Not putting the Panthers in the playoffs is retarded. They are going to be the BEST team in the NFC....
AFC Pats Steelers Colts Broncos Wildcard: Dolphins/Bengals or Jags depending on Culpepper and Palmer. NFC Eagles Panthers Seahawks Bears Wildcard: Cowboys Falcons
Mike Anderson and Jamal Lewis compliment eachother well and should be able to run for a combined 1,600 yards behind Ogden and Mulitalo. Boller also improved towards the end of last season and with a very underrated receiving core he definitely has what it takes to make the playoffs. That being said, I have them missing the playoffs because they are in the toughest AFC division this year and will likely go 1-5 in it.
They also have a good WR corps with Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason starting. If they acquire Steve McNair they could be pretty good. I still wouldn't pick them as a playoff team right now because I think the Browns, Bengals, and Steelers are better.
Most people have them winning the Division... People love the panthers for some reason. Bucs not making the playoffs in many peoples polls too. Panthers lost Witherspoon and Peppers numbers fell last year (supposebly becuase he stopped the roids). I don't know how anyone can call them the best team in the NFC. Jake is a great QB, totally respect him, but he's very one sided. Last year was Smith, year before Mooz... their #2 doesn't get any catches at all. Not to mention the Seahaks showed everyone exactly how you plug up Smith, and therefore the Panthers.
Maybe not the best team in the NFC, I say Seattle. But you didn't even have them as a Wild Card...They are AT LEAST that, but more likely a division winner to me...Their #2 doesn't get much catches...Year before last Steve Smith was out for the year, all they had was Mushin...Last year Keary Colbert couldn't handle the #2 role...Now they have Keyshawn, you'll see the ball spread out more... So Seattle showed teams how to stop Smith...So the Bucs are going to change their base "Tampa-2" defense, sliding linebackers and safties, at times 4 players on Smith to stop him? Leaving Keyshawn 1 on 1?:lol: The Panthers get back Foster, drafted DeAngelo...So stopping the Panthers isn't going to mean stop Steve Smith and thats it. I still get a laugh at how Carolina,Atlanta, and Nawlins are trying to get to the Bucs "level."...Nawlins is, but not the other 2, stop sounding like Tampa is so dominant.
AFC 1. Denver 2. Indy 3. Pittsburgh 4. New England 5. Fins 6. Chargers NFC 1. Seattle 2. Chicago 3. Carolina 4. Dallas 5. New York 6. Tampa Bay
We walked away as champions of SOMETHING last year. They went home empty. What can I say... I think the Panthers are a real big contender for the playoffs. That's why I didn't bother seeding 5 and 6. Totally open. Cowboys and Falcons were just wild guesses, as good as any other. Reason: Cowboys beat out the Panthers last year. Panther struggle when a lot is on the line. Now they have TO. For some reason Fox still hasn't figured out Vick. The Falcons and Panthers usually split even in series, the Falcons usually getting the game that counts most. If you all over the Panthers big improvements with Key and DW, how about the Falcons with Abe and Milloy. Two far greater improvements.
If Mora, Jr. coaches Vick like Reeves did in 2002, the Falcons will make the playoffs in 2006. Also, they are eligible to have a winning record in 2006.
I actually think the panthers will win the division. Should be an interesting year, we play your division this year. So this should be fun. In fact if I am not mistaken you guys play us at our house. That should be a fun game!
I see the Buccaneers as just one of the potential playoff crowd, not a main contender. 11-5 was great but they only outscored their opponents by 26 points last year and they won 4 games by a fieldgoal or less. That looks to me like they got lucky and could just as easily have been 9-7. Luck tends to swing back and forth from year to year and I could just as easily see them catching a few bad breaks next year and winding up at 7-9.
:lol: Bucs were undefeated in games in which they scored 21 points or more. The D is the most solid and consisent defense in the last 10 years. Almost a lock to be atleast top 5 again next year. The O is what struggles. Mostly due to inexperience. Our offensive trio, or the 3Cs (sig), is the youngest and most inexperienced in the league. Yet have great potential. Young and explosive the offense target zone is 21 points, very doable.
You quoted me, but I was talking about the Falcons. That whole "eligible to have a winning record next year" line is one I pull out every year following a .500 record or worse season for the Falcons. You see, in order for Atlanta to get an NFL franchise they had to make a deal with the devil. They got their team, but are not allowed to have consecutive winning seasons. They were .500 in 2005. They are eligible this year.
My post (the writing part) was for Br4d, post right above mine, not you. The :lol: was for you becuase I knew what you were talking about.
I understand being optimistic about your team's chances to win next season. I'm just not that high on them as a group. The emergence of a dominant team tends to hinge on a readily identifiable strength, usually the offense or the defense, that is already dominant and waiting for the other unit to catch up. That's why I think Chicago has a chance to be a dominant team this year. Their defense was clearly dominant last season and the offense needs some fixing and/or maturation in order for them to achieve dominance. The Bucs weren't dominant either offensively or defensively last year. They did play very well on defense, however they did not hold half their opponents to single digit scoring the way the Bears did. In fact they only shut down the Bills and the Saints during the regular season and both of those teams were shutting themselves down regularly at the time the Bucs managed to do it. Now, it's possible that the Bucs will maintain the same strong defense that they've played over the last decade and also step it up on offense and have a great season. Note that the Bucs have recently ranked fairly high in the defensive standings with teams that had subpar records. The year they won the Super Bowl they were absolutely dominant on defense.
I don't mean to but in... just a few comments for Buc.. I think it was REALLY stupid to let Griese go as I love that guy...and I think he's better than Sims anyways.. the D IS amazing and the bucs will be on the verge of the playoffs again next year....the nfc is real competitve
Oh okay, so now it isn't "They're trying to get on our level."? You did walk away as division champs, on a tie-break, damn, how dominant. Panthers struggle when alot is on the line? This team went to a Superbowl in 2003, losing by 3, and won at St. Louis and Philadelphia! That's crumbling? Last season they dominate the Giants in the Meadowlands, then dismantle the Bears...They struggle when alot is on the line? Carolina has beaten Tampa 5 out of the last 6 games, and they crumble? You mention Abe and Milloy, and Carolina mentions Kris Jenkins and Maaeke Kemoeatu... I still laugh at "Their trying to get to OUR LEVEL(Bucs)."
