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Wow, almost exactly the way I see it
CAR will not run on NE and their offense is in for a very long day. The CAR front 4 is neutralized and their secondary exposed by Brady's 3 step drops, multi receiver sets and spread formations. It may be close for a while but NE will win going away and become the worst team ever to win 15 games in a row and TWO SB's in 3 years 
The Panthers honestly have zero chance of winning this game. The only thing Carolina can do on offense is run the ball and NE will stuff the run all night long. (Considering that Carolina's offense has struggled against poor NFC defenses all year long and the NE defense has stopped all of the high powered AFC offenses, Carolina will not even be able to break the line of scrimmage with the run.) Without the run, the Panthers will be forced to use their feeble passing game which will lead to INTs and Defensive TDs for the Pats. On defense, the Panthers have not faced an offensive threat all year like the Pats passing attack. The Pats will be able to move the ball at will against this over matched defensive unit. The only way the game stays somewhat close early on is if the Panthers return a kick and/or score a defensive TD early. Even then, the Pats should have the game iced by the midpoint of the 3rd quarter. 37-16 NE.Matter of fact, this Panthers team could be the worst team to ever play in the Super Bowl. It really is a shame that we couldn't have gotten a better team to face NE. That way the Super Bowl would have been fun and exciting.
I agree, with some wordsmithing. I would say that Carolina has not faced as disciplined a defense as NE. Dallas, St.Louis and Philly are all aggressive defenses. NE's D is more about assignments and gap control, with selective blitzing. When healthy, Philly's secondary is right up there with NE in the outstanding category, but injuries on the DLine and secondary killed the Iggles this year. Carolina's approach is similar to NE's, but with a better DLine than NE and a good but not as good secondary as NE. I see this game coming down to Brady vs Delhomme, so I give an edge to NE due to the creativity of Weiss.Then again, on any given sunday....
You're selling the Panthers short....1. Delhomme's stats are in the same ballpark as Brady's. 2. As BB noted, the Panthers had as many 20+ yard plays out of the passing game as the Colts. 3. The Panthers punting game kicks the living crap out of the Pats punting game.4. Their kicker doesn't have as many "famous" clutch kicks as Adam, but he's no slouch
Pssssst...................I was actually trying to use the same type of "reasons" from two years ago. With Ole Yellow being gone I couldn't get direct quotes, but the consensus back then seemed to be that NE had ZERO chance against the mighty Rams in the Super Bowl. A lot of people were complaining that a Rams/Steelers or Rams/Raiders Super Bowl would have been a much better matchup and the Rams/Pats matchup would be a blowout and not exciting. I think it is funny that some fans of the team that beat all odds and proved they belonged (as well as other nay sayers) are now so quick to give the Panthers no chance of winning. How quickly they seem to forget.
The same can be said of the Panthers. I'm sorry that some people see this as a boring matchup or a lopsided matchup. I think this game has the makings of being a very tough, hard fought game. The Panthers will try to pound on NE's defense with the run and NE will try to spread the Panther D with 4 and 5 WRs. I think the winner will be the team that can land the first knockout punch. (A defensive TD by the Pats or a long TD pass by the Panthers.) In the end, I think NE will be able to move the ball on offense while the Panthers use the "bend but don't break" defense. This will lead to a TD and several FGs by NE. I think Carolina will be able to move the ball some on the ground, but they will not be able to eat the clock and control the tempo like they would like to. They will be forced to play mistake free ball and use a turnover and/or a kick return to setup a couple of scores to keep the game close. The game should still be up for grabs late into the 4th with a NE defensive TD icing the game for NE OR a Brady TD pass in the final two minutes winning the game for NE.As a Panthers fan, I hope I am wrong about the above. We will see in a few days.
Maybe I am, but I don't think so. I really only see 2 aspects (not going by stats, but what I've actually seen) of the game where I see an advantage to the Panthers. Those two being the running game and punting. I would much rather have Brady and the NE passing attack (especially in a big game where he is unbeaten). The Car. D is good yes, but agian I would rather walk into Hou. knowing I have the guys in blue/red/silver on my side! I give the return games a push. And finally if the game comes down to one play and its a field goal. I also know exactly who I want kicking that ball and again he plays for the Pats.I'm not down playing the Panthers, just see NE as one of if not the most complete teams in years. Car. is a very good team and earned the right to be in the Superbowl. If they win I will be happy for them, as I am a fan of niether team. Actually a Pats loss may be good, kinda revenge for beating the Steelers in the AFC Champ 2 years ago, just don't see it happening.
I'm comparing the situations. In 2001, most people were talking about how NE (13-5) had no chance of winning the Super Bowl because the Rams (16-2) were clearly the better team. The real question seemed to be how many points the Rams would win by. In 2003, a lot of people (some NE fans included) are talking about how Carolina (14-5) has no chance of winning the Super Bowl because the Patriots (16-2) are clearly the better team. The real question seems to be how many points the Patriots will win by.Can you not see the similarities in the two situations? In 2001, after the Pats won, the debate began as to whether that Pats team was the 'worst' team to win the Super Bowl. In 2003, if the Panthers win, the debate will begin again whether this Panthers team was the 'worst' team to win the Super Bowl.
Weren't these things also said about the Pats going into the Super Bowl in 2001?
I was not among them that said the Pats had no chance in 2001. In fact, on the yellow boards, I predicted the Pats would win straight out without getting their 14 points--and I'm not a Pats fan.I would be the first to admit the Rams had a better team that year, but they got outcoached and outplayed by the Patriots.Should the Panthers figure a way to win this year, my hats off to them for a fine season and a great game plan to win the big one.But first they have to win.I chuckled yesterday at an interview with ESPN's Tom Jackson. He picked the Panthers because they have bigger names and more star power, and that's what wins championships. Apparently the results Brady & Co. have posted over the past few years don't mean anything.
Just curious why you feel they "should have" lost to the Rams?
The Rams elected to run the clock instead of trying to score from the Panthers' 12 yard line and kicked a FG to send it to OT. With an offense like the Rams', they could have easily tried taking shots at the end zone. They even had time and timeouts to go underneath or across the middle. Not the ballsiest move I've ever seen, that's for sure . . .
At home versus crippled McNair in sub-freezing temps, and Manning who had 2 picks in the end zone - also in cold weather.This will be in decent weather in Houston (maybe a little rain through the hole in the dome - but certainly not freezing temps). Do NOT underestimate the Panthers O - they have scored at least 2 offensive TDs in 10 of their last 11 games against every type of defense. They were able to run the score up on the Cowboys' defense. Also, the Pats have won by less than 7 points in all their road victories except one (versus a lifeless Eagles team in week 2) - I like the Pats D a LOT, but an excellent case can be made that it is TRULY EXCEPTIONAL at home, but beatable away from Foxboro.I think the Pats will win a close game, but I think the Panthers will be able to score more than 14 points - probably at least in the 17-20 range.
INT's don't count if u don't cath em skippy and ur estimation of 5-6 is about as accurate as your "Broncos are the real dynasty and will win the Super Bowl this year" rantings. It is ridiculous for U to count imaginary Ints and then ignore 2 easy TD drops by Fauria, one of which immediatly proceeded the 1 real Int Brady threw. Since you LOVE to talk about Brady's slump how about you tell us NOW what you are projecting for Brady in the SB? I will do likewise.
Of course not everybody picked the Rams in 2001. Just like not everybody is picking the Pats this year. I just think it is funny that there is a large group of people that seem to have forgotten the result of the 2001 Super Bowl. The Pats were a huge underdog and were given no chance by many people in 2001. Now, the Panthers are a smaller underdog but are still given no chance to win by many people. The two biggest challenges I can see facing Carolina going in is experience and the secondary. The NE players have been here before and should know that they can't take Carolina lightly. They will also know what to expect when they walk out on the field. If Carolina can survive the 1st quarter (much like vs the Rams), they should be in the game late. The secondary will be the biggest problem. I don't think the Panthers can matchup with NE's 4 and 5 WR sets all night. Not really sure what Fox is going to do to handle all of those WRs, but something must be done if the Panthers hope to win. Also, Law should be able to take S Smith out of the Panthers passing game, which will be huge if the Panthers can't move the ball on the ground.
Agreed. The problem facing the Panthers is that it will be very hard to outcoach the Patriots and we must assume that the players will be ready. But I also think the the Panthers' players and coaches will be ready for this game. But, in the end, that is why they play the games. Anything can, and often does, happen once the players step on the field.
Oh, it will take a great game plan plus some more for the Panthers to win this game. But, if they can play mistake free football for 60 minutes (or more) on Sunday, they have a chance. I'm just trying to point out that it is rather foolish for people to say that the Panthers have no chance in this game. It is one thing to say that the Pats will win. I have no problem with that (see below.) But to say the Panthers have no chance either means you (non specific you) haven't watched much of the Panthers this year (only look at final score and/or stats) or you don't know what you are talking about.
Being a Panthers fan myself, I would have to take the Pats in this game, if my life depended on it. I don't think the Panthers have the needed players to stop the NE quick passing attack. I think the Panthers will hang in there but will be unable to get the big stop or big 1st down when they need it most. I also think the Panthers will turn the ball over at least one time and it will result in a NE TD.
Fair enough but I still think that CAR would have whaled on the Bills, Jets and the Dolphins. While these teams contended with others in defensive stats they were all in the lower half offensive stats in the NFL (outside of the SB bound Pats). Not much offense going there. Also, both the Pats and the Panthers were 3-1 vs. the top 5 scoring defenses. Regardless, I just know that Carolina will play well and will probably pull the upset. Not quite the beating the Pats had to take from my 85 Bears team (7 yards rushing
) but heck it should be a winner. Plus, the Pats have been there now more times than the Bears but it is still the greatest sports memory!!!
C'mon I thought this was about the SUPERBOWL.You guys are killin me.
Yeah, I thought that was what he was referring to. I actually deleted part of my post to make sure that is what he was referring to before I responded.I agree it was a terrible coaching move on Martz's part. But a TD there was not guaranteed. The Rams had been in a similar position several times before and been held to a FG. Even though the Rams had all of the momentum on their side at that point, we can not assume a TD would have been the end result if Martz had half a sack and actually ran a couple of plays before kicking the FG. That is why a "should have" seemed a little strong. To be honest, the Rams should have lost that game in regulation, since the Panthers controlled most of the game.
Why are you such a homer? Everyone saw the numerous times Colts defenders had their hands on the ball - only to simply DROP it. I say 5-6 because one of them really wasn't catchable - one of them came when the defender batted the ball up in the air down near the goal line, hoping another Colt could get it. I'm being LENIENT and not calling it a straight 6.Quotes from the game thread:http://footballguys.net/forum/index.php?ac...&hl=colts&st=70#########BGP: Colts can't make the big play. The colts' defense has dropped an interception on both of the Patriots' first two drives. The Patriots' defense, meanwhile, held onto the one interception opportunity they had. #########Vivian Darkbloom:Brady 2, Manning 0.And Brady has made more mistakes.He's just gotten away with them. #########Vivian Darkbloom:LOL. Pats make the spectacular INT (Ty Law), Colts can't hold on to the easy ones. #########BGP: Colts defense has now had the oppotunity to intercept 4 Brady passes, and have none. Patriots' defense is 2/2. (Note: They later pick Brady in the end zone, so they went 1 for 5)#########
Carolina will win because they WILL be able to run the ball just enough and Jake will make a few plays in the passing game. No homefield advantage for the Pats either.
