Underdogs against Carolina - love it!

[Huckleberry1]

Should be a really good game. People confident the Pats will win, I like your attitude, but I don't share it. Think this is a toss-up, could go any direction (blow out by either team, or close slug-fest, just too hard to call). I'm in Durham NC so am forced to see the Panthers every week, and it does seem people here have weird incorrect attitudes (e.g., that Cam Newton cannot throw long--that is ridiculous--just because it isn't a big part of their game plan doesn't mean he cannot: he could absolutely torch our secondary on the long throw, and I expect them to try on Monday; people also don't seem to appreciate that their defense is the type that can really knock around Brady and give our offense major difficulties (think: Giants)).

I am hoping for a Pats blowout, but realize that is unlikely.

This does *not* have the trappings of a trap game, BB is going to have us ready, and I cannot imagine him underestimating the Panthers....most likely outcome is a close game (second most likely is Panthers killing us with their run game and keeping our O off the field).

Watching Mankins discuss the game the other day it was pretty clear they take them as seriously as a heart attack. he wasn't doing the traditional blow smoke up their asses dance he looked like they understood full well just what kind of challenege that front 4 was going to pose for them and the risks to Brady if they don't have their best game of the season. On the flip side of the ball this reminds me a great deal of the first time they face Micheal Vick, and i"m guessing that defensively they are going to take the same kind of approach with him as they did with Vick, with the focus on containment and making him beat them over the top. I expect a really tough game, i think it's going to be a great test for them, especially on offense, and I will be really interested to see how well they fare against a team that should cause them significant problems, especially in their house. They don't want to let this team get up on them early because it will get ugly if they end up having to throw their way back into it.


All that said, Patriots 28 -Carolina 20

 

[DoubleTrouble]

Ah, yes, good memory Kontra. That's one of those Pats wins over an upstart opponent on a roll I talked about earlier. 31-7 MNF win; Vikings had this impenetrable defense.

Wikipedia's summary:



And from NFL.com:

One key difference between that 2006 Vikings team vs this 2013 Panther team?

Vikings weren't actually that good at getting to the QB. They were more a wall against the run. Carolina can stop the run AND do a great job of bringing pressure (which that Vikings squad really wasn't that good at). I think Carolina is on pace for 21 more sacks on the year? Carolina's also hasn't had that many plays run against it.....which limits some of those type "sexy" sack number opportunities. NE for example has more than 100+ plays ran against there D. Carolina's pressure per snap is great

Add into it....this years NE OL isn't that impressive.

 

[coolguy]

Brady is going to get sacked 5+ times Win or lose

luckily brady doesn't let sacks shake his confidence.

 

[DoubleTrouble]

Brady is going to get sacked 5+ times Win or lose

luckily brady doesn't let sacks shake his confidence.

all I care about is keeping him off the field....limit his chances. That is our game. Have a long drive....get the ball back and do it again.

Belichick is a concern with a bye. Your short pass attack is as well.

More I think about it I don't even expect a close game.....I think one team runs away with it. I think either BB draws up something to counter what we do and it works.....or what we do works. Both teams have potential to do something that really could be tough for the other.....I don't see both working out in the same game.

 

[coolguy]

all I care about is keeping him off the field....limit his chances. That is our game

cam newton has the fraudulent confidence of mark sanchez and the overly confident and overrated mobility of geno smith.

This can be fun

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

As a fan...i am very confident going into this game. Much more so then the Saints game that's for sure

 

[DoubleTrouble]

cam newton has the fraudulent confidence of mark sanchez and the overly confident and overrated mobility of geno smith.

This can be fun

Newton is the best runner from the QB spot in the NFL.....and the toughest to bring down.

If you want to knock him fine....at least be on point with your knocks

 

[neuronet]

cam newton has the fraudulent confidence of mark sanchez and the overly confident and overrated mobility of geno smith.

This can be fun

You seem to have never seen him play....He is dangerous.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You seem to have never seen him play....He is dangerous.

Agree completely. He's not a polished QB but he is a superior athlete and he can really hurt teams with big plays and broken plays. Containing him is their priority on defense.

 

[grux]

This is going to be a tough game if Dennard and Talib don't play.

 

[pherein]

I am not....b/c again, the Saints on the road are not this elite team you want to paint them. You are the one hyping up the Aints win.

if you think the Saints at Foxboro and the Saints in the Dome.....are close to the same task....then you need to get to know the Saints better.

Always aints , and though I agree we are not the same team away on turf ( almost all teams are that way ), I can also guaranty you have no idea why. So, I wouldnt profess yourself as a expert about NO on this board either.

NO is a better win, than you beating SF. NE was pretty bashed up, our defense is playing better than SF, SF offense is not as good as NO ( away or home ), and kopernik vs brees would be a wasted debate. Id bet if NE and NO played the same game 10 times, NO would almost always win. So its an impressive win, took alot of guts, and team to win that.

SF on the other hand have been a little over hyped, in my opinion, but we play them sunday, so we will see. If Alex Smith were playing, id be more worried.

 

[supafly]

Newton is the best runner from the QB spot in the NFL.....and the toughest to bring down.

Newton is certainly going to pose a challenge from our defense's point of view, I guarantee you that. We have had our share of problems from the scrambling, running kind of QB's on the move before, so I can't imagine why this would be any different come Monday night.

I think NE's gameplan will be to limit the run (always starts there), and try to make Newton beat them with his arm. He's certainly got a capable arm, but he can also be a bit erratic too. I believe that he's had 3 INT's in the past couple of games too.

CAR may win on Monday due to our ineffectiveness of our rush defense, so that's pretty much my personal concern.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Who will be tougher..Carolina away...or Denver at home?

I still say denver only becasue of our CBs and DBs that are being injured left and right. If we have cole and arrington starting..we are in trouble. But that;s next week.

Car D is much better then denvers...but Denvers O is much better then Car

 

[PATRlOT]

Hopefully a lot of the Carolina players are as stupid as their fans. ************. I took a look @ that forum and all I saw was dumbass after dumbass.

So cringeworthy too.

 

[neuronet]

Hopefully a lot of the Carolina players are as stupid as their fans.

How so? Just curious, would be interested what they are saying.

 

[Jase]

Hopefully a lot of the Carolina players are as stupid as their fans. ************. I took a look @ that forum and all I saw was dumbass after dumbass.

So cringeworthy too.

And our community was one dumbass larger during your visit.

:singing:

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Love the underdog Patriots to beat the Panthers on Monday night and then I think we'll see the underdog Broncos coming into Foxborough and beating the favored Patriots the following week.

 

[pherein]

And our community was one dumbass larger during your visit.

:singing:

After NE beats you, look to us to finish your season, jase. Thats a promise.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i hate back to back late night games

 

[supafly]

I think we'll see the underdog Broncos coming into Foxborough and beating the favored Patriots the following week.

What exactly are you puffing on over there, Rhody? Especially considering the fact that we're likely to be slowed down pretty significantly tomorrow night to boot in an extremely competitive game one way or another.

I think the spread will be low, possibly even 1--1 1/2, but I doubt the Pats will be favored myself.

I suppose it is likely to be close to even one way or another, but I wouldn't be expecting NE to be giving DEN points next Sunday night.

I can agree with you that I think a lot of us are expecting DEN to come to town and pose quite a hell of a challenge next Sunday, especially with our decimated defense and new problems/injuries in the secondary.