I’ve already gone on record this week in the newspaper and online saying that “Good Jake” will make a reappearance against the Falcons. I just don’t see Jake Delhomme having three nightmares in a row.
Of course many of you don’t believe that: my column expressing that opinion this week drew more than 250 comments directly on the story and e-mailed to me (most of them from Jake haters).
I still believe Delhomme isn’t done, however, and I don’t think he will lose the Falcons game on his own. With that said, Delhomme is only one of the Panthers’ concerns in Georgia. Atlanta stands as the favorite to win the NFC South this season: the Falcons have top-notch skill players, a sound philosophy and an emerging defense.
-- Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams are speedsters, and as such they always look faster on artificial turf like that in the Georgia Dome. I expect both to have far better games than they did in that 38-10 pounding Philadelphia laid on the Panthers in Week 1.
-- I have always liked the Falcons-Panthers series, in part because it seems to be high on the weirdness factor. That started in Carolina’s first-ever game – an overtime loss at Atlanta in 1995 in which Dom Capers wanted to go for a game-winning two-pointer at the end of regulation, only to be undone by an offensive tackle’s false start.
My prediction: Atlanta 27, Carolina 23.
And now to the stats -- a new feature of my weekly prediction on the Panthers:
My year to date record predicting the Panthers: 1-0.
My preseason prediction of Panthers' 2009 record: 7-9.
Likelihood that my preseason record was too high: 60 percent.
Follow Scott on Twitter at Twitter.com/scott_fowler
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9 years ago
Posts
32 comments:
Atlanta is a good team and an even better team at home. I'm going to add one variable to the mix: The Panthers have something to prove. Although it's early in the season, they ought to be highly motivated to win this game. If they do, everyone will see them in a different light. If they don't, it's going to be a huge disappointment, but I believe that the team as a whole, and each individual on it, is going to want to prove they are a contender.
Panthers 24
Falcons 17
Jake: Will have a good game
The Team will have a good game
40-7
ATL
I think you are being rather generous Mr. Scott giving Carolina 20+ on the road against Atlanta....
We shall see!!!
Check your facts there, Jennifer. The Falcons are a 6-1/2 point favorite.
how do you go for a win with 2pt conversion,
if the score was 19-20, you would tie if you score an extra point, no one in the right mind would go for 2, how would the game go to overtime on a failed conversion, was it tied to begin with.
if it was tied to begin with, wouldnt he have scored an extra point to win the game.
i see after the false start panthers kicked the extra point, didnt know you could do that.
Panthers have everything to prove!! Jake will not have a great game but will lead the panthers to an ugly win! But a win is a win!
Atlanta 35
Panthers 3
(I hope I am wrong)
Let's all just relax and give our home team a chance to make us all realize why we love them. The Panthers will beat Atlanta on Sunday and head to Dallas with even more to prove on the national scene. If our O line plays well and gives Jake time to throw we can start rooting again for the playoff bound home team.
It's amazing to me how easy people become haters. I feel certain when we were 12/4 last year all of you loved the team. Jake & the team do NOT suck just ask yourself...have you ever had a rough time in life? Sometimes it happens, as for Jake? How much of that is our offensive line to blame? If Jake is not protected he cannot properly throw the ball. We will have a good year and make it to the playoffs. Obviously, you all do care or you would not take the time to write...be a real fan and stand by your team! I do not like the Steelers or New England but that is one thing I have to say they have over us...diehard fans...ya know real fans that don't sell there team to the highest bidder no matter what. Scott shame on you 7/9? I believe once the kinks are worked out with all the new coaches we will be unstoppable. Have you looked at all the talent on the roster?? Ohhh I guess not, your to busy blaming Jake for the loss, the economy,hunger in africa, bad health care bill, swine flu, North Korea,etc etc
Anonymous, no wonder you are anonymous, Jennifer wasn't talking about the spread, she was talking about the Panthers scoring more than 20. Also, it was 19-20 and they were going for 2 when the false start happened and they had to settle for the extra point instead of a 7 yard 2 point conversion. Get your facts straight.
Falcons go to NE next week, so they know they need this one. Also, the Falcons are wearing their 1966 unis, the coolest unis in the history of the NFL.
Look for the Falcons to win in a game that will not be as close as the score. Go Birds!
ATLANTA 55
CAROLINA 3
A preacher that watches Lord of The Rings. Must be a congregation full of Pagans.
Atlanta is going to destroy the Panthers. Before you yahoos start talking about bandwagons..I am an Eagles fan, being I am from Philadelphia. Last week was great and I loved all the predictions by the wizards of football. I especially loved the one by anonymous who predicted Carolina 31, Eagles 17..Reality must have really hurt your pride didn't it? Jake will have more picks and another game to forget. Jake is and has always been an overrated quarterback. The Panthers have a pretty decent quarterback in Moore. Start grooming him now, Jake is just about done. His nerves are shook. Atlanta 28..Panthers 10
look how queer scott looks in his picture. how can you someone's word about sports who looks that homo.
Stacey - I've never been a Panthers hater, but I've always been a realist. I've *never* liked Jake Delhomme. Not when we were 12-4 nor when the team went to the Super Bowl and NFC Championship.
I can never get behind a so-called leader that is scared to step into a throw when pressured and take the hit, or become flustered and throw INT after INT. It's possible to still like the Panthers and want them to succeed while disliking their QB. It's also quite lame to blame the OL. Last time I checked, they weren't the ones taking the snaps and throwing the intercepted passes. Jake has thrown 9 INTs in his last 51 passes, and even if the OL lets the DL right at him, the decision to throw the ball still lies with Jake. He could throw it away, or actually hang onto it and take a sack.
But no.
Not Jake.
He'll choose to throw off his back foot and hope someone like Steve Smith will bail him out with a spectacular catch. Or perhaps he'll try to escape the pocket with his tremendous speed, while holding the ball loosely out by his side, just daring a defensive player to give a flick of their wrist and knock it loose.
But yeah, it's not Jake's fault, it's the OL's fault. It's the coaching staff's fault. It's the front office's fault. It's the Panthers fans' fault. It's Bojangles fault.
Sorry, it's more clear than it has ever been. It's Jake's fault, and finally everyone else who is a Panthers fan has realized it.
Did you hear? There is talk of Delhomme leaving Bojangles for Mickey D's. They're the only fast food joint that serves TURNOVERS!
GT 45
UNC 3
Falcons 45
Panthers 3
Atlanta 45
Charlotte 3
anonymous 8:53 said: "how do you go for a win with 2pt conversion,
"
If you kick, you are going for a tie, if you go for two, you are going for the win.
Yes, a lot of coaches in their "right mind" go for 2 in that situation... because if you tie and don't win the toss to get the ball in OT, you usually don't get a chance to win the game. DUH.
Panthers 89
Falcons 3
As good a guess as the rest of the predictions so far.
Atlanta will come out on top 31 - 10. Panthers defense will score the TD. Jake will be bewildered. Fox will find someone to blame but Jake. Smith will ask to start on defense so he will have a chance to score. Panther employees will start handing out barf bags at all home games. Scott will have lots of great material. And the true blue Panther fans on this board will stop commenting and e-mail Scott privately.
Did you see what Abraham from the Falcon's did Miami's qb last week? This dude is going to knock Jake out of the regular season.
I hate when people cant read...To anonymous regarding the third comment that I posted.....
I "SAID" 20+ as in he was giving the Panthers a chance to score that many against Atlanta on the road, so get your facts straight and read, not once did I or Mr. Scott mention the odds jacka@@!!!
Ps....Thank you Drew, some I see were smart enough to figure it out without running off at the mouth....
Maybe next time I will read all the post before I comment.....because I had to say something about
UltraMagnumRobitca's post....I'm assuming the "ONLY" reason Mr. Scott approved your post was so we could all laugh at the shi!!y way you "TRIED" to insult him...
ROTFLMMFAO @ how can you someones word....
Learn some grammar before you try slamming someone ignorant a@@...
Whew, Just a comment board!
You're right. Good Jake will show-up tomorrow. However, this is because, unless the Falcons stuff the run, the Panthers will be pounding the ball at them on the ground all afternoon.
Jake won't get much of a chance to self-destruct.
Panthers will lose a close one.
Falcons 55
Panthers 3
I hope I'm wrong
I think at this point we have to clarify what is a "Good game" for Jake. Jake now moves into a special class. If he doesn't throw an interception he has had a good game. If by any small chance we win it will be because Jake handed the ball to the left or to the right and did not pass. I agree with the earlier post Smith will ask to start on defense. And I get that it was a joke so no need for any explanations!
It may be a joke but Smith does have a better chance of catching a pass on defense as opposed to one from Delhomme.
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