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Win, Baby Panthers 17....Raiders 6. So, why is everybody on Jake's case? So what, if the Panthers' QB was 7 of 27 for 72 yards, along with throwing four interceptions? The Panthers won the game, and that's all that matters. In the process, the Panthers are 7-2 and still have a one-game lead in the interesting NFC South. I've always wondered why Jake Delhomme gets ripped as often as he does in Charlotte. Is there any question about his leadership skills? I mean, the guy does have a Super Bowl appearance to his credit, and if anybody wants to double-check his numbers in the big game it was one of the great QB performances in history. Surely, fans watched the Panthers fall into mediocrity last year as soon as he suffered a season-ending injury. I'm not Jake's agent nor am I the leader of his fan club, but I've never understood why he takes so much grief from fans in Charlotte. This season, he is one of the NFL's 10 best quarterbacks....and that includes Sunday's pathetic individual effort. The Panthers wouldn't be 7-2 if Jake was wearing a baseball cap on the sidelines. I was more encouraged with the great game by Julius Peppers than I was the disappointing outing by Jake. If Peppers demonstrated that kind of intensity and results every week, his contract renewal would be a no-brainer. What the 17-6 win over inept Oakland proves is that the Panthers were fortunate to have "one of those days" and still find a way to win a game. Usually, if an NFL team makes that many mistakes, it finds itself on the wrong end of the scoreboard.....plus, it helps to play Oakland. It even helps that next week the Panthers play the winless Detroit Lions. As soon as Carolina goes to 8-2, the schedule gets tougher...a lot tougher. Road trips to end the month against the suddenly upstart Atlanta Falcons and the desperate Green Bay Packers will certainly frame what should be an exciting month of December in the Queen City. If the Panthers take care of business, it should make for some playoff football as we start the 2009 calendar....and this time, the games should be in Charlotte. The BCS Nightmare is alive and well. Thanks to Penn State throwing up all over itself against Iowa, one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle has been put into place. The Nittany Lions had two weeks to prepare for the Hawkeyes, but it didn't matter. The loss eliminated Penn State, and the Big Ten, from an appearance in the national title game. The rest of America owes a big "thank you" to Iowa. Nobody wanted to see the Big Ten destroyed again.
While Penn State is eliminated from the conversation, there is the question surrounding Bama and Texas Tech - who both remain unbeaten, and ranked 1-2 in the polls and the BCS. While there would be intrigue about Bama's power and defense vs. Tech's high-octane offense, I have doubts that either one will be seeing each other in Miami for the title. I just don't think Texas Tech is in the class of Oklahoma and Texas (and I know that Tech has already beaten the Longhorns...even though it was a fluke play that did the trick). Texas Tech will have to beat the Sooners in Norman, and I'm not sold that they will win that game. Bama escaped with their lives in Baton Rouge in a game that you knew was going to be close and physical. But can Tide fans really believe that they are playing better football than the Florida Gators? The good news about both of these high-profile showdowns is that we will see the games take place on the field. No computers, no opinions...just football. But the way the BCS is lined up right now, it looks like an almost-lock for the Big XII and SEC to hook up in the national title game. And given the teams and rankings, this is the way it should be for the national championship. I'm trying to figure out which one of these two items has a lower "buzz factor".... The conclusion of the Chase for the Championship (rumor has it that the season ends this upcoming weekend, down in Miami).... ...or... ...The Charlotte Bobcats. I watched the Bobcats game on Friday against the Hornets, and I loved it. I doubt that Larry Brown can perform enough magic to get them in the playoffs, but the team played well and got after it in the fourth quarter to win in dramatic fashion. Of course, they followed up the big win with a home loss on Sunday to Toronto. So much for "momentum". Can you believe the college basketball season starts this week? I've got to be honest with you: even though I enjoy college hoops, the season is starting way too early. The hoops season (college and pro) should start in December. Plus, when you look at the garbage games in November, why should any of these contests be taken seriously? Duke plays Presbyterian on Monday....I wouldn't go to my backyard to watch this game. Here are some other classic openers this week, involving teams in the Carolinas:
Yawn. |
Packman
on Sports Commentary
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