Only 56 more days until I can say, "The Panthers are undefeated!"
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by S4G
12/10 - All I can say is... wow. Note the use of lower case letters. Both the Panthers and the Jaguars have come a long way since 29-July, 1995. That was the date these two teams played their first ever game in the National Football League. It was significant only in that it marked the first time these two teams took to the field. Both teams were the culmination of two cities (and team owner's and their organizations) drive to bring a professionl football franchise to their respective regions. Carolina won that day. They also managed to set a new benchmark for the number of wins an expansion team in their first year. The next season, Carolina marched all the way to the NFC championship game in Green Bay Wisconson - where they were promptly schooled on why that stadium is known as "The Frozen Tundra".
Since there has been a dramatic difference in these two teams success. Jacksonville, although they have not been to a Super Bowl (yet), they can boast a better over all record. They can boast about being in a consistantly good division. They can boast about having fewer Head Coaches (a sign of consistant success). And they can definetly boast about having the edge in head-to-head games.
Yesterday was a day of (expected) frustration as a Carolina Panthers fan. To be honest I never held high hopes of the Panthers walking out of Jacksonville with a win, but I did expect a closer game. Like within 20 points. When John Kasay booted a 49 yard field goal to make it a 3-7 ballgame, I was very happy. Not because the Panthers managed to score some points, but because I was glad to see the last original Panther still has some strength in his leg. But there was little else to be happy about.
Next week the Panthers will be at home to meet, what many are saying is a struggling, Seattle Seahawks. But the Seahawks still have something to play for. All that Carolina really has left to play for is pride... and judging by what was seen in Jacksonville yesterday, there may not have much - if any - of that left.
