Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Panthers downfall was very premature, as off season predictions of their demise appear foolish. The Panthers face a gauntlet of teams before meeting meet the Saints in week nine. Battle for the division or another Carolina victory on the mantle? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in part two of this week’s TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.
TODD:
Taking a glance at the NFC South as a whole, the Falcons are certainly doing what was expected early on. Maybe no one thought they would topple New Orleans, but Atlanta is much improved over last season and has the ability to beat solid opponents, especially at home.
I have been dead wrong about Tampa Bay. I expected big things out of the Buccaneers this season, and while the defense has been fine, the offense is putrid. Whether it’s Josh McCown, Lovie Smith or something else, Tampa’s offense is inept at this point, despite having some quality skill players.
Of course, having a team be worse than expected does nothing to thwart New Orleans’ comeback attempts, but the biggest problem is what you finished up with: the downfall of Carolina was greatly premature.
The Panthers do indeed seem like legitimate contenders. This shouldn’t be that surprising because the defense is playing just as well, if not better than last season. The surprising part is that the defense is being buoyed by a competent yet unspectacular offense. I need to see more to know if the Panthers have enough on this side of the ball to win a division title because early results are mixed. Although the QB combo (because of Cam Newtons’ week one injury) has completed over 67 percent of its passes, the pair of passers have also already been sacked five times in two games.
Elsewhere, the running game is averaging a worrisome 3.1 yards per carry, and no one outside of Kelvin Benjamin makes big plays in the passing game. Of course, DeAngelo Williams was good in his one game, and Greg Olsen has been as reliable as ever. It’s too early to tell what we have here.
With Carolina’s playoff competitiveness up for debate, things roll back to the Saints.
They obviously need to win a few games here to avoid being completely eliminated, but the schedule appears favorable: a Peterson-less Vikings team today, followed by games against Dallas, Tampa, Detroit and Green Bay. Depending on how you feel about the shakiness of the NFC North, New Orleans could definitely begin its run right here.
Who knows, by week nine, after that stretch of games is complete, the Saints travel to Carolina to face the Panthers, a game that could swing the tides of both squads.
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DAN:
The Carolina Panthers are the team to beat in the NFC South, period. I love what I’m seeing from the Falcons, especially after that drubbing they put on Tampa Bay, but after a putrid season last year, I’m not yet sold. I need to see a full eight games from them before officially declaring them ‘back’ for good.
New Orleans may not be out yet, but that schedule you laid out does more to scare me away from them than anything. The Vikings should be a victory, the Cowboys game is a toss up, Tampa Bay should be a win as well, but Detroit and Green Bay are both losses based upon what we’ve seen so far. That puts the Saints at 3-4 heading to Carolina at best. This could be considered a victory, if not for Carolina’s own success.
Currently at 2-0, the Panthers get Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Green Bay, and Seattle before facing their division rival Saints at home. Let’s just say the Panthers’ schedule isn’t doing them any favors, but they’ll come out the other end of this gauntlet at 5-3 or 6-2.
A quick glance sees the Panthers defeat the Steelers, Ravens, and Bears, with losses in two of their three games against the Bengals, Packers, and Seahawks. But this team can certainly win ALL of these matchups. I’m just speaking conservatively. The Saints game will be like a mini reprieve after that set of games.
I’m not ready to write off the Saints, but the Panthers’ ability to shut down Detroit’s offense in week two bodes very, very well for them. They should have no trouble with Drew Brees and his current shell of an offense.
I also love what I’m seeing from the Carolina quarterbacks. Three touchdowns is just okay, but zero interceptions is excellent. Newton’s eight yards per attempt average is also exciting. An offense can win on lack of mistakes alone, especially when your defense is playing at Pro Bowl levels.