Best team we've faced this year

not completely sold. they had one more win than the Panthers, while playing a soft schedule.

Panthers could have beat them last year. Skins were in that game Saturday.

hopefully the Panthers experience will prevail. Seattle is not playoff tested.

ultimately I believe Fox and co. will put together another good gameplan. Im sure they are picking apart Lucas's brain for the scouting report on the WR's and the DB's.

 

Co-Sign

If Seattle plays like they did versus Washington I think we win.
They could have lost to the skins with or without Alexander if the redskins would have had any type of offense.

 

We're the highest ranked defense still playing

 

I think it may have been Fox's Pam Oliver that said the Panthers didn't know how fast the Bears DL was until after the game started back in November, and that this time (being Sunday's game) they were more prepared.

This is the kind of thing that scares me.

 

everyone talks about Alexander but..

Steve Smith leads NFL post season in TD,s Yrds, Receptions.

Goings is 5th in rushing (Foster was first:banginghe )

DelHomme best QB rating left (2nd to Brady)

 

Maybe they haven't been tested much, but that doesn't mean they will lose the first time that they are tested. Keep in mind that they played almost the whole year without one of their best offensive threats (Djax). If you doubt his ability, look at the numbers he put up last week. Our defense needs to step up and hold these guys in check.

That said, I still like our chances.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nfl05.htm

According to the Safarin ranking, Seattle has had the easiest schedule in the league. Interestingly enough, the 31st ranked team was the Colts (paper tiger? hmmm). Anyway, the remaining teams schedule ranking is:

Denver Broncos (8)
Pittsburgh Steelers (14)
Carolina Panthers (27)
Seattle Seahawks (32)

Thoughts?

 

I think none of that matters come Sunday from 6:30 till 10:00.

If we do not continue to show up, get overconfident in the least or don't play at the top of our best game across the board, it will be a long long flight back from the west coast.

 

We'll have to pick our poison between Alexander and Hasselbeck.

Yeah, they beat some patsies, but they were able to put together 13 wins versus only 3 loses, which says that even if they're not playing the best, they find ways to win games.

Conversely, look at our schedule versus some questionable teams:

lost to Miami
beat Green Bay by 3
beat Arizona by 4
beat Detroit by 1
beat Buffalo by 4
(I'm not counting the first N.O. game -that was all emotion for the Saints)

That being said, the Panthers are playing much better than they were in any of those previous games. I don't know enough to say about Seattle's recent playing trend.

I do worry about our secondary vs Matt Hasselbeck. On the other hand, I don't see their secondary stopping Smith. I think our running game has derived mostly from our O-line's efforts, and will be decent on Sunday.

 

Curious as to what is weak about the Panther secondary? Lucas is solid. Have not been seeing many people test Gamble lately. Manning is a solid nickel and T. Davis is really starting to make a name for himself and there is still Minter out there looking to jack people up.

To me the weakest portion of the defense this year has been the linebackers. I am not sure if it is more personal or scheme, but they have been hot and cold all season long. I think my biggest concern about the Hawks offense is going to be Mack Strong vs. our middle. Good fullbacks are scary to me and it is not like we have great ones to practice against...