Panthers aren’t buying into the outside noise or disrespect after locking up a playoff berth and first round home advantage
The stakes become even higher for the Carolina Panthers are securing a final playoff spot.
A new season begins this week for the Carolina Panthers after locking up the final spot in the NFC playoffs and winning the NFC South title and everything that happened before doesn’t matter anymore.
Despite losing back-to-back games to end the season and finishing with a sub-.500 record, the Panthers are in the playoffs and will be hosting a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. That’s the truth and from here anything is possible.
There’s no underdog in the NFL playoffs and it’s a message the Panthers should look to send
The Panthers opened as 10-point underdogs at home for the first round matchup against the Rams that’s scheduled for 4:30 pm on Saturday. No one believes in this team being a serious threat and mock the fact that the Panthers are even in the dance in the first place.
History shows that overlooking any opponent in the NFL, at any point, is a recipe for disaster. In 2014, the Panthers made the playoffs with a 7-8-1 record and defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the first round. In 2010, the Seattle Seahawks made the playoffs with a 7-9 record and defeated the reigning Super Bowl champions in the New Orleans Saints when Panthers head coach Dave Canales was on the staff as an offensive assistant. This team understands what awaits, and what’s possible.
The other thing with winning the division is that the Rams will be playing on the road due to the seeding rules that favors division champs, granting those four teams home field advantage in the first game of the postseason.
“I’m just so excited to be in Bank of America Stadium one more time,” Canales said Sunday evening after clinching playoffs. “The energy that’s been there at the end of our season as we continue to build momentum and the fans showing up early, being loud, causing problems for the opponent’s offense. I know what type of an advantage that can be for us.”
The Panthers are 5-3 at home this season and Rams learned firsthand what kind of disadvantage that can create for the visiting team. Back in Week 13, the Panthers upset the Rams at Bank of America Stadium with a 31-28 win.
A game in which Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young had three touchdowns and zero interceptions while Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford had just two touchdowns but two costly interceptions.
All this to say, don’t overlook anyone. The Panthers aren’t listening to the noise this week and if they are, the team is only going to use it for extra motivation going into this game.
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Panthers end up falling backwards into the playoffs and now it’s time to turn the page on everything that’s happened
The Carolina Panthers have clinched the NFC South title and will host a playoff game.
