11-02-2022, 10:16 AM -
Eight weeks down --- nine to go. This game puts us over the halfway mark for the regular season. So in the first eight weeks the Panthers are 2-6. That is not saying very much for a professional sports team. But there are a few bright spots which we'll touch on here as we muddle along in the misery that is the Panthers season so far.
So, week 9. In math parlance, the game this week represents the 'median' of the season. The mid-point, count wise, where there are the same number of games behind you as there are in front of you. Measures of central tendency can be confusing, so I won't go into the intricacies, so lets just say at half-time of this game against the Bengals, we will be exactly halfway through the season. Is that important.?? Meh......Maybe.?? But probably not. We currently have two wins. If the rest of the season goes like the first half..... we'll end up with four wins. Which will guarantee (sort of...) a nice high pick in the draft in 2023.
So, is that all there is to say about week 9..?? Nope.... There's more. This week we roll into Cincinnati as a guest of the Bengals. The Bengals are one of five teams the Panthers have played the LEAST over the years. Those five teams have each been played six times. The Bengals (3-2-1); Titans (3-3); Ravens (4-2); Texans (4-2); Broncos (1-5). Of those five teams, we play three of them this year....the Bengals, the Ravens, and the Broncos. We are essentially even up against the Bengals and the Titans, we're ahead of the Ravens and Texans, and we are sadly dragging behind the Broncos.
This week the Bengals will probably pose a stern test. Last year the Bengals won the AFC North division (10-7), then went on to beat the Raiders and the Titans in the Divisional playoffs. They then beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game before losing to the Rams in the Super Bowl. It turned into a great season for them after a rather inauspicious start (10-7). This year they're starting rather slowly again. Currently they sit at 4-4, and have a fairly tough schedule ahead as do the Panthers.
The Bengals, however, have one position locked-down. Their QB slot is rock solid. Joe Burrow is leading the team and is playing well. Two weeks ago they beat the Falcons with Burrow throwing for 481 yards... IIRC. Last week against the Browns they lost to a superior rushing team. That fact gives the Panthers some hope if we can continue to punish opponents on the ground, and IF our Defense is on the ball and ready to stop an impressive air attack.
At this point, early in the week, the Panthers are 9 point underdogs. Playing against a favored opponent should be familiar ground for the Panthers as they have been "dogs" all year. We'll see how the week plays out as we move forward.
So, week 9. In math parlance, the game this week represents the 'median' of the season. The mid-point, count wise, where there are the same number of games behind you as there are in front of you. Measures of central tendency can be confusing, so I won't go into the intricacies, so lets just say at half-time of this game against the Bengals, we will be exactly halfway through the season. Is that important.?? Meh......Maybe.?? But probably not. We currently have two wins. If the rest of the season goes like the first half..... we'll end up with four wins. Which will guarantee (sort of...) a nice high pick in the draft in 2023.
So, is that all there is to say about week 9..?? Nope.... There's more. This week we roll into Cincinnati as a guest of the Bengals. The Bengals are one of five teams the Panthers have played the LEAST over the years. Those five teams have each been played six times. The Bengals (3-2-1); Titans (3-3); Ravens (4-2); Texans (4-2); Broncos (1-5). Of those five teams, we play three of them this year....the Bengals, the Ravens, and the Broncos. We are essentially even up against the Bengals and the Titans, we're ahead of the Ravens and Texans, and we are sadly dragging behind the Broncos.
This week the Bengals will probably pose a stern test. Last year the Bengals won the AFC North division (10-7), then went on to beat the Raiders and the Titans in the Divisional playoffs. They then beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game before losing to the Rams in the Super Bowl. It turned into a great season for them after a rather inauspicious start (10-7). This year they're starting rather slowly again. Currently they sit at 4-4, and have a fairly tough schedule ahead as do the Panthers.
The Bengals, however, have one position locked-down. Their QB slot is rock solid. Joe Burrow is leading the team and is playing well. Two weeks ago they beat the Falcons with Burrow throwing for 481 yards... IIRC. Last week against the Browns they lost to a superior rushing team. That fact gives the Panthers some hope if we can continue to punish opponents on the ground, and IF our Defense is on the ball and ready to stop an impressive air attack.
At this point, early in the week, the Panthers are 9 point underdogs. Playing against a favored opponent should be familiar ground for the Panthers as they have been "dogs" all year. We'll see how the week plays out as we move forward.