Why does everyone love the Bears?

Keep in mind, in 2001 they went 13-3 under Jaron and than fell apart the next 4 years. Their division is weak though so 2nd place is probably more likely. Keep your eyes on the Vikings.

 

Not really, though. We did have a three game stretch in late October/ early November where we outscored the opponent 102-20, and we beat Atlanta 68-17. We were actually a pretty damn good team, to be honest. It's very difficult to win 11 games in the NFL, and don't forget about the two road playoff victories. Sure, there was a perception that the team was "struggling" all season, and that could have been brought on by the fact that our running game was subpar. It didn't "feel" like typical winning Panther football. Luckily, we had a player capable of scoring from anywhere on the field, and an ability to generate turnovers on defense. Our special teams coverage units, IMO, were vital to our jump from 7-9 to 11-5. Those things can get overlooked, but it was an aspect of our team that helped us get by.

It's not going to be easy, but I feel as though we have the components to be a better football team. Will our record match our performance? Hard to say at this point. It's a challenging schedule. We definitely need to start faster, and play better at home. Our last two games are on the road, against division rivals.

 

Yeah they got the wheels turning well as the season progressed, but there were some early wins that were just ugly. Early on they'd have a good game like NE, then a stinker. But aside from the hot start we had in I think 96, this has always been a team that seems to have some early season struggle getting into a steady flow and guys "getting to know each other's play".

 

Cardinals, Lions, Packers, Bills were all ugly/struggle wins

 

Good teams find ways to win when they are not playing at their best. I think that is what you saw last year. I expect us to have a much more consisteny offense this year so it should not be as touch and go. Last year we had to rely on our defense to win a lot of games and our D always seems to get off to a slow start.

Here is another thing to consider. We played the Saints in the only game they played well in, the opener. We caught the brunt of all that emotion from the hurricane. We really beat the cowgirls. That game was lost on some bad calls. That field goal was tipped. The loss to the Dolphins was flukey. Jake threw a bad pick at the wrong time or we win. We make a tackle on Brown's big run and we win. The only bad losses we had were to the Bucs and the Bears. We were a couple of plays away from a 2 loss season.

 

God, you're trying to make me sick right? Ok, I was at the Aint's game, should have won. No way Proehl steps out of bounds 99 out of 100 times on that TD. I mean, we as fans celebrated 3 TDs that day that never happened.

The Cowgirls, we had a friend down from Ohio that day. We won that game a few times, and didn't even know Smith got thrown out. So damn bad.

The Dolphins game, I missed it, was listening to it from when I got off a plane. I heard Smitty had 3 TDs. I was watching Jake drive us down the field. I got up to fix a drink, heard the interception, and watched him run it back to a position where we could lose. Unreal, even nearly a year later.

But I guess that's the NFL. Last year had it's share of costly losses though, and they ultimately cost us the Super Bowl as there's no way Seattle beats us at home, and that game SHOULD have been at home.

Oh yeah, if we lose to the Aints this year at home I might lose it. Fuck them, fuck their fans, and fuck their 'city.' Sorry if it's not 'being a good fan,' fuck them. They took our NBA team and flushed them to OK City. I swear to god if I feel like the NFL has ANYTHING to do with us losing that game, I will never give the NFL another dollar of mine. I know they won't miss it, but fuck, I went to 6 home games last year, I buy their videogame every year, and to feel that sick after losing a home game just isn't healthy. That's just the Aint's game, we got robbed against Dallas which I saw at a premium too. I mean, I can't stop that shit from happening, but if it happens this year I'm done. I won't pay premium prices to watch us get jobbed at home like it's a damn wrestling match. I'll stay at home and watch that shit on FOX for free.






edit---Oh yeah, I'm tired of playing Dallas at home too, NFL. Yes, I know we can't sell out our own arena against Dallas, and no, I don't know why. But I do know I'm tired of Dallas fans taking over our arena in the regular season. Were there that many Dallas fans in the stands in 2003? Were they just silent because we beat their ass when it mattered? Or did the Panther fans actually show up for once? Either way, please stop scheduling Cowboy games at BOA. Thank you.

 

Hating New Orleans is like hating Wake Forest or Switzerland. I don't get it.

 

Yeah, I was with you until last year.

After last year hating New Orleans is right up there with hating UNC though. It didn't have to be this way. But shit, we were the only team NO stepped up for. It would be nice if they challenged another division team once in awhile.

Fuck them. They stole my basketball team, they wasted my $50, they shit on my opening day. They are on the eternal shit list. God forbid Reggie Bush runs out the clock on us and scores as time expires this year, I might lose it. Fuck New Orleans.

 

two years in a row, our defense has struggled at the beginning of the season.

 

Every team has ugly wins.