How Good Do You Think Carolina Is?

The smacky Carolina fans are getting into it with Scott Zolak on Twitter. I heart paper championships and artificial champions.

Ivan said:

You can cite the schedule for any NFL team this season because the league sucks. And these assh0les want to expand the playoffs? Give me a break.

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Strength of victory comparison:
Pats .455
Panthers .425

So the Pats have generally beaten better teams than CAR although that's not saying a whole lot if both numbers are under .500.

borg said:

Was it only me that has come to the conclusion Cam Newton's teammates secretly hate this guy's guts. I'm sure they like winning....but .....two instances in yesterday's game showed me that this guy is despised.

1) Luke Kuechly takes an INT to the house and then exits up the side lines to be greeted by the over the top/camera mugging Newton screaming like a camera mugging/its all about me jagoff......and Kuechly plus two other defenders looked at him like Newton was the biggest A-hole on the planet.
2) Newton scores his obligatory "screw my teammates I'm gonna run it in for the score TD" followed by the camera mugging dance number....while ONLY two OL wait in the wings to join in....but of course Cam the camera mugging/its all about me jagoff ignores the OL....doesn't even acknowledge their existence....and runs off to mug for the crowd/cameras...etc. He then proceed to the Panthers bench where he ignored teammates he passed (one high five) and players didn't bother to go over and show any love.

Maybe I'm seeing what I want to see.......a self promoting jackass.......but I know I'd hate being this guy's teammate anytime but game time. And even then. I bet the defense resents the over the top publicity Newton gets when it is the great Defense that allows this ultra conservative Panther's offense to not have to play beyond their limitations.

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I think you're seeing what you want to see. What is so bad about seeing football players having fun? I wish more players did it. And that the nfl would lighten up on celebrations. You are being ridiculous if you think his teammates hate him cause he's scoring TDs. Any teammates that feel that way are the ones being self centered jackasses. I mean how many times have we seen Brady piggy back his receivers after they score. Or run across the field screaming after a TD. We've seen Gronk dance in the endzone several times or play up for the cameras after scoring. Remember Brady's lonely high fives from 2 seasons ago. Guess they hated him as well.

sb1 said:

They have a great defense. But I would take SEA's in 2014 and especially 2013 over them.

On another note - looks like this thread caught the attention of the Panthers board

Link: A hot take from the Patriots message board

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Some idiot on there just said "We were 2 TDs better than them in the pre-season if our WR could catch".

I can't stop laughing at that.

Also, there's typical ignorant "lololol they can beat us unless they film r practizes lololol" comments

TommyBrady12 said:

if they are going to lose it will be @ New Orleans.

The advantage Carolina has over NE right now is they are healthy.

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I'll take a healthy NEP over any team in the NFL.

Regardless, I like our chances!

titletownpats said:

I'm real impressed with Carolina being 11-0. I think the last 15 years the Patriots have had the most dominant stretch the NFL has ever seen. The fact that it is in the salary cap era makes it more impressive. During this time, the pats have only started the season 11-0 one time so I'm real impressed with Carolina being 11-0 and I think it shouldn't be dismissed. Parcels said, "you are what your record says you are." Hopefully the pats win Sunday to gain another game toward the bye.

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Good points.

As I was reading your post, I was thinking that many of these teams might have a good/great year, but very few do it over an extended period (i.e. like the NEP). They peak quickly and disappear the following year via injuries and/or salary cap issues. And they they return to mediocrity or worse.

With that said, the Pats are going through an injury situation that is difficult to fathom. However, they are still winning. Most teams cannot work through these challenges. Ultimately, the Pats end up more versatile in terms of players and plays. The NEP are most definitely a jewel in the world of sports. Who else do we compare them to- the Boston Celtics (in their hey-day)?

Yawn...don't give them the attention they don't deserve. This team will be one and done.

Now, Arizona with Arians and Palmer...that is a duo that could win a Super Bowl.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Yawn...don't give them the attention they don't deserve. This team will be one and done.

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I don't believe that. They will be in the nfc championship game.

supafly said:

I think the question about how good an 11-0 team is should be a bit rhetorical. However they seemed to get there, they're doing a decent job with 5 games left in the regular season.

Are they the 2007 Patriots or the 1985 Bears? No, but they certainly pose a threat to anyone they face. As you mention, it's still quite possible that someone beats them in the postseason, which goes just the same for us. The fact that they'll almost certainly have HFA, or at least a bye, obviously helps their cause. You can only play who's on the schedule, so we've seen teams coast a bit into the conference championship by winning one postseason game at home.

They seem to have some decent offensive balance with the ability to run the ball, use the read option, and throw to no name receivers (with Olsen the obvious main weapon). The defense is very, very good. I can understand the comparisons to the Seahawks, who would tend to use the same kind of recipe, even though their schedule was weak like last season.

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Maybe the injury bug will hit CAR, like it has many other teams...but at the wrong time.

If so, I don't want to hear about it.

I just went to their message board link. Wow!

It seems more like a Twitter feed with a limit of 140 characters...or perhaps that's as far as their thoughts can go?

Talk about an insecure fan base. They know the implosion is coming. Their offense scored one TD yesterday in garbage time and they act like their offense cannot be stopped. Also, Cam Newton is the best quarterback of all-time.

TBR said:

Some idiot on there just said "We were 2 TDs better than them in the pre-season if our WR could catch".

I can't stop laughing at that.

Also, there's typical ignorant "lololol they can beat us unless they film r practizes lololol" comments

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Read this thread from their perspective and it's just as ridiculous.

Best team in Football right now. They will host the NFCCG. Very deep and no weaknesses to speak of right now.

PS.......and

pwes said:

I think you're seeing what you want to see. What is so bad about seeing football players having fun? I wish more players did it. And that the nfl would lighten up on celebrations. You are being ridiculous if you think his teammates hate him cause he's scoring TDs. Any teammates that feel that way are the ones being self centered jackasses. I mean how many times have we seen Brady piggy back his receivers after they score. Or run across the field screaming after a TD. We've seen Gronk dance in the endzone several times or play up for the cameras after scoring. Remember Brady's lonely high fives from 2 seasons ago. Guess they hated him as well.

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I saw what I saw....I guy who has no interest sharing the spotlight.

Here's a nugget from three years ago that doesn't prove my point but show's I'm not alone. Also...go read his predraft write ups. The term entitlement is found everywhere. Not much has changed IMO.....but whatever works for that team. No doubt Newton is a gifted athlete with a rifle for an arm and unlimited confidence.

Cam Newton’s attitude didn’t win him any friends at the Pro Bowl

Carolina, like most teams, have weaknesses.

Lack of reliable pass catching talent was an issue at the start of the season and remains one now - they have masterfully worked around this with dominant defense and a strong running game.

If you put this team in a 10 point hole vs a reasonable team withen they are going to struggle once the run is taken away from them - I don't think they have been exposed to much 'Plan B' thinking this year - as opposed to the Patriots who were on Plan Z at about week 9.

How will this team react to genuine adversity?

How will they react to losing a game even?

I do like Ron Rivera - I think he's a low key savvy coach and Cam Newton is a playmaker (regardless of completion percentage - look at Tyrod Taylors completion numbers that give lie to that statistic).

Kind of odd seeing the animosity a lot of CAR fans seem to have toward our team. It's not just that board it's something I noticed on twitter and other places too. What's up with that?

There's absolutely no rivalry to speak of between the teams, we're not in the same conference, we don't play them more than once every 4 years in the regular season, and there's not much history to speak of other than one Super Bowl 12 years ago. I don't hate that team at all, actually I don't really think of the Panthers that much except when they're on our schedule, I don't go out of my way to watch Panthers games on TV unless it's the only game on, and I'm sure I'm not the only Pats fan who thinks that. I know Cam made a goofy joke about deflated footballs but I don't think there's any hate coming from their team toward ours either.

Very strange that a lot of that fanbase seems to hate our team almost as much as our real rivals....

Half of the Panthers schedule is the same as the Pats. You really can't say they have a weak schedule and then argue that the Pats don't. Pats have only beaten 1 team above .500 because the league is so bad overall this year.
I pick the Pats over the Panthers but the winning margin will not be more than 1 possession.

OT: Panthers DT mulls chances for 16-0

Panthers DT Edwards looks at chances for 16-0

Their D didnt face any legit QB yet. Bress wasnt good at the begining of the season, Rodgers is not good at all lately.
They are healthy. I dont see any starter on their D down for season.
They dont have such a great pass rush, Jared Allen is good but he is old
Their run D with DT Kawan Short and DT Star Loutelei is good, and LB Kuechly and Thomas Davis is awesome, and they provide good TE coverage
In Dallas game they were changig Dline players for almost every down, so i think Giants with their no huddle and fast releasing ball offense could give them a problem. Maybe Brees will have some TDs as well. ANd some good slot WR could have some fun against them.

As for offense i dont see anyone talking about their Oline.
LT Oher former first round pick was released this year by stupid Titans and Panthers grab him as a gift for 7mil 2 years. And he is not bad
G Trai Turner was my last year draft binky
G Norwell (undrafted 2014) was last years surprise and he is confirming his last year strong season
C Ryan Kalil
RT Remmers ..i dont know him but this year he is good

RB Stewart is smilar as Blount, FB Tolbert is meat ball
QBCam is mobile QB and with his read option he can cause some problems
TE Olsen is a beast
WR they do their job. WR Funchess is poor man Benjamin.
They can cause u trouble, but some good run D, with good coverage of Olsen can cause them probs..

So if i am right they have no major injury. They were without Kuechly first few games. and that is it. Correct me i was wrong.

Everywhere I look I see a ton of people rooting for a 18-0 Patriots vs a 18-0 Panthers Superbowl! That would the ultimate storyline heading into the big game!

denverpatsfan said:

Best team in Football right now. They will host the NFCCG. Very deep and no weaknesses to speak of right now.

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In order: No, Probably, Hell no