Welcome to Thursday Night Football Panther fans! We are on the national stage yet again Panther fans and this time we get a match-up with the slimy fish from Miami. You might remember we played the fish in Miami during the preseason in which we let the fish have their way with us knowing it would make them over confident for this game.

Tonight will be a different story. The sly 'Ol Fox that is our coach wasn't about to show the fish anything regarding our schemes and formations. They might think they know what to expect but I'm sure the Panthers will have some new wrinkles for them (I hope).

So there you have it. This is now an Open Thread!

Go Panthers!

It's time for the back half of our annual home and home with the Falcons. The Panthers fell to the Falcons 28-20 in the first clash at their nest so the Panthers at the very least are looking to avoid the sweep. The bigger emphasis must be to beat a quality team while playing well,  gain some confidence and focus on making a second half run. 

We have sunny skies today and that makes me happy. Sure the weather in Charlotte could be very different from mine here 3 hours away. My point is that my satellite ISP has sucked for the past few days with the storms and cloud cover. Maybe I will actually get to participate in this thread the entire game. I can only hope.

It's the Falcons we play this week Panther fans, which means we ignore everything else that has happened in previous games, we ignore the records and we focus soley on pummeling the red and black!

This is now an Open Thread! 

It's that time Panther fans for what is a critical early match-up for the Panthers. Win his game and they get back to .500 at 4-4 and show that they can compete with any team int he NFL. Lose this game and the resulting 3-5 hole may be too much to overcome to make a serious run at a wildcard playoff spot.

We've got your injury update here (and it doesn't look good). We will need WR Dwayne Jarrett to step up and add to his three catches from last week. No idea if rookie FB Tony Fiammetta will play but if he can't that has to limit the Panther play calling in some situations.

I'll get the inactives list when announced.

This is now an Open Thread!

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween last night. I won third place in a costume contest. My wife used a make-up kit with blood, latex etc.. and put one of the those fake screws through my forehead. I then donned my Panther jersey and told the crowd "I'm a Panther fan, Jake Delhomme is my QB and I am really screwed!" 

Let's hope the scariness ended last week and we get our act together today!

This is now an Open Thread!

Alright Panther fans, it is that time on a given Sunday and we have a Panther match-up before us. I realize we are a 4pm game today (not sure why) but thought I would go ahead and start the open thread so we can discuss the early games.

I also realize we are  favored in this game (-7) and the Panthers better not get caught looking at next Sunday. They are prone to turnovers and dumb mistakes so any team in this league can hang with the team. 

That's not what I'm expecting though. The Panthers will hopefully bring a running game with a few wrinkles to keep the Bills off balance. We have some injuries to worry about starting with WLB Thomas Davis. If he can't go then James Anderson has some big shoes to fill as Davis has played lights out this season.

The Panthers in turn must contain RB Fred Jackson. Jackson is easily the Bills most explosive player so far this season though many expected more from Terrell Ownes this season. Owens could finally break out if back-up Ryan Fitzpatrick has a career day (not likely).

Let's hear from you Panther fans. I'll post the inactives when they are announced.

The Is now an Open Thread!

Update: LB Thomas David is out and Landon Johnson is getting the start.

Are you ready for some football!

I know that's the MNF football slogan but I'm feeling stoked like its Monday Night and my team is playing. I admit it could just be left over euphoria from yesterdays GT victory over VT. Woooo Whoooooo! Is there anyone else happy with yesterday's NCAAF results? But I digress.

So I'm obviously bullish on the Panthers today against their division rival. It's time to even the division record and exit the NFC South basement. It's more a Buccaneer kind of place.

If I had to pick one key to the game for the Panthers its obviously turnovers. The Panthers have not played error free ball yet in 2009, with QB Jake Delhomme carrying a five game INT streak. I'm thinking he breaks it today.

Panthers win, Saints and Falcons lose. Its in the script! I'll stop now before I really jinx us.

This is now an Open Thread & Roll Call!

Go Panthers!

Roll Call (def) The act of commenting on a open blog thread simply to indicate you exist, even if you have never done so before (which makes you a lurker) Ex: "Jaxon here, from Charleston, SC; lurker since 2008; the Bucs suck!

Reject your lurker status, answer the roll call today!

The bye week is over and we are finally back to some football. I'm thinking the Redskins provide just the kind of red meat the Panthers are needing. Besides these guys are in complete disarray, calling each other out for poor play:

"These guys love each other. They absolutely love each other," Zorn said. "This is just how a team goes. I thought it was great. There's no fisticuffs. There's no shoving and pushing. These guys just, you know, ah, 'You didn't say hi to me.' 'No, you didn't say hi to me.' You know? I don't know really what the discussion was.

"In reality it's just a lot of nudging and posturing. It's just something that goes on. These guys are like brothers. And they care about each other. Seriously, it's not an issue."

When has calling out other players, Pro Bowl players at that, not hurt a team?

The Panthers defense will also have some key players back on the field as LB Na'il Diggs and SS Chris Harris return from injuries. Couple that with the recent acquisition of very-veteran DT Hollis Thomas and we should have a re-energized defense.

The biggest question mark is on special teams. RB Mike Goodson has been ruled out of the game from a concussion suffered during the Cowboys game two weeks ago. That leaves an opening at kick returner that we are still unsure who will fill. Beyond that the Panthers have hopefully been working on their kick coverage. They are currently the worst team in the league and it has been putting our defense in a hole.

If you are watching the game from home please join us and let us know what you think.

This in now an Open Thread!!

After the jump I have suggestions for an alternative strategy to motivate DE Julius Peppers:

Continue reading this post »

Wow, what a match-up we have this week. We play 'Americas' Team the Dallas Cowboys in their brand new spanking stadium nicknamed 'Jerry World' on the seasons biggest stage, Monday Night Football. We've had plenty of commentary leading up to this game so there is little else to discuss. We know how important this game is to the Panthers to avoid falling three games back in the division race. We know the Cowboys are equally stressed to erase last weeks loss to the Giants. We know the Cowboys are heavy favorites to win this game.

What the rest of the world doesn't know if how this Panther team will respond to the adversity. The Panthers are due some breaks and I bet they come tonight and they come big time.

Here's some pre-game reading links if you are looking for some, here and here.

Back in black? The rumor is that the Panthers will be wearing black jerseys tonight but will not be completely black as some other rumors are circulating (ie..black helmet and pants). I'm looking forward to seeing it.

What I want to know is what you are thinking Panthers fans throughout this game. This now an Open Thread!

Go Panthers!

Yes its Falcons week Panther fans. Our beloved Panthers travel to the roost in Atlanta for another taste of fresh bird and we know how much cats like bird!

The horrors of week one are but a distant memory as we know our Panthers will come out fighting. Consider the following factors the Panthers have in their favor:

• A superior running game led by Double Trouble
  
• A rejuvenated PB DE in Julius Peppers will look to abuse LT Sam 'Quiche' Baker
  
• Long time Falcon tormentor Steve Smith is sure to be juiced
  
• The Falcons are still trying to find the right combo in the secondary
  

There is plenty of pre-game reading material on the Falcons over at The Falcoholic if you care.

This is now an Open Thread!

If you are reading this Panthers fans we are inside one hour until kick-off of the 2009 season. Mini-camp, OT's and training camp are history. The preseason tune up is over. The bumps and bruises are being dressed and the Panthers are getting pumped! On the surface the Panthers are facing an NFC contender who brings a world of experience on both sides of the ball. The line is Eagles -2 and I'm thinking the Panthers +2 is a sure bet. I'd take the 'over' as well whatever it is. Hey, I finally found someone outside Charlotte who is bullish on the Panthers over the Eagles:

It must just be the uninformed dolts in the national media who haven’t bothered to look at what’s going on with the Eagles this year. All they see is that Andy Reid made the playoffs last year and they love kissing his big fat ass. I, on the other hand, have been watching the horror show unfolding this entire off-season up until the eve of the start of the regular season. The Eagles have been affected by death, injuries, free agent defections, bad personnel choices, stupidity and arrogance. I’m just waiting for the locusts. I don’t think the Eagles will beat the Panthers in week 1.

The Panthers went 8-0 in the regular season last year and will surely be ready the shake the taste of the 0-4 preseason off. The Panthers have to avoid turnovers that keep the Eagles hopes up conjuring up a road win. Okay, enough talk....

This is now and Open Thread!

Go Panthers!!