Posted:
#1
I will admit I was fully on the Carolina bandwagon last season, mostly because I got 3 of them auto-drafted in my buddies NFL pool while I was in Australia last summer (Newton, Olsen, and the Carolina D). That said, I also took Newton with my 1st round pick this year (11th overall) so I'm hoping for a big season. I can't think of any other week 1 match-up though that could invite pretty much all the crazy angles of capping for it. Revenge, Rookie QB, prolific offence vs. airtight defence, altitude, you name it...
Just curious about people's thoughts on this game because everyone seems to be sipping the Panthers kool-aid once again?
-it's a so-called "revenge" spot, but is it really? Even if they win, and even if they dominate, there is no beatdown large enough that can ever make up for that lost Super Bowl...it's just a regular game and week 1 at that. I think Carolina knows this and accepts it.
-what did Peyton do in last year's Super Bowl that anyone remembers other than plug budweiser a cringe-worthy number of times after the game?? Denver probably could have stood a scarecrow back in the pocket and still won the game. I know it's a rookie QB but Peyton was "Peyton Manning" last season at all. I don't think there will be a significant drop-off at QB.
-has anything changed the dynamics of the offences and defences?? I don't see any reason why the Denver D won't be able to handle the Panthers the same as before.
-in the Super Bowl the teams played at a neutral field...this time around Denver actually has a home-field advantage. And what goes along with home-field advantage in Denver...the altitude! Actually not sure about this (if anyone knows that would be great??) but if Denver has their camp actually in Denver at altitude I think this would be a huge advantage. Probably more so in week 1 than at any other point later in the season.
I gotta think history repeats itself and this game will play out pretty much like a carbon copy of the Super Bowl...but maybe I'm missing something that other people know...anyone??
