Pour salt on an open wound why don't ya!

Due to illness today's blog will probably be more brief than usual... Linda, from 2nd Cup of Coffee fame, was wondering why I did not comment on the pounding my Carolina Panthers took at the hand of her Super Bowl champions, the Indianapolis Colts. LOL - Payton Manning, Tony Dungy, and crew did what they do well. When one thing was not working as well as they wanted - they adjusted. In this case the went to the no-huddle offense, which the Panther defense could not adjust fast enough to. The Panthers had almost a complete first half of that game, but the game is played for sixty minutes worth of game clock. I wrote more about the game on my sperate Panthers blog. Well, to quote Forrest Gump, "that's all I have to say about that." :) Still, the Panthers are leading the NFC South by half a game, but I am concerned about their ability to hold it. The 4-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Susan's (of Learning for Lifetime fame) favorite team, are still in a good position with a bye week still to come, and a "weaker" schedule (the combined winning record of their remaining opponents is 21-36, or 36.8%), only two of their remaining opponents have a winning record so far - Carolina being one of them. Even the Saints are not out of it at 3-4 - they too have a "weaker schedule (the combined winning record of their remaining opponents is 26-41, or 38.8%), who also only have two oppinents with a winning record remaining, one of which os the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile Carolina will have to face the likes of the Tennessee Titans (5-2), the Green Bay Packers (6-1), the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2), the Seattle Seahawks (4-3), and the Dallas Cowboys (6-1) - three of which are their respective division leaders currently, and the only reason the other two are not are because they are in the same division as the Indianapolis Colts!. Coach Fox has a reputation (so far) of being able to lead his team through adversity during the second half of the season (he's 24-16 so far), but it's not going to be easy. The Panthers really need to keep their head in the game. With three injured Quarterbacks (one of which is on IR), and a relatively healthy undrafted rookie free agent in Matt Moore, the Panthers really need to get their Running backs in the game - and the other receivers need to get open because Steve Smith can't carry this team forever. Oh, and the defense... don't get me started on the defense. ;) By the way - the remaining opponents records for the Panthers is 36-28, or 56.25%. Verse for today: James 1:2-18, ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass [3] he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [4] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.