Interesting CAR Panther stat that I just heard...

[Laloosh]

Trent Dilfer just mentioned that CAR has never (in three years with Rivera and Cam) won a game on opening day or after their bye. Haven't won a game in which they had "more time" to prepare.

Means nothing but seriously? Anyway, I was curious so I looked at their opponents.

Here are their opponents by year (opening day, week after bye)

2013: SEA, @AZ
2012: @TB, DAL
2011: @AZ, TEN

Only two good teams on that list and both were in 2013 but I still don't put any stock in it.

As is usually the case, this also got me to thinking about something completely different; How Newton's numbers have changed from year to year as CAR has improved (remember that they finished pretty hot last year). I was a little surprised (and impressed) by what I saw.

Year	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	TD%	Int	Int%	Y/A	Y/C	Y/G	Rate
2011	310	517	60.0	4051	21	4.1	17	3.3	7.2	13.1	253.2	84.5
2012	280	485	57.7	3869	19	3.9	12	2.5	8.0	13.8	241.8	86.2
2013	292	473	61.7	3379	24	5.1	13	2.7	7.1	11.6	211.2	88.8

Overall, Cam's passing numbers have not changed all that much. He's thrown the ball less and for fewer yards but he's been more efficient and thrown for more TDs.

The big difference is the defense has jumped from 18th to 2nd in the past year. I don't know where to find stats on average start of offensive drives but I'd imagine the improved defense has really improved their field position on average, hence the higher touchdown percentage and count on fewer attempts (not dissimilar from RW).

I've sort of careened into a different lane here but I was surprised to see that Newton really isn't playing all that differently this year than he has in the past. He's just seemed to play the offense and is getting more help from his team...

 

[aawolf]

The most important thing that the Panthers did this year vs. the last two years is hold on to leads. They were the worst for fourth quarter meltdowns when the games were close and they were in the lead. They lost most of their games by a TD or less. This year, they have been able to close out games by converting third downs in the fourth quarter.

 

[Polaris]

I believe since 1993, a home Divisional Underdog has never lost. Of course there have only been three times that the home Divisional team has not been favored, and the home 'dog' (one was technically a pick'em) won all of them.

That bodes well for Carolina.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Dilweed is just fluffing the whiner fanbase.

 

[DavidSeven]

I don't love the prospect of a new-ish coach and a QB w/ zero playoff experience winning after a bye week. Everyone knows that handling a bye week is a challenge in itself. Cardinals whooped those boys after Carolina's bye earlier this year.

 

[sutz]

You know, there was another team that had problems playing after the bye week. And IIRC, Dilfer used to play for them.

 

[Marvin49]

Trent Dilfer just mentioned that CAR has never (in three years with Rivera and Cam) won a game on opening day or after their bye. Haven't won a game in which they had "more time" to prepare.

Means nothing but seriously? Anyway, I was curious so I looked at their opponents.

Here are their opponents by year (opening day, week after bye)

2013: SEA, @AZ
2012: @TB, DAL
2011: @AZ, TEN

Only two good teams on that list and both were in 2013 but I still don't put any stock in it.

As is usually the case, this also got me to thinking about something completely different; How Newton's numbers have changed from year to year as CAR has improved (remember that they finished pretty hot last year). I was a little surprised (and impressed) by what I saw.

Year	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	TD%	Int	Int%	Y/A	Y/C	Y/G	Rate
2011	310	517	60.0	4051	21	4.1	17	3.3	7.2	13.1	253.2	84.5
2012	280	485	57.7	3869	19	3.9	12	2.5	8.0	13.8	241.8	86.2
2013	292	473	61.7	3379	24	5.1	13	2.7	7.1	11.6	211.2	88.8

Overall, Cam's passing numbers have not changed all that much. He's thrown the ball less and for fewer yards but he's been more efficient and thrown for more TDs.

The big difference is the defense has jumped from 18th to 2nd in the past year. I don't know where to find stats on average start of offensive drives but I'd imagine the improved defense has really improved their field position on average, hence the higher touchdown percentage and count on fewer attempts (not dissimilar from RW).

I've sort of careened into a different lane here but I was surprised to see that Newton really isn't playing all that differently this year than he has in the past. He's just seemed to play the offense and is getting more help from his team...

Cams play hasn't really changed all that much. The difference in that team is really whats going on with the other side of the ball. Cam is also benefitting from being able to play games they are winning and not trying to do it all.