An Elephant in the Room

[X-Clown]

I am absolutely shocked that it has been brought up as little as it has, but I figure I might as well mention it.

The schedule. Is anyone paying attention? When I look at this schedule, I do not see a single off-week in terms of opponents. Moreover, with a bye week so early in the season and concerns with depth at OLine and DLine, it HAS to figure in to how our season will play out.

Last year, we had a favorable schedule with a table of relatively weak opponents across the board. Couple that with outstanding depth where we needed it, we matched our best regular season win total in franchise history.

When I look at this year's schedule, I think I will be happy with a 9-7 outcome and getting into the playoffs ahead of the rest of the NFC South.

Am I crazy? Please... someone talk me down from this, because I don't honestly don't see the amazing season that so many people here are talking about.

Go search for posts by user "Gman was right". Just about every single post in the past 3 months he's made has been about this topic.

[Section 505]

I'm more concerned about the bye week

I think you mean coming off the bye. Panthers always play horrible in that game coming off the bye. Not looking forward to that Washington Game.

[mantal]

Since when has this not been talked about?

To be fair, Twylyght is not on here that often...

[R0CKnR0LLA]

[PhillyB]

:rofl:

[Kettle]

i'm not complaining about the schedule one bit. carolina has played down to competition in the past so this year they'll have to always play up. the bye is early, but that gives the team more of the season to recover from it since they haven't played that well off them in the past. to top it off they open and end the regular season at BOA stadium. that's sweet as fug!

[VGcollector]

I think we will do good this season, like many have said the panthers play well vs good opponents. Also, this team has been known to letdown against certain opponents. Plus, the last time we had a bye in week 3 was in 2003 so i'm hoping we repeat and go to superbowl. Last season i had us at 12-4, this season 13-3 go panthers.

[Snake]

I never really buy in to the preseason tough schedule talk. Some of the teams we think are good on that schedule will tank this year, other teams we think are bad will do better.

The preseason schedule rankings are never accurate come the end of the season.

:iagree: Who saw the cards playing so well last year? The only thing you can bet on is that DET and CLE will be bad. Thats about it.

[Matt Foley]

If you say it the way the British say it...shedule...it's not nearly as daunting. Try it.

[MadHatter]

Now that is just damn funny:smilielol5:

[Razzy]

Strength of Schedule is possibly the most overrated statistic in the NFL. Why? Simply because the NFL is not a static league. Coaching staffs are fired and hired, rosters are overhauled via free agency and the draft, systems are scrapped and redesigned, and major injuries occur in camp, preseason and the regular season.

It's the same reason the Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11-5. It's the same reason we usually see 5-6 division winners change each season.

[Liminy]

There are never weeks off in the NFL, period... regardless of the schedule.

This ^

You can't have a mindset going into a game that the team will be easy, all teams usually play their hardest so if you let up just a little your going down. It doesn't matter if your playing Pittsburgh or Detroit, you should go out with the same tenacity and give every team your best so there is no "take it easy" this game.

[GRWatcher]

:iagree: Who saw the cards playing so well last year? The only thing you can bet on is that DET and CLE will be bad. Thats about it.

They didn't even play that well until the playoffs. They just got lucky and played better than the rest of the NFC West.

We played the NFC East & the AFC South in 2003. The state of Texas beat us that year. I agree with Zod.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

I can't remember the last time this team played an "easy" game. In hindsight all of the "easy" games last year turned out to be close and competitive. That said, the coaching staff and players should not be looking be surprised by having to always be ready.

Here's to playing up to the competition.