Panthers, NFC South set up for the Super Bowl
The Carolina Panthers are among three NFC South teams vying for a Super Bowl title this season…
Every NFL team hopes to play in the Super Bowl when training camp begins over the summer. Expectations are high for everyone, they were for the Carolina Panthers before playing even one snap of live football. Seventeen weeks of regular season play later, only 12 teams remain with an opportunity to reach that goal.
Carolina assured themselves of a chance with a victory over the Buccaneers last week and failed to advance their seed by losing to Atlanta. Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans meaning the Panthers could have won their sixth divisional title but all is not lost.
After a dismal performance against the Falcons, Carolina needs to put everything behind them and move forward. None of the past games matter, including two losses to their playoff opponent – New Orleans. The Panthers can continue their season with a victory next Sunday.
Three NFC South teams made the playoffs: Atlanta, New Orleans and Carolina. While one will be eliminated this round, two will advance as the division has the best chance of putting the NFC representative into the Super Bowl by virtue of having the most teams in the tournament.
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If Atlanta and Carolina both continue their winning ways, then an NFC Championship could be coming to Charlotte. The Falcons are sixth in the seeding and will have to travel for as long as they continue to win. The Panthers, at number five, would travel unless they were to host Atlanta for the opportunity to represent the NFC in this year’s Super Bowl.
Arguably hailing from the most difficult division in football this year, each of these teams is equipped for the playoffs and winning either at home or on the road. Even New Orleans, who historically has performed much better inside the Superdome than on the road, won four of their eight road games this season.
Next: Playoff Positives and Negatives
The Falcons and Panthers were each of the conference’s past two Super Bowl representatives, though neither hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in the season finale. If Carolina regroups, refocuses and plays to their potential they could do so very soon.