Stinking Panthers Improved, But Enough To Beat Bucs?
September 24th, 2021
Depending on what transpires Sunday night in Los Angeles, it very well could be that the Stinking Panthers (3-0) have in sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
That doesn’t mean they are the best team in the NFC South.
Right now as Joe is typing this here post, the Stinking Panthers just beat lousy Lovie Smith’s Texans. And the winners didn’t impress Joe.
Yeah, Carolina is better than last year. Yeah, they have a capable quarterback. And yes, the Stinking Panthers seem to be fundamentally sound.
The way people were shooting off fireworks about Carolina’s start, Joe expected more from its defense facing a rookie third-string quarterback making his first career start in Week 3 on a short week — something better than allowing him to have more touchdowns (one) than picks (none).
Things could change. The Bucs aren’t scheduled to face the Stinking Panthers until the day after Christmas. It’s entirely possible the two teams will be much different teams in three months.
(For example, the Bucs in late December were a far different team last year than they were in the previous September.)
The following Joe is pretty confident in typing: If in the first meeting between the Bucs and the Stinking Panthers at Carolina on Dec. 26, if Carolina only has 17 points with five minutes left in the game, Joe is confident that’s a big ol’ “L” for the blue kitties.
September 24th, 2021 at 12:07 am
Panthers lost both McCaffrey and Horn tonight. Who knows for how long. But they played the… Texans. Let’s see them play a strong team team and see how they fare especially if they are down key players. Any given Sunday and all that, but this team does not scare me.
September 24th, 2021 at 12:17 am
The Panthers play @Cowboys next week, and I’d assume they’ll lose handedly, but if they keep it close or win, I’ll change my opinion on them.
September 24th, 2021 at 12:23 am
They looked absolutely terrible out there. They aren’t even in the same stratosphere as us.
September 24th, 2021 at 12:50 am
“Just when I thought i was out, they pull me back in”- Lovie Smith
September 24th, 2021 at 12:55 am
I don’t think the Panthers can beat the Bucs, on their best day.
With, or without McCaffery.
I’d stake Medicated Pete’s reputation, on it.
September 24th, 2021 at 1:07 am
Panthers aren’t as bad as they showed tonight. I think their offense was too reliant on CMC and didn’t quite have Plan-B ready. Well, their coach is pretty good and they do have a defense. Do the Bucs? Not for 4 quarters we don’t.
September 24th, 2021 at 1:15 am
No..they run…we stuff the run… they have a decent defense tho
September 24th, 2021 at 1:30 am
In the last 2 years mcCaffrey has averaged 2.7 ypc against the Bucs. Not worried about him being healthy
September 24th, 2021 at 1:41 am
The Bucs will win 2 against the Panthers, especially with a hobbled or out McCaffery. I was at the game. Darnold is who we thought he was. Pressure and he melts. But Lovie doesn’t blitz, so after #22 was done, he continued soft for most of the plays including some critical 2nd and longs, 3rd and longs. Darnold rarely saw pressure.
Culley has ’em playing hard and it’s a shame Tyrod Taylor was hurt. Panthers would be 2-1 in that case. Beating the Texans is kind of like beating the Jags, but watch in the coming weeks.
September 24th, 2021 at 1:47 am
hargraeves still plays 10 yards + off all receivers…
panthers on their best day finish with 10 wins max…10-7…
that means they’ll play .500 football the rest of the way – at best…
#NothingToWorryAbout
September 24th, 2021 at 2:40 am
The Panties, i mean Panthers are in trouble. Their mongoloid looking QB fumbled the ball TWICE but the refs bailed him out & the injuries sealed their fate for 2021. Chrissy McCaffrey is softer than Pete’s beer belly
September 24th, 2021 at 3:29 am
Lovie Smith went home after that first win and quoted,”So your telling me there’s a chance “ in the mirror.
No Lovie, there is no chance.
Bucs excel at stopping Christian anyway.
Problem last night was lack of pass rush.
Bucs need to start finding pressure or every game will be nerve racking.
Streak continues and Bucs win 38-24.
September 24th, 2021 at 5:34 am
The only midnight commenter who even remotely took the Panthers seriously is Izod. All the rest spent your time bad-mouthing either the 3-0 Panthers or their opponents. Why? Their offense may not be on a par with ours, but their defense seems to be playing at a very high level through 3 games and they deserve to be taken as a serious NFC South contender.
Panthers’ defense has obviously been their strength through 3 games. I’m impressed. They’ve only given up 14, 7 & 9 points (30 TOTAL Points) in 3 games; maybe not to NFL powerhouse offenses, but that’s still impressive. They’ve shut down the run (only allowed 135 yds total on 51 carries), but more impressively held opponents to 8-for-38 on 3rd/4th down conversions (21%). They know how to get off the field IOW; THAT’S what’s impressive.
As a result, their offense has been able to dominate the TOP (average of slightly over 35 mins per game) & thus the number of plays (average of 69 plays per game to a tad over 50 plays for opponents). Their offense has only scored 69 total points (23 per game) but they’ve won each game handily AND haven’t beaten themselves (only 2 TOs in 3 games). Panthers use a reasonably BALANCED ATTACK (45% run-pass ratio) & although they don’t have the superstars that we do, it’s getting the job done.
What I’m seeing is a 3-0 team that’s playing solid, fundamental, COMPLEMENTARY football, that’s not beating itself, and that deserves to be taken seriously.
September 24th, 2021 at 6:53 am
Any team on any given can beat another team. But the answer is “no.”
September 24th, 2021 at 6:55 am
DJ Mooe, CM22 and some of Sam Darnold are really all the Panthers have. That lost of a third of that last night. You can’t be a RB up they insist on doing year after year.
September 24th, 2021 at 7:35 am
The Panthers are not for real at the moment but they are a team on the rise. They could end up finishing 2nd in the division. Darnold is a good QB, McCaffrey is one of the best football players I have ever seen in my life, and they have a good defense. Jay-Miss is not leading the Saints anywhere. In fact, did you see any of that game against the Panthers? Goes to show you he will always make dumb decisions with the football. The Falcons seem like they don’t have enough on defense.
Speaking of Falcons, I’ll be fortunate enough this weekend (or unfortunate?) that I’ll be watching Falcons vs. Giants at MetLife. A bad game but it’s the live NFL experience which is always fun.
September 24th, 2021 at 8:28 am
Give the Panthers credit. They won the two games they were supposed to win (Jets & Texans) and came up with a great effort against the Saints. It’s a long season.
September 24th, 2021 at 8:53 am
What a gawd-awful game.
The Kitties looked neutered without the two guys who got hurt.
September 24th, 2021 at 8:54 am
@DR: not beating themselves is key.
The Bucs have won despite some real slop in penalties & turnovers.
September 24th, 2021 at 9:21 am
3 games in, there’s still a LOT to be figured out.
I don’t know if I would consider Carolina to be a “contender” per se but, they do look improved. I wouldn’t overlook them. Besides, division opponents are never a ‘gimme’.
September 24th, 2021 at 9:26 am
Panthers are a team on the rise, but they’re not ready to knock the Bucs from the top of the hill. Matt Ruelle is doing a good job building his team, and they may very well soon overtake the Saints as our biggest competition. Just not yet tho.
September 24th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Y’all need to stop it. Panthers will be miss the playoffs and finish less than .500. Even if everyone is healthy. 3-0 does only means they played three bad teams.
September 24th, 2021 at 11:10 am
It’s not worth worrying too much about them right now because we don’t play them until the end of the year. And who knows where they will be by then. Their defense looks pretty good. But against weaker teams like the Jets and Texans. They do have some tougher teams coming up like the Cowboys, Patriots, and Cardinals over the next month or so. If they happen to beat all them, may have to pay more attention to them.
But nothing the Bucs can do about them right now but take care of our own business.
September 24th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
The panthers have no chance of beating us at any given day, in fact I predict if we beat the rams on Sunday there are no other teams that can stand in our way. We are far better team this year compared to last year. Only two teams can stand in our way rams and bills, the panthers are not that good a team to hold us back.
September 24th, 2021 at 1:14 pm
I watched the Panthers last week and on Thurs. Their defense has improved a lot. They are hittin hard and ball hawkin.
September 24th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Nope
They should have scored 50
They cant keep up with us
September 24th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Izod
CMC is 40% of the touches for that offense
That’s a huge loss
Now they are screwed
September 24th, 2021 at 1:50 pm
McCaffrey a hammy issue? A few weeks? What?
September 24th, 2021 at 6:34 pm
The Panthers should have put up more points vs the soft Lovie D