

There are some things that concern me.

-If you go back and look at all of our scoring drives. An alarming number of them would have stalled out had it not been for penalties. I wonder if a more disciplined team won't give us those free first downs. we also had a win taken out of our hands because of a BS call this year (Luke's OPI

in buffalo) so it goes hand in hand, plus while we've been no doubt getting some decent breaks to extend drives but we've but it doesn't take away from cam and this offense's great play..., from what I recall we still would've won those games without the penalties as well.

-We have seen teams run on us. Not consistently but at times they blocked the right people and gashed us for nice runs. So? We're not gonna get stuffs and stops on every single play. Just look at Seattle's D, they also got gashed by the great Mike James. We don't have to be the 2000 Ravens D to be a good D

-Can our secondary hold up against the Tom Brady and Drew Brees type guys? Our pass rush hasn't looked that good to be honest. They prey on the week and dejected but we haven't seen many sacks at key moments. Our blitzes have looked good I'll give us that. agreed

-Our right side of the line is still very poor. What happens when we play gifted pass rushers? agreed as well

[Mr49er]

Are the Panthers really as good as their 5-3 record would indicate?

Or will this weekend's contest against the first quality team we've faced in a month or so bring us back down to earth, back to reality?

What's your gut feeling going into Sunday's game?

 

NINER win, no doubt. Not a blowout. Not a last-minute win. We have gone deep into the playoffs the last two years, while your team has struggled to be consistent. Of course, last year has nothing to do with this year and games are played for a reason, so come Sunday we will see whose D is most dominant and whose O moves the chains and scores. With the upcoming loss I'd say you are still a good team.

[KillaCamNewton]

if we win these next two games were not playoff contenders, were legitimate super bowl contenders

[Achilles]

Hopefully the Panthers are the team of RIGHT NOW.  That's all they need to be every week going in.

 

I have seen playoff teams develop and I like what I see with the balance of veteran leadership and young starters who can contribute.

 

I love this matchup with SF.  Win or lose, it will tell us a lot about where this team is going.

 

If we win, it is for real on in the NFC and we have to start looking like a threat to NO.  Also, I think a big win on the road would allow us to keep the momentum going into our MNF tilt vs NE.  It could lead to huge things.

 

If we lose, it will be a set back in the standings but it may not be a huge let down for the players.  In fact, it might give them the focus and grit needed to face the Pats.  It should be a raucous crowd on MNF either way.

 

We are a good team and now are finally beginning to collect the wins to show it.  Cam is most definitely the real deal and RR has clearly grown a lot as a coach. 

 

I personally,18 years a fan, am loving this ride.  Win or lose tomorrow, the ride won't be over.  So just enjoy it. SF is a good team and it will likely be a close, exciting game.

 

 

[twylyght]

I don't get the optimism with the issues we have on the o line right now

[rayzor]

I don't get the optimism with the issues we have on the o line right now

how is it different than the way it's been the rest of the year. we've had scrubs on the right side the while time and we've been getting the job done. chris scott isn't much better than what will be replacing him.

 

optimism is there because in spite of a weak right side, we've been winning and we have been one of the most efficient and effective offenses in the league and our defense is elite and our special teams are no longer a handicap and our coaching staff is making the right calls.

 

right side of the OL might be a weakness, but it's not enough to lose us games because all the other parts on the team are doing really well.