Underdogs against Carolina - love it!

[QB12]

Don't you just love that the 'experts' like PFT's Florio are picking the Panthers to not just win, but to punch our guys in the mouth? Locker room material. I love it!

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

Nope, but mostly because I don't think they're being unreasonable. MNF is going to go a long way in determining my expectations for the finish of this season.

 

[dales804]

It's not surprising. And who cares what "experts" write or say? They don't know their heads from their ass half the time.

Every sports book I've seen says the Patriots are underdogs, too, and I can't blame them on it. CAR has a great defense and teams with that have given NE problems (CIN, NJY this year). CAR is better than those two. Plus they have a +8 turnover differential, the 3rd best red-zone D in the NFL, and 6th ranked 3rd down defense. And CAR is home.

The Patriots can win but it won't be easy.

 

[neuronet]

I would love it if I thought it had no basis. Carolina has a stout defense, the type that gives the Pats fits. Our defense needs to really step it up for us to win it, is my prediction.

I am going to buy a ticket to the game to add my voice in person. Unfortunately, nobody will go with me that I know (I'm in Durham NC) so I will be that weird dude sitting by myself in a Pats sweatshirt (not a jersey, as I still have only got a Welker jersey).

Anyone else here going?

 

[Jase]

frankly as a panther fan, I'd prefer it if the pats were favored.

I don't think anyone should be predicting either team to dominate.

 

[qbno12]

I would love it if I thought it had no basis. Carolina has a stout defense, the type that gives the Pats fits. Our defense needs to really step it up for us to win it, is my prediction.

I am going to buy a ticket to the game to add my voice in person. Unfortunately, nobody will go with me that I know (I'm in Durham NC) so I will be that weird dude sitting by myself in a Pats sweatshirt (not a jersey, as I still have only got a Welker jersey).

Anyone else here going?

I'm in morrisville...I could've come if it's a sunday game.....

 

[yukon cornelius]

"nfl experts" tend to suck....

Which NFL Pundit Made The Worst Picks In Week 10?


and the vegas line is carolina -2.5


that essentially makes the Pats .5 favorites, with the home team generally getting a field goal


but whatever works, i guess

 

[JMC00]

Don't you just love that the 'experts' like PFT's Florio are picking the Panthers to not just win, but to punch our guys in the mouth? Locker room material. I love it!

Actually looking at ESPN and NFLN's expert picks it seems like it is split. May even be in the Pats favor by a slim margin.

 

[patfanken]

Its pretty understandable the Pats being underdogs this week. No defense in the league has been as effective in keeping points off the board in the last 5 weeks, while the Pats D has been hammered with key injuries. And one effective game on offense is not going to make people forget how inconsistent and ineffective the offense has been prior to the Steeler game.

Frankly I love the underdog role. This will be a great test for where our offense has progressed thus far. Anything more than 24 points by the offense against this defense will show that the Steeler game was no fluke and the offense is coming along just fine

What I'm still having trouble with is how we are going to stop other people's running games. Valano and Jones have done yoeman's work and have far exceeded everyone's expectations. But the fact is there were a dozen or more guys who are at the same talent level as these guys who were cut this year from teams with more talent on the DL. God bless them for making the most of their opportunities, but the fact is they are a match up nightmare for Patricia when he goes against any of the better OLs

The loss of Mayo only exacerbates the Kelly and Wilfolk losses, especially in coverage. He was the brains and tackling machine who covered up a lot of mistakes in front of him. Very underrated by many in the media and here.

Hopefully getting Talib back will allow the Pats to add that extra guy into the running game and help protect the DT's and LB's some. The downside of that is, with a rookie S likely getting the start, we could see the Pats susceptible to play action passing on Monday.

I think the win here will come more from the extra preparation we will have this week than anything else. Be solid, don't turn the ball over and play better special teams. I don't see a lot of sacks this week because so much effort will be spent keeping Newton in the pocket. So the game will be frustrating in that vein. On the other hand, I think we are going to attack the Carolina secondary, and I expect to see a return to the screen game and the "Welker routes" from Amendola and Edelman.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Going to be a pretty good game.

Panthers D is definitely tough — but at the same time I'd say the Pats offense is ascending fairly rapidly. I have to think the Pats will have more options than they have at any time this year, and the Panthers will see many things they can't find on film.

Belichick's comments about the Panthers' running game have me a bit concerned. Injuries have made run D, a former strength, a bit suspect lately. Fortunately the passing game doesn't have much to worry about beyond Smith.

I expect a tight game but won't be shocked if Pats roll big. Just on my own personal vibe, I feel like this is the sort of games where the Pats have traditionally opened a can of whoop-ass. Hot opponent on a roll, bandwagon full of hangers on. I don't have time now to go through recent years and find examples that back up my hunch — guess maybe Houston last year.

 

[DoubleTrouble]

frankly as a panther fan, I'd prefer it if the pats were favored.

I don't think anyone should be predicting either team to dominate.

on a neutral field they would be favored....heck, we aren't even getting 3 (which is typically homefield).

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Under dogs against the cats. Rich!

 

[jmt57]

I mentioned last week in the 49ers-Panthers thread that I hoped Carolina would win that game. If the Panthers had lost then they would have had that much more of a sense of urgency since they would have been 5-4, in danger of falling to 5-5; right now 5-5 places you 10th in the NFC, four slots out of a playoff spot.

More importantly the Panthers would have had that much more of a chip on their shoulder, playing the ever popular disrespect card, that nobody in the media was giving them any credit. While they still may be doing so this week, it's a bit harder to pull that off as a motivational tool when most of the media is lauding them and their defense, and they enter the game as favorites.

On a side note, before Sunday's game the Panthers were listed as one-point favorites. The victory over the 49ers pushed that up to 2½ points most places, and as high as 3 points at a few locations.

 

[DoubleTrouble]

I mentioned last week in the 49ers-Panthers thread that I hoped Carolina would win that game. If the Panthers had lost then they would have had that much more of a sense of urgency since they would have been 5-4, in danger of falling to 5-5; right now 5-5 places you 10th in the NFC, four slots out of a playoff spot.

More importantly the Panthers would have had that much more of a chip on their shoulder, playing the ever popular disrespect card, that nobody in the media was giving them any credit. While they still may be doing so this week, it's a bit harder to pull that off as a motivational tool when most of the media is lauding them and their defense, and they enter the game as favorites.

On a side note, before Sunday's game the Panthers were listed as one-point favorites. The victory over the 49ers pushed that up to 2½ points most places, and as high as 3 points at a few locations.

But you aren't really favored unless you are getting more than 3. Line shows overall NE is viewed as the better team.

Carolina can continue the disrespect card....and as said this week, Carolina needs THIS win more than ANYTHING. Our biggest offensive weapon has a HUGE chip. He also has been pretty quiet. National media to this day....considers him one of the worst "young" QBs in the NFL. They don't say that but they rank everyone else ahead of him and pretend he doesn't exist.

 

[Sivy]

Pats are suppose to lose? I've heard that story before and I usually like the ending.

 

[dales804]

But you aren't really favored unless you are getting more than 3. Line shows overall NE is viewed as the better team.

Carolina can continue the disrespect card....and as said this week, Carolina needs THIS win more than ANYTHING. Our biggest offensive weapon has a HUGE chip. He also has been pretty quiet. National media to this day....considers him one of the worst "young" QBs in the NFL. They don't say that but they rank everyone else ahead of him and pretend he doesn't exist.

All lines for CAR are juiced while each NE line is either even money or higher. CAR is favored whether you like it or not. Books are expecting CAR to win.

 

[jmt57]

But you aren't really favored unless you are getting more than 3. Line shows overall NE is viewed as the better team.

Carolina can continue the disrespect card....and as said this week, Carolina needs THIS win more than ANYTHING. Our biggest offensive weapon has a HUGE chip. He also has been pretty quiet. National media to this day....considers him one of the worst "young" QBs in the NFL. They don't say that but they rank everyone else ahead of him and pretend he doesn't exist.

Since the game is not being played on a neutral field, that's a moot point. Perhaps fans can bring that 3-point difference up as some sort of alleged sign of disrespect, but are coaches really going to go into a discourse about Vegas betting lines, and the team is a favorite but not really a favorite, or not a big enough favorite as a motivational ploy?

The fact is the Panthers are favored - period.



That logic seems to be a real reach to me. If anything the topic of who is favored is going to be a more effective motivational tool for Belichick.

 

[shmessy]

What I'm still having trouble with is how we are going to stop other people's running games. Valano and Jones have done yoeman's work and have far exceeded everyone's expectations. But the fact is there were a dozen or more guys who are at the same talent level as these guys who were cut this year from teams with more talent on the DL. God bless them for making the most of their opportunities, but the fact is they are a match up nightmare for Patricia when he goes against any of the better OLs

The loss of Mayo only exacerbates the Kelly and Wilfolk losses, especially in coverage. He was the brains and tackling machine who covered up a lot of mistakes in front of him. Very underrated by many in the media and here.

Right THERE is the entire ballgame Monday night. Pats front seven against the Panthers running game. Our secondary should have no problems - - just throw Talib on Stevie.

But color me very anxious. The Panthers have a tough running game by committee. DeAngelo Williams is shifty, they got back Jonathan Stewart (235lbs) and have Mike Tolbert (245 lbs). Then thow in Newton's running ability.

Not having Wilfork, Kelley and Mayo is an enormous handicap in this game particularly.

 

[SalemPats]

We are never the underdog.

 

[Crononaut]

I honestly think this underdog stuff is pretty overhyped. I'm sure Bill uses it and any other material he can find as motivational fodder, but it is hard to say what effect it has on the two key aspects to winning: if our coaches designed an effective game plan, and how well the team implemented the game plan (i.e. a great week of practice).

I know there are situations where we are viewed as underdogs or evenly matched and annihilate our opponent (Houston), but we've also been burned pretty badly when there was a ton of motivational material to use (Super Bowl XLVI, pretty much any Jets loss, us loving the attention Ray Lewis was getting last year).

If BB has the Panther's number, and the O and D don't have difficulty in the week practicing this game plan, we roll.

If the game plan was wrong, or the team is having difficulty implementing it, then it becomes closer and victory will rely on in-game adjustments from both coaching and playing perspectives.

Obviously the fact that the other team is trying to do the exact same thing makes it that much more difficult, but IMO there's no better game-plan coach in the NFL than Bill.