Tough Test Ahead

By Steven Burton

Looking at the Panthers impressive regular season record of 8-2 (third overall in the NFL) one could be excused from expecting the Panthers to be legitimate Superbowl contenders at such an early juncture.

Unfortunately, however the trials for the Panthers are only just beginning. With six games remaining in the regular season schedule Carolina does not face a team that at this stage has a record of under .500. The Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers five of the six teams the Panthers face are either first or tied for second in their respective divisions and all of these teams will be vying for playoff berths down the final stretch of the season.

The first test is the resurgent Atlanta Falcons, who after a tough loss at home to Denver will be looking to rebound and get some revenge for the earlier divisional clash with Carolina. Mike Smith has the Falcons playing with uncanny resolve and extra doses of motivation, contrasting with Carolina’s recent lack luster performances it’s difficult to predict the outcome of this matchup.

Though the dome will be loud and the Falcon’s legions proud the Panthers have legitimate threats on offense in Williams, Stewart, Muhammad and Steve Smith and it will be a true test of the Panthers’ coaching staff and the Falcons defense when the Panthers attempt to rebound from two relatively poor performances against far inferior opponents.

The NFC South will be decided in the first few weeks of the Panthers next phase as they face Tampa and Atlanta early in the piece. Though a loss to either isn’t going to be the end of the Panthers hope in the division (Carolina holds a game in hand), victories over both teams would almost certainly guarantee the Panthers the division and the playoffs.

Looking ahead in more detail, it appears that the Panthers have a very real chance at finishing 12 and 4 for the regular season. The Panthers will face some very weak run defenses in Atlanta, Green Bay and Denver who all rank in the bottom ten of the league and have some issues in their front seven. The Denver game especially sounds interesting as their small linebackers and front four are susceptible to the downhill attack the Panthers have employed this season.

The biggest threats to the Panthers are the same they were at the beginning of the season when an eye was cast over the schedule. The New York Giants are continuing to roll through their opponents and it is possible that in week sixteen they will be fighting to lock down their division and home field advantage. As it stands, the Giants have a one game lead over the Panthers and despite their road warrior success last year in the playoffs it’s impossible to accept the notion that they’d like to travel to Charlotte in the post season. The second specter on the horizon remains Tampa Bay, the resurgent Buccaneers have been in a slight slump since their defeat of the Panthers but their defense and offense should again figure to be well prepared and fired up to avenge so many divisional sweepings in previous years.

Whatever, the outcome, whatever the final record of the team keep in mind the Panthers are still undefeated at home and face two of the tougher opponents in Charlotte, no team has ever won eight from ten and failed to reach the playoffs and finally, this team has so far, risen to most of the challenges put before it to victorious effect.

Enjoy the show.