OK, everybody breathe.  We had our first game being blown out this year.  Pretty much every team not wearing Green and Yellow has them.  It's a good time to step back, refocus, and remember some of the big picture facts about our Carolina Panthers:

1. Our coaching staff needs time.  While I am one of the voices calling out our Special Teams coach, we need to give our coaches a year or two to put their stamp on this team.  Remember to compare this team to last year's team:  it is much improved.  And the coaches did that without an offseason to prepare.

2.  One bad game does not necessarily prove we have regressed.  Captain Munnerlyn missed a couple of tackles on Sunday, but he is still having a good year.  Greg Olsen had a bad game.  But he is still a quality tight end and playmaker for our team.  In short, give the guys a break, no one is perfect.

3.  Deficiencies will be addressed.  I trust our new head coach to spend next offseason addressing our greatest needs for improvement:  run defense, special teams, and depth on the offensive and defensive lines.

4.  Failure is the rich soil from which success grows.  It builds character and develops the kind of determination and effort that leads to winning, and eventually, championships.

5.  I've said this before but it bears repeating now.  One of the keys to winning a Super Bowl in today's NFL is having a great QB.  We are very fortunate to have found one.  He is a rookie and going through the growing pains of a rookie.  But he has all the ingredients to lead the Panthers to the Lombardi Trophy. 

Yes, it requires patience.  But there is no need to panic.  This coach and this team needs some time to develop.  But they can, and they will. 

Go Panthers!