I’m renaming my first born. Making a noose out of the pants I took off yesterday evening. I don’t think a superstition in the world could have won that game.

All week, everyone kept saying Carolina ‘had this’ and I just didn’t feel right. Everyone I talked to said, ‘It’ll rain’ or ‘They can’t stop our run’. Maybe if we GOT to run, but that game was singlehandily lost by the birthday boy, Jake Delhomme.

I always have and always will defend Jake Delhomme. After all, I DID name my first child after him. I sat down last night (without pants) and just didn’t have a good feeling.

First, I felt pressure on my side to deliver. Now I know how Carolina feels. With all the texts, calls and emails all day putting the pressure on me, I was too nervous to even think about the game.

My husband said he was locked in, but I couldn’t feel it. We started out beautifully, and I told him it wasn’t right. That first drive was too easy, Carolina can’t start like that. After that, my phone started ringing and we panicked.

I usually turn all ringers and lights off so people don’t contact us. It’s my fault for leaving the ringer on without thinking. Ryan said those calls that came in took him out of the game, because he was worried about what the calls could mean.

We start the game 30 minutes after it starts live, so that we can fast forward through all the commercials and end the game with the world. If people are calling or texting, we have no idea what for.

That said, I will take some responsibility for this crushing loss. I took my pants off. I took my shirt off. I took my SOCKS off. I had my husband take all of his stuff off. Nothing was working.

I ended up sitting next to my husband totally nude and freezing cold, tears pouring down my face. I’ve said it before, the Panther’s do not perform well under high expectations. If they’re called to win, it’s my belief they won’t.

When I heard the announcers talking about the ‘Underdogs’ and referring to the Arizona Cardinals, I knew in my heart we were going to lose this game. I knew it before it started. Maybe that contributed. I couldn’t even finish watching, I was so sick. I shut it off and put in my ‘Dr. Who’ DVD.

I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning. Took an extra hour just to turn on my phone. I’ve been beaten down with texts, voicemails and emails asking me what I did wrong. I’ve been yelled at and made fun of and that’s okay. I feel like I am a part of that team and if they lose, I lose.

I still believe in No Pants Sunday. If you look back through everything I’ve written, I’ve clearly said I had to be in the zone to get a feel for this game, and like Jake Delhomme, I couldn’t get a feel for last nights game.

I’m sitting in my jammies this Sunday morning, miserable as anyone could be. I cried all night and begged my husband for pity this morning. I love my team and support it, but there’s talk now of ditching Delhomme since he clearly is to blame for this loss, and that pains me because I simply adore that goofy bastard.

So for the first time all year, No Pants Sunday was not a success. I wish we could have a do-over and I could go into the game with a more positive attitude, but I knew we were going to lose, I honestly did. I’m sorry Carolina, I’ll be making a noose out of my jeans in just a moment.