Playoff Scenario

[goodoleboy]

We are 15-0 playing the Bucs who are battling Seattle for the 6 seed. If they win they are in and Seattle stays home. Do you treat it like a 4th preseason game resting starters knowing you might get Seattle in the playoffs?

[The Lobo]

I want to win every game so do the players.

[mbarbour21]

15-0? No.

14-1? I'd probably rest then the last quarter or half. Not because of Seattle. Just don't wanna risk injury and could get some more playing experience for backup/situational guys.

[IMON KRAQUE]

I'd rather we not play any team 3 times in 1 year. I'm not concerned about breaking records or what not. But I say let's keep winning to keep any of our rivals out. Fugg Seattle! Would love for them to come get a dose in our house!

[pepaw]

If we were to lose, to specifically avoid a team in the playoffs then we do not deserve the Lombardi. 

[goodoleboy]

I would much rather have the Bucs in the playoffs than Seattle. Bottom line is they probably wouldn't get past whoever wins the NFCN anyway. I bet we play the 5 seed in our first round after they take care of the NFCE winner.

[L-TownCat]

Come one, come all.

Before us, you will fall.

[Ken]

We'll have a bye. That eliminates the point of major resting.

[Lemory]

Seahawks will be the 5th seed and either Minnesota or TB will be the 6th. Book it. 

[Dunzo]

Scared of the Seahawks? We've already proven we can beat Seattle playing away, beating them at home should be even easier... and tastier. 

[toldozer]

I thought about that, even mentioned it about three weeks ago. I've changed my stance. Bring on Seattle, they'll be favored I guarantee it. Fug em. Let's go!!!!

[goodoleboy]

41 minutes ago, Lemory said:

Seahawks will be the 5th seed and either Minnesota or TB will be the 6th. Book it. 

That would have them flying to the East coast 2 weeks in a row if they win and play us. 5th seed will play the NFC East in the wild card round and we will play the lowest seed left.

[KB_fan]

The Observer beat reporters just tweeted this. 

Per @theobserver research, a 12-4, 13-3 or 14-2 Panthers team would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker against a 12-4, 13-3, 14-2 Cardinals team

Basically, we must have 1 less loss than AZ to win the #1 seed.  If Arizona wins out, we have to get to at least 15-1 for a guaranteed #1 seed.  It all comes down to conference win % and ours would be worse than there's since 1 of their losses is against the AFC.  Obviously with only NFC opponents remaining for Panthers, any of our losses would be against NFC, thus we would lose the tiebreak to AZ.

We can't start coasting...!

 

[CPantherKing]

Cardinals still play the Vikings, Packers, and Seahawks to end the season. Hate it for them. Their playoffs start now.

Best case scenario is the Cardinals, Packers, and Seahawks all have to go through each other and the Panthers face one of them in the NFC Championship game.

Worst case scenario is the Panthers have to play 2 of those teams to get to the Super Bowl.

Either way the Panthers have to win out to prove themselves. If they lose a game in the regular season to the Falcons, Bucs, or Giants, they will be labeled as overrated. If they lose a game in the playoffs, then the Panthers go back to taking a back seat to the other division champions in the NFC.

If you have to hope for your team to face the NFC East winner in the playoffs for an "easy" game, then you do not believe in the Panthers enough to be the best in the NFL. I think the Saints game this weekend was a good example of there being no easy games for any team from from here to the Super Bowl if your team wants to win it all.

Any team not adopting the playoff mentality at this point in the season will not make it to the end.