Monday Morning Optimist: The Panthers didn’t beat the Rams, but they did look like the better team

[FaulkSF]

Here is something to be optimistic about as a Panthers fan.

 

[fearsomefour]

Sure, the game "seemed" close. But if not for a blocked punt (to Carolina's credit) and a very late TD when the Rams were in prevent defense after the 2 minute warning, I didn't think the game was that close.

It was one of those games that never seemed in doubt really.
Like an experienced top level boxer out pointing a younger fighter.

 

[The Ramowl]

Reading all of that, I feel more confident actually. As a spectator, that game was rather boring to me, because it never felt like it was escaping our control, and that's the point : the Rams didn't play a very good game, yet kept scoring points regularly. Whenever Carolina pulled up closer, the level of play was elevated and new points were scored.
When favorite wins without much flash in front of a team that shows more poise and enthusiasm, it just screams that they were favorites for a reason.

Also, I believe that McVay knows the more important game is the Saints, they are the ones we need to beat if we want to win the conference. I wouldn't be surprised if, seing that we were in front in Carolina, he decided to reduce his game plan a bit, keeping more things hidden in preparation to the Saints game. Next week's game is the true test, can't wait.

 

[LesBaker]

Here is something to be optimistic about as a Panthers fan.

View attachment 30127

Wow.......Miller Lite........about a dozen of them.

That's fucking disgusting.

 

[Big Game]

Texans didn't beat the Saints last night but they looked like the better team soooooo it is what it is sometimes.

 

[LesBaker]

I will have no idea who the Rams will be until week 3-4 this year...

This is true about most teams, and the first week of the year sees more sloppily played games than any other week.

 

[FaulkSF]

Wow.......Miller Lite........about a dozen of them.

That's fucking disgusting.

He's just keeping himself hydrated, ease off the criticism.

 

[Tano]

Watching that game I felt we dominated that game. Sure McCaffrey got his yards but we should have shut them out in the first half. The second half I blame the injury on Weddle. Christian played very poorly imo.

I hope they use Rapp instead of Christian for the NO game if Weddle can't play.

Plus as people stated, Goff was missing open receivers frequently thru-out the game.

If not for a few bad plays on our part on offense and special teams, we would have won that game easily. Plus - what is up with Peters doing a dumb ass penalty. That was so annoying. He didn't even do the interception. Shut the frick up man.

 

[OldSchool]

They lost the line of scrimmage battle, the time of possession battle and the turnover battle. The only thing they won was special teams and how often does Bones crew get out played? They also lost at home to a west coast team travelling across country for an early game which is the surest bet in the NFL. There are no moral victories for them.

 

[SteveBrown]

They can put 27 points up on those fucks with their eyes closed.

.

Welll they did 26 last year, so with Everett "activated" that should account for 1 point more, no matter how bad Goff plays...j kiddin

 

[PressureD41]

View: https://media.giphy.com/media/gPTTdOsD3lEQw/giphy.gif

but i think the score was
Rams 30
Panthers 27
go figure
train

 

[Ram65]

The Panthers did move the ball early on. Rams got a TO at their own 25 yard line and then the Panthers self destructed again with a missed FG (after two time outs) and another fumble on the backward pass. Even though they let up some yards they made defensive plays when they had to. Good teams make plays to win games on the road with travel across the country. That's what the Rams did.

 

[RamFan503]

Im not sure I disagree. The Rams didn’t play that well.

However..... Does this sound something like what we used to say during the Fisher years? We were who our record said we were and if you lose enough games where it looks like you might have been the better team, you simply weren't the better team. The converse is true as well.

 

[The Ramowl]

In my fantasy app, the Panthers defense is the most added "player" before week 2. A unit that had one sack, zero turnovers and took 30 points. That tells you something.

 

[kurtfaulk]

In my fantasy app, the Panthers defense is the most added "player" before week 2. A unit that had one sack, zero turnovers and took 30 points. That tells you something.

yeah, they're playing the bucs and that turnover machine winston.

.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I thought the exact opposite. I thought Goff kept them in the game with some key misses and thought we left some points on the field. We let them scrape back late in the game but to be honest, i never thought the Rams were really ever in jeopardy of losing.

Rams put up 30 points and our QB was off and our RB didnt make much of an impact till later. Also factor in that Donald was not himself. If you also add to the fact that the Rams traveled to the other coast. I thought the Rams out played Carolina most of this game.

It could of been a blowout. I like how the Rams played for a week 1 road game.

Headline should be: Panthers somehow only lost 30-27

This is exactly how I saw it. I never felt like the Rams were in jeopardy of losing. McVay was content to let them eat clock late.

 

[dang]

The only thing I am worried about is the regression of the defense in the second half. The opposite of last year when halftime adjustments improved the Rams defense. I attribute some of that to rust and done to loss of Weddle but I will be watching for that next week.

 

[den-the-coach]

First off the Panthers were the home team and without the block punt, they might not score a TD and the Rams could have won by double digits....Cat Scratch Reader has Cat Scratch Fever.