WEEK 1 -- LET'S TALK ABOUT IT....

So... I separated this from the prior post because I wanted to check some reality stuff....... You know, just keeping it real.!!

Let me be clear about this. I am NOT saying that the Panthers are 'sitting pretty' after this game. Also, I am not saying that we "should have" or we "deserved" to win this game. Not at all.....  What I AM saying is -- the scoreboard does not tell the story. It tells ONE story, and only one. And that is which team puts an increasing number in the "WIN" column (which, arguably, is the sole purpose for playing the game...). What the scoreboard does NOT do is give any indication as to the "WHY" or "HOW". For that, we must dig deeper than a pair of scoreboard numbers.

** The Panthers played the Bears in B of A stadium and the weather was brutally HOT.!! - For both teams. Temporary shade structures were placed on both sidelines for some relief. Although I will admit that I didn't notice them during the game. Hmmm - Maybe I am going blind.

** The Panthers and the Bears traded scoring for the first half and it ended with the Bears in the lead by 7 points (31-24). The Panthers once again tied the game at the start of the 3rd Qtr (31-31). And the game was decided shortly thereafter. The Bears ran off three consecutive TDs and went up by 21 points (52-31). The Panthers scored once more and the Bears scored once more and the game mercifully ended (59-37). This game was decided late in the 3rd Qtr and the 4th Qtr. The Panthers scored twice in the 2nd half -- and the Bears scored four times.  END OF STORY...

** So... Here's how the game looked "on paper" -- and why I think we are NOT in terrible shape.

*** The Panthers had 23-37 passing for 361 yards (62% completion). The Bears had 21-29 passing for 269 yards (72%). The Panthers out-gained the Bears passing, by almost 100 yards. (We can't overlook the fact that Caleb Williams had a much better completion percentage however).

*** The Bears had 291 yards (Net) Rushing. The Panthers had a respectable 125 yards (Net)

*** In total yardage, The Bears took the lead with 552 total yards, versus the Panthers with 478 yards. How can the score be so lopsided with the yardage so close.?? The devil is in the details.

*** Time of Possession: Definitely favors the Bears. Bears = 34 min. --- Panthers = 26 min.

*** 1st Downs are very close with the Bears having a slight lead 26-24. The Bears had six more rushing (11 to 5); and the Panthers had four more passing (17 to 13). Both teams had two 1st downs by penalty.

*** Turnovers favor the Bears. They fumbled once. The Panthers lost two fumbles and one interception. So 3-1 in favor of the Bears.

*** Interestingly, both teams were perfect (100%) in Red Zone Effectiveness (4-4 for both teams) and GTG (Goal To Go) Effectiveness (3-3) for both teams)

The Panthers had a reasonable rushing attack (slightly anemic..). The Panthers won the passing game. The Panthers were equally effective in the Red Zone. 1st Downs were VERY close. The kicking game was not a factor. 

SO ... This explains the "WHY" and the "HOW". The Bears won and the Panthers lost the scoreboard because -- The Bears ran the ball at a murderous pace; The Panthers had too many "big" penalties; The Panthers lost the turnover battle; And consequently, the Panthers gave up a LOT of Time Of Possession.

The two fumbles and the interception were back-breakers. We likely would have lost anyway because of the run game discrepancy, but that turnover thing just RUINS your Time Of Possession.

At least -- that's the way I see it.