With Gifts Given, Everything Points Positive For The Panthers

If you've followed along here, for any decent amount of time throughout the tumultuous season for the Carolina Panthers, you would know I have a convoluted relationship with our hometown NFL team. And there's too many proofs to link here, so I encourage scrolling back through our Blog archives if you don't already have a handle.

Well, that complex association continues after the Panthers failed to clinch their division and a playoff spot for themselves.

I don't have much added stability to my trust in Carolina, even after the Falcons gave them another gift last night (beating the NFC leading LA Rams and giving the Panthers a secondary route to the post-season).

I'll be laying out my full thoughts on Saturday, when I host my weekly radio show on WSJS called Waking Up Prowled. The script has written itself, and it'll go something like this....

There's NO WAY the Panthers can screw this up now! Or is there?!?

Carolina holds their own destiny in their hands with a second win over the Bucs this season. OR, if Atlanta beats the Saints on Sunday, the outcome to the Panthers' own game doesn't even matter.

From the latest NFL Playoff Simulator, it gives the Panthers a 78% chance to make the playoffs.

While everything seems to be aligning favorably for Carolina, that's AWFUL news for anyone that really knows this team. You see... Anytime the Panthers hold an advantage, have favorable coverage on them, or are the favorites -- they fail miserably. When the world is against them, they play like world-beaters.

Remember when they went to Lambeau and beat the Packers? They lost the following weak to the Saints.

Remember when they beat the NFC powerhouse in the LA Rams? They lost the next game to the Saints again.

Remember when people fawned over Bryce Young with his game-winning drives? He just finished a game where he threw for just 54 yards.

That brings me to this quarterback, that will inevitably hold this franchise hostage, dancing between doghouse and the penthouse. I'm ready to admit I had Bryce wrong.

I said he shouldn't be the teams QB. I've said that he's not going to make it in the league. I think he's too small, untrustworthy, and the team would be better if they just moved on from this experiment. I may have been wrong...

Young does need to be the Panthers BACK-UP quarterback. At best.

If the Bucs don't attempt to replicate exactly what Seattle exacerbated last weekend, they don't deserve to make the playoffs. The formula couldn't be clearer: 1) Stack the box to stop Carolina's desired ground and pound 2) Get comfortable with zone pressures 3) Learn to tackle with next to 0 YAC

The back-up at quarterback can't push the ball down the field. Bryce:

• AVG's 6.5 AIR YARDS PER ATTEMPT. RANKS 32ND in QB's

• ATTEMPTED YARDS OF 20 OR MORE ON 7.9% OF HIS THROWS…6TH LOWEST RATE

• RANKS 21ST IN YARDS THROWN THIS SEASON

The simulator may say 78% in favor of the hometown team. I give them more of a 7% chance. Representative of the 7 years they've not made the post-season. Of course, maybe my chips stacked against them will help a team that only thrives in the face of adversity.