With MNF Victory Panthers Simplify Playoff Scenario

by Jaxon on Dec 9, 2008 7:49 PM EST

We still have three games yet to play but the Panthers could clinch a playoff spot as early as this Sunday. Yes, I said that correctly Panther fans, they could clinch a spot THIS Sunday even if they should happen to lose to the Broncos:

Carolina clinches a playoff spot with:

1) CAR win + DAL loss or tie OR
2) CAR win or tie + ATL loss or tie OR
3) CAR tie + DAL loss + PHI loss or tie OR
4) ATL loss + DAL loss + WAS loss or tie OR
5) ATL loss + DAL loss + CHI loss or tie OR
6) ATL loss + PHI loss + WAS loss or tie + CHI loss or tie

Of course we expect the Panthers to win this Sunday and then all we need is for the Cowboys OR the Falcons to lose. Gee I don't think we'll find it hard hoping for those two teams to lose.

I'm not sure why but the whole notion of clinching after 14 games seems surreal. As much as we hoped or predicted a good season for the Panthers not many people thought we would even have had a chance to make the playoffs much less clinch a spot so early and be gunning for the #1 seed. Well, I know some of you never doubted it (Usana for one) but the rest of us tried to be more realistic. Actually in my case it's just I didn't want to get too disappointed should the Panthers falter.

Yet here we are sitting at 10-3 on top of the NFC South and the #2 seed with a clear path to the #1 seed. The Panthers now control their own destiny which is all you can ask for in this game. If the Panthers want to prove they are the best team in the NFC then all they need to do is win out which would include a win over the 11-2 Giants. Win that game and they have know doubt they are the team to beat, a team that has not lost at home this season.

Considering the Panthers had a losing record at home last season did you ever expect them to go undefeated at home (anybody besides Usana of course)? How big has the home turf become for the Panthers this season? They must now feel somewhat invincible and I pitty the Broncos team coming in to Charlotte this weekend (I'm not even going down the 'letdown' path).

So it is now very simple Panther fans. The Panthers can set themselves up as the team to beat and make their path to Tampa an easy one, one game at a time.

LB Jon Beason Gets Jiggly with It After a Big Stop versus the Bucs

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Man, now i can't decide

if I want the giants or cowboys to win this weekend. provided we take care of business of course. But if the Giants lose then we are that much loser to #1 seed, but if the boys win then we clinch. Tough choice.

I guess either way, again provided we take care of our win, it doesn’t really matter.

by LittleKing on Dec 9, 2008 8:37 PM EST reply actions

Don't sweat the details

Let’s make this part simple: You want the Cowboys to lose. If the Giants win, then our Sunday Night game will be that much bigger. The winner of our game takes control of home field.

My complication is whether I should cheer for Tampa or Atlanta. I find that I’m not nearly as filled-with-bile as I used to be when I think of the Falcons. No Vick dodging Peppers and levitating into the endzone, no Dunn squirting through a linebacker’s arms for 30 extra yards, no Crumpler rumbling uncovered down the middle of the field… I just don’t HATE them the way I used to.

But Tampa…. oooh, Tampa. Home of the worst human being in the NFL, Jerramy Stevens. Home of 200-yard Antonio Bryant who single-handedly destroyed my beloved NC State in the 2001 Tangerine Bowl, then got himself thrown out of the NFL for being an ass. Lots of reasons to cheer for Atlanta over this bunch.

Plus, if both Carolina and Atlanta win, then we’ve got a two-game lead in the division with two to go.

So: Giants, Falcons YAY! Cowboys, Bucs BOO!

by r3 on Dec 9, 2008 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

I think it’d be great if the falcons make the playoffs and bucs don’t… so go Falcons!
On the other hand we NEED to win, and we still control our own destiny no matter what happens with the giants!
but to reiterate… we HAVE to win againts denver, looks like it’ll be a shootout!

by ClaytonFire on Dec 10, 2008 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

Denver

I’m not so sure if I like how everyone’s skipping over Denver and talking about beating the Giants already. Sounds like a trap game if there ever was one.

Well, I just hope the team’s thinking that. Being a fan, I absolutely want and will assume that we’ve got another win chalked up. And I’m already looking forward to that Giants game.

Doin' work since... ever.

by CardiacCacalacki on Dec 9, 2008 10:18 PM EST reply actions

The Broncos are 3-0 against the NFC South so we should be concerned

But I’m pretty sure they don’t have the defense to contain us. I’m thinking we have enough defense to limit them as well. Plus this game is at HOME. A big plus for us

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Dec 10, 2008 9:09 AM EST up reply actions

trap games and levitating

I’m not concerned about the trap game. If the Panthers don’t beat the Broncos, then we probably won’t get home-field advantage, and then can still lose the division by losing to the Saints in the final week. If we want home-field advantage, we’ve got to earn it by beating everyone. If not, then we’ll play on the road in the playoffs. If we don’t like that idea, then just win, baby! It’s that simple. I want the Giants to win cuz I can’t stand the Cowboys, but I really want the Eagles to miss the playoffs because I hate them the most.

As for levitating…oh the bad memories. Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11. I also remember exactly where I was when Vick levitated for two yards into the end zone. I think the Saints should sign Vick when he gets out of jail and make him a DB cuz they have no pass defense.

by usana_gaines on Dec 10, 2008 5:12 AM EST reply actions