Back in the ’05 season, these two teams were linked in discussions about the playoffs.  Sports Illustrated had announced their pick for the next Super Bowl before the season with a cover that simply read: “It’s Carolina!” Both teams went into the playoffs as wildcards, yet many felt that the Panthers and Steelers were the strongest two teams and would meet in the Super Bowl.  It was a race to be the first #5 or #6 seed to win the Super Bowl.  Carolina (the NFC #5 seed) stormed forward in powerful victories over the Giants and Bears, but ran out of running backs and fell one game short of that meeting, losing the NFC Championship Game to Seattle.  Pittsburgh (the AFC #6 seed) defeated the Seahawks  21-10 in Super Bowl XL.  Race results: Steelers win; Panthers lose.

The next race between the two teams began during that offseason.  The Steelers were the defending champs and Carolina was again a popular Super Bowl pick.  Once again, the race was on!  They faced each other in week 15; a game that originally appeared to be a possible Super Bowl preview.  Sadly, by the time that week arrived, the race had taken a horrible turn for both teams, as they were desperately trying to hold on to faint playoff hopes.  Neither team ended up making the playoffs and that game became one of the worst beatings in Panther fans’ memories.  The Steelers humiliated Chris Weinke and the Panthers, 37 to 3.  Race results: Steelers lose; Panthers lose.

(To keep this from being too depressing, I might add that the Panthers and Steelers are also linked in another way:  Probably the funniest moment in Panther history happened in a game against the Steelers.  The reader who can comment below and reveal that event will win a hearty “Attaboy!”)

First, consider what was accomplished this week.  Even in the draft race, it was worth this victory.  Let’s face it.  Carolina played one of the only teams in the league that they had a chance of beating.  But that truly didn’t matter.

Clausen needed to get that monkey off his back.  He needed a touchdown pass (no matter how ugly it might be).  He needed to move the ball, lead the team, throw down the field, and give Smitty the opportunity to fire everyone up with that strut/dance/trash-talk thing he does after a catch.  Clausen needed to show, not that he’ll necessarily be great, but that he can play in the NFL.  He did all of that Sunday.  There was no way we could accurately judge his progress until that monkey was gone. (more…)

So far we’ve previewed the offensive line and defensive front. Today, we’ll take a look at the offensive “field general” position for the Carolina Panthers.

Four months ago, I wasn’t sure about what to expect at this position. The Panthers had released Jake Delhomme as quickly as possible, they didn’t re-sign either of the veteran backup quarterbacks — A.J. Feeley and Josh McCown — and with the purging of aging players, it certainly didn’t seem right that Carolina was looking for aging veteran experience, a-la Donovan McNabb, Marc Bulger, Jeff Garcia, etc. (more…)