It is getting old. It seems if some here automatically interject with, "yeah but..."

 Sherrod Martin is nominated for rookie of week, "yeah but..."

Defense is ranked 7th, "yeah but..."

I've heard pissing and moaning about not having a 1st rd pick and needing a QB in the draft and that we need to move up to get one, should we decide to go that route. I made a list of about 7 teams that probably will be looking for a QB that will be picking ahead of us and looking.... Did I get an intelligent discussion on who we might get with a 2nd rd pick. No I got all the reasons why the  teams on that list wasn't looking for a QB. Well hells bells folks if that's the case we can draft Bradford or McCoy in the 2nd rd!

Since the bye week our offense is scoring on average 10 points more per game and the defense is giving up 10 points less per game. 'Yeah but' it was against bad teams.

I'm not talking about mindless praise either. It is as bad as mindless crisicism. What I'm talking about is thoughtful and logical constructs.

So, I was just wondering what our chances are of making the playoffs are?

Kind of far fetched I know.

To even have a shot we have to win the next 2 games (NO & Atlanta). Do that and we have identical records as Atlanta (5-4). And a lot of things have to fall in place. In an odd way we need for Philly to win the East. If they beat Dallas this week, Dallas and NY Giants will each have 3 losses, leaving us one game back with 7 to go. And we play NY later this year. GB and Chicago each also have 3 losses. SF has 4 losses. If we keep winning we can climb right back into the mix.

The loss to Buffalo really hurt.

I'm hoping that the win in the desert sets the tone for the rest of the year. No TOs on offense and the defense turned it over 6 times!

Does anybody here not think that if we play error free ball we can beat NO? The Giants looked unbeatable the 1st 5 weeks as did the Jets for 3. The Broncos got exposed. We've won three of four. Do that the rest of the way and we have 10 wins. Am I prediting that? No.

But our backs are to the wall and there are many playmakers and winners on this team who I believe will not roll over and play dead for NO.

with the NFC East the way it is it's almost necessary to win the division. I don't think 10 wins will be enough.

Lets have this discussion after the Saints game Sunday...if the Panthers win....

Stiffler715 wrote: Here's the thing....

9-7 is not a playoff team in the NFC this year.

The Panthers need to win 10 games to make the playoffs, and even then it will be a race with other teams.

So, that means they literally have to beat all but 2 teams, including NE, NYG, NO, NO, NYJ, Miami, Minny, Atl, and TB. Let's say they beat TB and Atlanta. And Miami in a close one. Then they beat the Jets. Ok. Even then, they'd have to win 2 of the games again the Giants, Patriots and Saints twice. Yikes.

I mean, it is possible, but highly unlikely. So that may be why there are still the "yeah buts".

I'm not saying I disagree with you, but I just think maybe people are realizing it is a daunting task.

so, lemme hit you with a question.

lets say the panthers play like they did vs arizona in every one of those games left on their schedule (few to no TO's, pound the ball succesfully, get smitty involved, DFence)

do they make the playoffs in that situation?

I remember a wild card team who went on the road to beat Eagles, Cowpies and Rams..or the year we whopped Chitown, Giants on the road and shook up the NFL..but that was then, this is real...jakedelhomme and company are not the team they once were, though if they had jakedelhomme to defend about 6 games ago, who'd know?

I see my prediction on the Pollyannas coming back out of the woodwork was a week off.

all i have to say is, no way the bears end it 9-7, cutler is just terrible for them

and i don't see how the nfc east finishes that good,

the cowboys are screwed the moment a team shuts down miles austin

the giants have been falling apart recently, and eli looks like hes in way too much pain,

the eagles look the best in that division.

i don't see the cards at 10-6, and the packers haven't really been all that impressive.

idk i just can't see it

Thanks for the wise words rwoodrin. I've been called stupid, homer and just about every other name for trying to stay positive and realistic. Of course I don't take any of that stuff personal but only one team will win the Super Bowl and I seriously doubt it will be us. So I look to enjoy other things this season like developing young players, our top notch running game, any win we can get and just my love for football. Saying that we are not as far off as people think with a few changes in the offseason we should be back in the race.

I mostly agree with the point of what you said, but the Patriots are definitely beatable.  The Vikings, we'll see how Brett's arm holds up.  If he's just as good that late into the season when we play them as he his now, then yea that'll be a helluva tough game to win.  Lemme preface this by saying I haven't looked at each fo these team's remaining schedules, but I also don't think the Packers finish 10-6, the Cowboys 11-5, the Giants 10-6 (if they keep playing like they have for the past 3 games), the Bears 9-7, or the Cards 10-6.  I think you can take about 1 win away from them on average.  Take 2-3 away from the Packers, 2-4 from the Cowboys.  I DO think the giants can turn it around and get back on track and finish 10-6 or 11-5, but it's not the direction they're moving in at the moment.  I don't see all the optimism about the Packers.  I do like the team well enough, Rogers is my fantasy QB, but they don't have enough run game or defense to go 10-6, in my opinion, or even have a winning record at all.  The Cardinals are a solid team that had a bad game against us, but 10-6 seems like a stretch for them.  They aren't as good as last year's 9-7 team.  Losing Haley hurt them.

Stiffler715 wrote: "so, lemme hit you with a question.

lets say the panthers play like they did vs arizona in every one of those games left on their schedule (few to no TO's, pound the ball succesfully, get smitty involved, DFence)

do they make the playoffs in that situation?"


Trust me, read back in my posts from a few weeks ago. I was all about optimism and the Panthers going on a tear to finish 10-6. Then they lost to the Bills and it changed everything. Anything can happen at any time. But winning out is next to impossible.

To answer your question: No, I do not think they can make the playoffs, even if they play the way they did against the Cards the rest of the way. I think IF your scenario occurs, they can beat the Jets, Dolphins, Falcons, Bucs, maybe the Giants, and MAYBE the Saints one time. With losses to the Vikings, Patrios, and Saints (Just too much offense to combat)

That would leave the Panthers with a 9-7 season.

IMO there is too much competition that the Panthers do not play or have already lost to that will make the difference with their playoff hopes.

Let's hypothetically say that the Packers finish 10-6, the Bears 9-7, the Cards 10-6, the 9ers 9-7, the Cowboys 11-5, the Giants 10-6, and the Eagles 10-6

Now if the Falcons go 10-6, the tie break will be between the Eagles, Giants, Falcons, AND Packers for 2 spots.

I just don't see the numbers working in the Panthers' favor. IMO, to make the playoffs outright without tie-breaks, they need to win 11 games. And that means only 1 more loss this season. I just can't see that as reality. Anything can happen, and I'm hopeful that they go 12-4, but at the same time, I realize the task is daunting.

bartman42 wrote:

Lets have this discussion after the Saints game Sunday...if the Panthers win....

This

I was one of those who, as you like to call it, used the phrase "yeah but".....

However, my  "yeah buts" were spot on.  As far as Martin goes, does he "deserve" rookie of the week as was stated in the thread?  I would not say he "deserves" it.  I would say his performance puts him in the top 3 of the nominees with ease.  Cushing and Byrd had outstanding days on the field.  What have other rookies done in their first start?  In his first start, Cushing had 8 total tackles (5 solo and 3 assists).  In 5 of his first 7 starts, Cushing has led or tied the Texans in tackles.  Byrd has had consecutive multi interception games and in his first start, he had 5 total tackles (3 solo and 2 assists).  The award is not for best performances in their first start, it is for the best performance by a rookie last week.

Yup the D is ranked 7th.  Which is far better than I ever expected to be ranked at any point during this season. That ranking includes the weaker part of our schedule.  Teams like Buffalo, Tampa and Washington are not in any discussions as far as who might be some of the best teams in the NFL this season.  Did you happen to see what happened to the Panthers the first 3 weeks of the season when we played stronger NFL teams?  Have you seen the rest of our schedule?  We are facing the hotter than hot Saints this week and then again later in the season (yes, I do know that Fox and Delhomme are undefeated in the SuperDome vs the Saints).  Then we have to face other playoff contenders like Atlanta (again), Minnesota, New York x 2 (the Jets and Giants are kinda iffy right now) and New England.  There is no way on God's green Earth that we finish up 7th in total D this season.  We are ranked 1st in Pass D as well.  Do you honestly think that will stand to?  Highly unlikely if you ask me, especially when having to face Drew Brees twice as well as Farve and Brady.

We can't start drinking the blue Kool Aid just because we beat Arizona like we did on Sunday.  Remember, we did lose to Buffalo despite the fact that we out gained them 400 to 100 (give or take a yard or two), we barely squeaked by against Tampa and Washington as well.  It is about the entire book of work not just one page.  Taste the Kool Aid but, don't drink the entire glass just yet.....

rwoodrin wrote:

It is getting old. It seems if some here automatically interject with, "yeah but..."

Sherrod Martin is nominated for rookie of week, "yeah but..."

Defense is ranked 7th, "yeah but..."

It is highly unlikely that we will be able to run all over Minnesota, New York x 2, Green Bay, New England, Atlanta and Miami the way we did against Arizona.  So, relying on Jake will be huge going through the remainder of our schedule.  We will not be able to throw just 14 times a game against some of these teams.

"It's not being pessimistic, just realistic".....well said.....very well said!!!