Two Tickets to Paradise

I love Autumn. The cool weather, beautiful colors, leaves flying around. All that crap. But what I most like, is the soothing sound of the lumber being laid on some unsuspecting wide receiver just as he thought he was going to be catching a pass over the middle. WHAP! No sir, you are not holding onto that ball in my house!

The Carolina Panthers awoke from the awful dreams of yesterweek with really bad attitude. The number two rated offense in the league was coming into their den. To make matters worse, it was the Saints. The same group who came into their stadium and kept them out of the playoffs two years ago. We forgive, we don’t forget.

The Cats’ number three ranked defense was up to the challenge. After allowing N’awlins to score easily on their second offensive series, the Panthers battened-down the hatches and put the Saints in their rightful place - in the cellar of the NFC South.

Carolina’s defense was NASTY. They harrassed MVP-candidate Drew Brees all day long. Led by Julius Peppers’ sack, forced fumble, batted pass and multiple tackles, the Panthers D locked the highly vaunted Saints O in a little box and threw away the key. This defense brings back memories of the past; when Carolina was a place opposing teams did not want to play because you just knew it was going to be a fight. Foxy and company have the smash-mouth attitude working again, and it is a joy to watch.

I won’t neglect the offense, though. One of the reasons the Panthers D is having such good fortune this year is because it is not all on them. The offense can actually hold the ball, move the chains, then hit you deep. They lead the league in big plays. Really. I’m serious. Go look it up. And with the terrible two in the backfield, the best receiver on the planet on one side and old-man winter on the other, they can hit you six ways to Sunday.

So, you may have guessed by now, the Panthers beat that Louisiana butt. It was great. I went to the game with Haley, then later I watched the Tivo’d version again just for kicks. It was just as good the second time around. I love a good rout - if my team is the one doing the routing.

Haley is ready for action!

Haley had a great time too. She was really into the action, even though her own football knowledge is admittedly weak. But by the end of the game, she was screaming “First Down!” with the rest of us every time the Panthers got a new set of downs. She was waving her Growl Towel. She was talking junk back to the obnoxious N.O. fans seated two rows behind us. Ok, maybe that was me. Either way, we had a ball out there.

I have two tickets to every Panthers’ home game. Have since the beginning. Each week, I take a different kid or my wife. I get to go to 10 games per year, each of them gets 2 (except Carrie who gets the other 2 preseason and any playoff game tickets). Seems reasonable to me. I offered Carrie the chance to take one of the kids herself, but she is too scared of all of the different parking lots uptown; she thinks she will never find her car again. Oh well, at least I tried (although I am secretly thrilled that I get to see all of the games, of course).

Since this is my first post about an NFL game here on this particular blog, I may as well let you know. I am a double-agent. I do love the Panthers, and have been a PSL holder since the initial push to get the team. But I have been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan since I was 5. I don’t see any real conflicts here, since the Panthers play in the NFC, like the same style of play, and were originally built to be Pittsburgh south. Their first coach was Dom Capers, fresh off his stint as the Steelers Defensive Coordinator. They signed many of the Black and Gold’s players in their initial free-agent draft. And the first defense they ran was the Blitzburgh inspired 3-4. So don’t give me any smack talk on how I am not able to be a true fan of both - this ain’t Carolina-dook here. (Editor’s note: you will likely never see dook spelled with a capital D or even correctly on this site. Sorry dookies - I went to UNC. I am sure you understand)

Well, check back next week to see my preview and review of the Panthers game against Arizona. Carrie is riding shotgun on that one - lucky her! Should be a great game. We have another top-rated QB to put in the turf!

Gratuitous picture of cheerleaders in order to boost Google rankings

Tags: football, kids!, Panthers