wild card

Ric Flair was awesone back in the day. The Rock or other current guys owe him a debt of gratitude

 

Carolina
vs. New York Jets -
Have to win this one. Their rush defense is exceptional but the pass defense is suspect. Shula's current 29th ranked pass offense needs to get shit in gear. The Jets are pretty good at running the ball but stink throwing it, which plays into Carolina's defense. Get some Geno interceptions and this should be a win.

vs. New Orleans Saints -
I've said all along that this is a terrible match-up for the Panthers. I don't think home/away really matters much, it will take some luck or an injury to Brees to get this one.

@ Atlanta Falcons -
17 point fourth quarter made the first game look more like a blowout than it was. The Panthers haven't won in Atlanta since 2007 and they would love nothing more than to keep Carolina out of the playoffs. Do not assume this is a win.

Projected finish: 10-6


San Francisco
@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I don't care that they're supposedly playing better. San Francisco won eight of their last ten. The two losses were by 1 point and 3 points respectively.

vs. Atlanta Falcons - lol.

@ Arizona Cardinals - Arizona just got their first win in the division. They generally don't beat NFC West opponents and probably won't get one here.

Projected finish: 12-4


Arizona
@ Tennessee Titans - Arizona stops the run and Tennessee depends on the running game.

@ Seattle Seahawks - Nope.

vs. San Francisco 49ers - As noted, not feeling this one.

Projected finish: 9-7


So if Carolina beats the Jets & Falcons then the playoffs are extremely likely. If they only beat one, the Panthers need Arizona to not beat either Seattle or San Francisco given that the Cardinals have the tie-breaker. Dallas, Chicago, and Philadelphia are also in the picture but play each other down the stretch. Chicago has the toughest road remaining, so them beating the Cowboys tonight would be helpful.

 

Good breakdown man. Yea, I was looking the scenarios over this weekend - some of the teams pursuing a playoff spot have to play eachother, which can be of great assistance.

 

Seahawks @ Giants next week might mean more than anyone else realizes. If Seattle loses then it keeps San Fran's foot on the gas for the division, but if they win and beat Arizona the following week then the 49ers have no reason to play their starters Week 17 against Arizona. Regardless, the solution to all this is go out and fucking win. Beat the Jets and Falcons, then nothing else matters.

 

Playing around with the ESPN play off machine yesterday made me feel pretty good about our playoff prospects regardless of how we do vs the Saints, but I was really hoping to be thinking about the prospect of a bye and maybe even home field advantage today instead of worrying about holding on to a wildcard spot. Oh well.

 

Funny post. Too bad you badasses aren't playing for the team. We would win every game.

 

FUcking right. And I think we can.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I believe that Rivera is going to get some of this cleaned up. But the personnel back there, unless our DL lights it up, is just so shaky.

Munnerlyn would be all world if he was a few inches taller.

 

If we let the Jets climb on us, we don't deserve to go to the playoffs anyway.

 

Unless we can get to the Super Bowl and win it, I really don't give a damn about playoffs. I'm sorry. That's the only truly satisfying conclusion to a season in my mind.


I want a team that can be good for a long period of time and contend for Championships. Making the playoffs and then fading back into irrelevance for another five years isn't acceptable.

 

I agree 100% actually.

I guess I just began to fool myself into thinking we're better than what we were, and then thinking this may be our best shot.

Fact is, the lines still need work (both) and we need legitimate players in the secondary. We have major weaknesses, and a good team exposed them in their house in primetime. Shouldn't surprise me.