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Doomsday The Carolina Panthers are facing a must-win scenario, and it's not even October. The franchise hasn't won a game of any importance since 2008, and the players, coaches and owner know the magnitude of their upcoming Monday night game in Big D. The Panthers are 0-2, and there is a sense that it's now or never, if they are going to return to the post-season in 2009. Keep in mind that 9 teams since 2000 started 0-2, and made the post season. Three teams last season pulled the trick: Miami, Minnesota, and San Diego. I won't go into the 0-3 list unless it's necessary, but let's just say it's a short one....Since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, only the Bills '98, Lions '95 and Chargers '92 pulled that trick. San Diego even started 0-4 and made the playoffs. The Panthers have already put themselves in a tough spot with a combination of terrible tackling, no defensive pressure, an inconsistent QB, terrible special teams, and a coaching staff that thinks it's against the rules to make any adjustments. The fan base has torn the team to shreds since the Arizona playoff stinker, and they've haven't seen anything on the field to change their mind that everything is going to be OK. Realize the team this calendar year has lost a playoff game, four pre-season games, and two regular season games. That's 0-7 in '09, for anybody keeping score. I can throw into the mix two team presidents and multiple members of a coaching staff that finished 12-4 last year, too. It has been an ugly year, and we haven't even started week three of the season. Marty Hurney, the Panthers GM, joined me on my radio show for a 90-minute interview. I give the guy credit for wanting to discuss the Panthers' anemic situation on our platform, but it goes to show you how dire the situation is in Panther Nation. Next Monday night, the Panthers will enter the new Cowboy Stadium playing for their post-season lives....it will be must-see TV....in a must-win game. I bet Lane Kiffin is sleeping better, these days. I truly expected to see his Vols get bitch-slapped in the Swamp by the top-ranked Gators, but that didn't happen. Not that the Vols are into moral victories; it is a proud football institution, that knows something about winning big games and titles....just not in recent memory. But the Gators' underwhelming 23-13 win on Saturday gave hope to not only the Vols and Lane Kiffin, but to the rest of the country, too. Kiffin stirred the pot which included Urban Meyer and the Gators on his first day on the job. You just assumed that Meyer and his nasty Gators would return the favor when they met face-to-face, but the Vols played them tough. What is funny is that Kiffin got the last shot before returning to the comfort of Vol Nation. Immediately after the 10-point loss, Kiffin told the media: "I would think in the Florida locker room there are some frustrated guys. Because they had high expectations about what they were supposed to do." Who is to say that Tennessee isn't the best 1-2 team in all of college football? I swear the umpire in the Panthers-Falcons game hit the turf and was more physical than Julius Peppers. But I bet he didn't cash in for a million bucks for the afternoon's effort, like #90. After three weeks of the college football season, it's tough to get a read on the best league in America. It is probably a given that the SEC will have some say-so in the matter, but I just think the conference appears down to me, this season. I know Florida and Bama are terrific, but the rest of the SEC looks like it's down a notch to me from past seasons. The overall collection of quarterbacks is weaker, so is the great defensive play. When is the last time you watched a Georgia team light up a pair of SEC rivals for 41 and 52 points respectively....and have to hold on for the wins? All of this stuff will work itself out, but here is the scoreboard after three weeks of play:
It's still early.....but it always makes for a fun debate. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
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