The season in quarters

With 17 games, this isn't as easy as it used to be, but I still like to break the season down into sections when I'm thinking about how we might do. So I'll just tack the extra game into the fourth. This is what I think, prior to Training Camp.

Q1 - At NO, LA Chargers, at LV, Bengals. This isn't the worst opening, but it's not going to be easy. I don't see us beating New Orleans in their home opener, but we will keep it close. Los Angeles comes to town next, and that's a win. Their defense is poor enough that we get to really unveil the Canales offense at home, Bryce looks great, and the defense actually holds on to win a close one. Last year the Chargers were king of one possession losses, and that holds here. And we probably win in Las Vegas too, I just can't bring myself to predict a loss to the Raiders, it's more likely we win because we can score more than 20 points and they can't. But the Bengals are there to put us back in our place the following week, and since Burrow won't be injured yet they hand us a loss. We finish the quarter 2-2, which is of course our record at that point.

Q2 - At Chicago, Atlanta, at Washington, and at Denver. In a perfect world, we go into Chicago and curb-stomp them. Bryce plays great, Williams looks like a little bitch, and all the talk of them kicking our ass in the trade goes away. In reality, their defense smothers us and DJ Moore has a nice revenge party. We're losing that game, and it's going to suck. Compounding that, the Falcons come to town for a get-well game after the Philly, KC, New Orleans, and Tampa Bay gauntlet that they get for an opening slate. Then we go to Washington, which could be a get-well game for us but we don't have the talent to make it one. Our lack of pass rush is exposed, making Daniels look better than he is and extending our losing streak to four. Fortunately, we finish the quarter against Denver, who is going to flirt with a winless season. If they do have a win when we roll into town, it will only be because they've played the Raiders already. We finish the quarter 1-3, and have a 3-5 record.

Q3 - NO, NYG, KC, and Tampa Bay. This is where the season gets a little fun for us. We have a nice little four game home stand, and start things off by evening the season series against the Saints, who are probably also 3-5 at this point. The Giants are going to give up 200 yards on the ground, and Burns will *almost* sack Bryce a few times, and that's another win. Hey, we're .500! Then we get Kansas City, which will be fun to watch if you're not a Panthers fan, and we close against Baker Mayfield, who may be on the bench at this point, as he no longer has the QB Whisperer in his year. 3-1 in the quarter, and we're 6-6 on the year.

Q4 - At Philly, Dallas, Arizona, at Tampa, at Atlanta. Well, you can't ask for a shittier slate of games to end the season. Really, Philly and Dallas are both going to be in the thick of the playoff hunt and will beat our asses on talent alone. I think we beat Arizona, but Tampa will get their revenge unless their wheels are falling off. The only way we win in Atlanta is if they are resting starters. I think they may end our year with a 40 point beatdown. 1-4 in the quarter feels right, and we finish our season 7-10.

That's what I think right now, and maybe if we really come together quick I can see us flirting with nine wins, but 6-7 feels more realistic. We end up with someone like Pearce in the draft to help our pass rush, and are in legitimate position to contend for the South in 2025.

What do you think?

 

I do the 17 game quarters the same way you do.



So much depends on opponent health/luck, obviously. I can squint and see a 7-10 year, but the 4 or 5 win range feels more realistic.

 

So where and when do you think they are coming?

 

IDK. One win per quarter?


I'll say Arizona, NO at home, either TB or ATL once, Washington, and then Natti just for shits and giggles. They always start shitty anyway.


5 wins is a reasonable expectation.

 

It is hard for me to judge at this point. On paper, I think 2 things.

If Canales is the guy, then 7-8 wins is doable. If he is not, then 4-5 is the spot we land. If he is the guy, then I think we might upset Dallas at seasons end after our guys buy into the system and get better and better at running it.

The best thing for the Panthers is a great 2nd half of the season, would bode well as we think of Canales and our diminutive QB