Friday, September 25, 2009

My Panthers-Cowboys prediction

Cowboys. Panthers. Monday night. New stadium. 100,000 people.

Now that's a serious audience for two teams who are coming off very disappointing losses. Dallas is already 0-1 in its new palace, and the Panthers are 0-2 and haven't won a game in calendar year 2009.

Carolina also has a history of losing to Dallas in the regular season, often under freaky circumstances, but beating the Cowboys in the playoffs.

I don't think history matters much in this one, though. I think Carolina is a slightly better team than Dallas. And, more importantly, as LB Jon Beason told me this week: "It's desperation time."

I think the Panthers will play with a bit more air of desperation than the Cowboys Monday night, although the Cowboys will be favored (and talked about a lot more on the MNF broadcast, be prepared for that, Panther fans).

But in a close, entertaining game, here's my prediction:

Carolina 30, Dallas 26.

The stats so far this season:

My record in picking Panther games: 2-0.
My preseason pick for Panthers in 2009: 7-9.
Number of NFL teams since 1990 that have qualified for the playoffs after starting 0-3: 3.

Follow Scott on Twitter.com/scott_fowler (he will be Twittering live during the Panthers-Cowboys game from the new stadium)

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

A ballsy pick. I like it.

Anonymous said...

A gut prediction for Carolina based on nothing tnagible. Just that a gut feeling. At best the teams are even at RB (if Barber is out) and Carolina has an advantage with Coaching. I just don't see where where else the panthers are better thus far in the season. Not from what has been presented. We have steve smith and Mushin, they have three comparable to Mushin, one slightly better and two pro bowl TE's. More options advantage goes to Dallas..... They (Dallas) blew a game against the best team in the conference. 4 turnovers, scored 31 points and lost on a last second FG. Both teams have warts, but they expected to win and we were happy to be close ........... says alot about the pschology of the teams. With all the talent over there Dallas should be better and that is why we have a shot.... coaching.

Anonymous said...

Just don't see where we are the better team and if we keep believng this, we will be what we are, living in 2005(?)

Anonymous said...

100,000 in attendance? Where, actually inside the stadium or in the parking lot like last week? Jones inflating his ego...and attendance figures.

Hope that Carolina plays like they did against Philly, maybe Jerry will fire Fox on Tuesday heading into bye week as a result....

Anonymous said...

Wait till you see the new stadium and you will see the 100,000. lol, even the ones outside have great views on big screen TV's. I hope they close the roof and the noise becomes a factor in yet another Carolina loss.

Anonymous said...

Panthers 21 Dallas 14

AJ said...

Cowboys 31 Panthers 13

Newsinz said...

Panthers - W, Cowboys - L. The final score is irrelevant. Just win, baby!

GO PANTHERS!

Anonymous said...

Redskins 31


Panthers 13


We are going to take over your stadium...again!

Crohnkiller said...

I think AJ is more in line here. BOTH teams are hungry for a win, but I think the Cowboys are the more talented team and they don't have Delhomme as a quarterback..Cowgirls 24, Carolina 17

Anonymous said...

I see only two possible outcomes for this game. Either the Cowboys win in a blowout or Panthers win in a shootout. How about this: first to 33 or more, wins?

Why do I say this. Well there are issues with DBs on both sides, but Carolina has a suspect DL. The panthers just need to get an 8 yard pass to Smith and he could easily take it 40 yards.

The Cowboys DL has had no pressure this year on the QB. Their D is definitely not stepping up. If they do, the Dallas O can put up numbers.

Anonymous said...

I think I know this guys supplier. That must be some really good stuff if he thinks the horrible panthers (w/Fake GoHome as the QB) will beat the powerful Cowboys. No way. The Boys had a game taken from them last week. Even as they had four turnovers against a pretty good NY team, it took a last second field goal for the Giants to win. As much as I hate to say or think it, the Panthers are going to getting a whoopin!

Anonymous said...

Panthers will lose again because Jake's arm is not good and the defense is bad and the special teams are terrible. Onl field goals will be scored by Panthers and once again Cat fans will hope for a functional QB.

Anonymous said...

Some1 said they hope the Panthers lose so Fox gets fired,,, how retarded is that, cutting off your nose to spite your face kind of logic. And whats with the clown predicting the redskins over the Panthers? Go take your meds.

Anonymous said...

If we can run the ball it will be a long day for Dallas. If we can't run its gonna go in our L column. We can't put the game in Jake's hands.

Anonymous said...

The way some of you seem to know whats gonna happen every game, you must be filthy rich from betting all you have on every game and winning, so why dont you buy the Panthers & you can fire anyone you want.

Anonymous said...

As much as I hate the Cowboys I just don't see the Panthers winning. We need to lose Jake and Fox.

Jennifer said...

Here's hoping youre 3-0 after Monday nights game Mr. Scott....

Mike said...

I normally agree with you Scott, but not here. I don't think just trying harder is going to get the Panthers a win. I do think it will be close, but I have Dallas 27 Panthers 24. It will not be a pretty game, especially on defense for both teams, and the Panther special teams will again be highlighted for all the wrong reasons. I hope Hurney and Fox have updated their resumes...

Anonymous said...

Go ahead Scott, write your Tuesday morning story now and take the weekend off! So far I have seen nothing to indicate the Panthers have the Defense or the Desire to win ball games. Hope I'm wrong! And is there a more overpaid, overrated player in the NFL than Peppers??

Anonymous said...

Typically Observer homerism, what a joke. The Panthers will lose by double digits on Monday night. How long will Richardson continue to allow these idiots (Fox and Hurney) to ruin this organization. Who in their right mind would have given Delhomme an extension after last season???

Anonymous said...

Dallas - 42
Panthers - 7

Unfortunately, Hurney and Fox made their bed with Jake and Pep. Now they must lie in it all season long.

Hickorypantherfan said...

The Panthers are a good football team, off to a slow start. Some folks get spoiled (12-4 last season and still many say Jake is a 2nd stringer and Fox is a dunce) but these critics all presumably have jobs outside of the NFL. I don't know who's going to win on MNF, but I'm rooting for the Panthers, and I think Scott's reasoning is solid. It ought to be a great game and give Carolina some good national exposure, even if you have to listen carefully to hear who the Cowboys are playing.

Anonymous said...

Fox is good every other year. maybe because he has a easy schedule every other year. think about it

Chuck Fesperman said...

The "party passes" at the new stadium are a joke. I live here in Dallas and you should have heard the uproar this week. 30000+ party passes but only a handful of people could see the game on the field or on the screens.
There are a lot of angry Cowboys fans down here right now.
Go Panthers!

Anonymous said...

Go ahead...make our day....
Panthers 27
Cowboys 20

Ya Im that good....and make winning bets.

Anonymous said...

Delhomme will do his best against the Cowboys, which is just average. Jake won't be the deciding factor in this game. I believe the Cowboys are much stronger. (They would be my last pick for a team, ugh.)It is, what it is. I have developed the attitude "Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed". And please, because I have a realistic attitude does not make me a band wagon fan or unloyal to the Panthers. You cheerleader fans need to find a Topcat so you can all Rah-Rah! This is a discussion forum, we are making comments on an article.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but we're going to lose this game. Dallas has our number, and they have so much more at stake than we do playing at home.

Matt said...

Hope you're right, Scott... but even with an improved offensive performance last week, I just don't feel good about this game. Monday night, bright lights - seems like a recipe for disaster for Jake and company. I do think our defense will rise and shine in this one but it won't be enough. I'd take John Fox over Wade Phillips any day, but I think the Cowboys are just blessed with better personnel.

Anonymous Redskins fan (31-13) - how did you enjoy the Lions game? :)

Anonymous said...

As a Cowboys fan from Dallas, I thought that our writers were the only ones who made blatantly homer picks. Guess not. Sorry, but no way the Panthers win this one. 31-21 Cowboys.

Todd Thomas said...

No way? There's no way the Panthers win this game? Listen, I'm not laying money down on it, but I'm rooting for the Cats. But to say "No Way" the Panthers beat the Cowboys is like saying there's no way the Bengals could beat the Steelers.

Anonymous said...

desparation makes a team play better and somehow find the way to win...balogna!

only in the mind of a writer does this drama work

confidence, focus and execution wins games

Crohnkiller said...

As a Diehard EAGLES fan, I do hope the Panther's pull out a win. I HATE the Cowboys and would love to see there season at 8 - 8 and miss the playoffs some more with their overhyped garbage quarterback...

Anonymous said...

Grew up in NC, live in TX. Romo is BAD, Wade is worse. Would take Jake and Fox in a heartbeat. Barber probably won't play. Dal WR are trash. Two good TE. D can't stop the run and CB are suspect. If Panthers run the ball and find Smith (short or long) they beat Dal.

Anonymous said...

To the last poster: You're right, Wade Phillips is a bad head coach and the Cowboys D has looked EXTREMELY shaky the past two games. But to say that Romo is bad and they have trash WR is just madness. I'd take Romo of Dellhome any day. Anyone who knows anything about football would.

And sure, there's a chance the Panthers win tonight. But it would be crazy to pick them or put money on it. Everything points to Dallas winning and the Panthers going 0-3. You just half to take off your turqoise colored glasses off to see it.

Crohnkiller said...

Well, I was hoping the Panthers will win this to help put the Cowboys further down in the NFC East. The defense is very suspect and the quarterback is also. I don't think the Panthers stand a chance