Are the Panthers the team to beat in the NFC?

2009-04-01T17:17:50-04:00

2008-12-09T10:29:23-05:00

2008-12-11T21:29:30-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/631/899/thumb/ncf_a_moreno01_300.jpg 126 WV

Wheeling 632539

83 This is awesome news. Now the broncos can beat them just as they did to the "team to beat AFC" Jets. 3629192

2008-12-10T16:02:41-05:00

g_dearing

Philadelphia 84198

82 championships are not won in December. Period... So who cares? 3610071

2008-12-10T15:47:25-05:00

tabbie007

New Britain 631089

81 again panthers fan should stop the talk and walk the walk, Giants did not win last year by luck and road wins last year and this year still impressive. keep doggin us, Giants like it that way cuz then we sneak up and whoop dat a$$ 3609784

2008-12-10T14:58:12-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/630/639/thumb/nfl_u_ryan_400.jpg 7 GA

Irock

Douglasville 631279

80 I think not. Carolina was destroyed by Atlanta in week 12. I am hoping that Atlanta can back door into the playoffs and suprise some people. They still do not get any respect because they are also in the NFC south. Atlanta beats Tampa on Sunday and then we will see what happens. 3608874

2008-12-10T14:55:14-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/630/639/thumb/nfl_u_ryan_400.jpg 7 GA

Irock

Douglasville 631279

79 I'm sorry, but Atlanta destroyed Carolina in week 12. I dont see Carolina being a factor. I am hoping Atlanta can back door into the playoffs and suprise some teams myself. they still dont get any credit since they are also in the NFC South. 3608839

2008-12-10T13:52:23-05:00

PuffTheMagicDragon

Los Angeles 631154

77 Carolina Panthers have one of the scariest rushing offense in the league, just because dumb Giants beat up some subpar teams you think you are the best team? N****A Please! 3607709

2008-12-10T13:03:07-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/208/154/thumb/tuckx.jpg 499 NJ

jabbawockeez

North Jersey 208454

76 This article is simply ridiculous. I love how these writers as many of you have mentioned, have their "flavor of the week" and fall in love with a team coming off playing a great game. That's not to discredit the Panthers season at all, I think they are the biggest threat to the Giants come playoff time. But thats just it. They are a threat TO the Giants, meaning they reign 2nd best in the NFC. The Giants have had one of the toughest schedules in the entire league and haven't had a "gimme" game since Week 7 vs. the 49ers and wont for the rest of the season including the playoffs. They've beaten the Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Steelers, Ravens, and Cardinals who have a combined record of 49-28. The Giants have been either 1st or 2nd best team in the NFL for most of this year and I dont see how that changes after this past week. The Giants lost to a playoff contending team that is on a hot streak, and only lost by 6 points. Many "experts" will point to the absence of Burress as a reason the Giants season is "unraveling" (which I find hilarious) but people forget the Giants also won 3 games without Burress against Seattle, Arizona, and Washington (2 of those on the road). The Giants are still the Road Warriors with only 2 losses on the road going back to last September if I'm not mistaken. If the Giants lose this Sunday against a desperate Dallas team and Carolina pulls off a win then we can start talking about this story, but right now is simply too early to be pulling these strings. If the Panthers somehow do get home field and go 8-0 at home to end this season and host the Giants for the NFC Championship game, the Giants have proven they can win on the road against any team under any conditions. Its much harder to do what the Giants have done (2 road losses in almost 2 full seasons thus far) than go 8-0 at home. I think thats much more impressive. Talk to me next week about this topic if appropriate.... 3606894

2008-12-10T12:31:34-05:00

tabbie007

New Britain 631089

75 As a GMEN fan I am glad that they added a second loss to the season. after the first loss to the browns we ripped off 7 straight. so we had a bad game and lost to the eagles I have to believe that this loss was in our favor including the play-offs there are 7 games left (if we don't get a first round bye) Panthers fans need to shut the **** up, until you beat us, win the SUPERBOWL and clinch homefield you should have nothing to say, please remember the last time the GMEN were doubted we kicked a$$ 3606419

2008-12-10T11:51:28-05:00

POWERGEE

DURHAM 112878

74 I GUESS WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHO WINS THE WEEK 16 MATCHUP TO DETERMINE WHO IS THE BETTER TEAM. BUT I DONT THINK JAKE CAN DO IT WHEN HE HAS TO. THE GIANTS WILL BE BACK IN STRIDE ON SUNDAY AT THE COWBOYS AND THEN LETS SEE WHAT THE WRITERS GOTTA SAY BECAUSE CAROLINA COULD FALL TO DENVER AT HOME. THE PANTHERS ARE MY SECOND TEAM BUT THEY ARE NOT QUITE READY FOR THE GOOD TEAMS BECAUSE THEY ARENT CONSISTENT ENOUGH FOR ME EVEN AT 10-3. THE LOSSES HAVE COME FROM SUBPAR TEAMS SO THEY NEED TO GET A STEADINESS IN THEIR QB 3605698

2008-12-09T11:09:37-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/542/920/thumb/tomcattsmaller.jpg 2483

DKMF

543360

8 ^^^^^^^^ SHould have been an Eagles fan^^^^^^^^ Such whining and denial is expected from Eagle fans, but you would think that a Giants fan, would atleast know when they are looking at a better team. 3591145

2008-12-10T11:17:03-05:00

lawrenceS59

Pelham 594517

^^^^^^^^ SHould have been an Eagles fan^^^^^^^^Such whining and denial is expected from Eagle fans, but you would think that a Giants fan, would atleast know when they are looking at a better team.

73 Lets be real....it took a record running day for them to be even considered the top ranked NFC team. Jake D is suspect and you will see that come D day at the Meadowlands. The sun shined on Carolinas butt thats all. How many times have the Bucs had trouble tackling this year?.....not many. They had an off day. Again.....we will see in 2 weeks. Few things to point out: 1. The Giants played the fourth ranked defense in the league. 2. The Giants were 1 dropped pass away from winning that game even though they didnt play great 3. Carolina wont have another 299 yard rushing game. 4. If Carolinas run game is shut down they're in trouble(just look at Jake D's passer rating this year). 5. Giants defense is 5th against the run and Tampa is 18th against the run. Don't start jumping up and down because of one game. Still plenty of season left. 3605145

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img title="DeAngelo Williams" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/deang-tb.jpg" alt="DeAngelo Williams" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">DeAngelo Williams ran for a career-high 186 yards Monday.<br /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Streeter Lecka/Getty Images</div> </div> <p>Last night, the Panthers established a single-game franchise record with 299 rushing yards against the NFL's fourth-ranked defense, winning for the sixth time in seven games to improve to 10-3 -- and a pristine 7-0 at Bank of America Stadium.</p> <p>By virtue of New York's loss to Philadelphia, Carolina took control of its own destiny in the race for the top seed in the NFC playoffs. If the Panthers run the table in their last three regular-season contests -- at home against the Broncos and away to the Giants and the Saints -- the road to Super Bowl XLIII will run through Charlotte.</p> <p>SI.com's<strong> Don Banks</strong> elaborated on the <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/12/09/snap.judgments/index.html" target="_blank">significance of home-field advantage</a> for the Panthers in his Snap Judgments following last night's <em>Monday Night Football</em> flogging of the Bucs.</p> <blockquote> <p>And if the thought of Carolina staying home throughout the postseason doesn't strike fear into the hearts of every other NFC playoff contender, it should. The Panthers are now 7-0 at home this year, and home teams in the NFC South are a staggering 24-2 (.923), by far the best such mark in the NFL. Only the NFC East teams at 18-8 are roughly even in the same neighborhood, and the NFC South's home record this year is by far the league's finest since the 1970 merger (beating out the 2003 NFC West, at 26-6).<br /><br />Simply put, the Panthers can beat anyone at Bank of America Stadium this year, and that includes an 11-2 Giants team that suddenly seems less-than-invincible in light of their 20-13 home loss to the Eagles on Sunday.</p> </blockquote> <p>Banks isn't the only national scribe fancying the Panthers as a top overall seed in the NFC bracket. <strong>Mike Celizic</strong> of NBCSports.com writes last night's performance should <a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28125428/" target="_blank">serve notice to the conference elite</a> -- and sets the stage (prematurely, perhaps) for the Week 16 meeting between the Giants and Panthers as a NFC Championship Game preview.</p> <blockquote> <p>Two weeks ago, we thought the top of the NFC was pretty much settled. It was New York all the way, clearly the best team in the NFC — and the NFL. And now it’s all unraveling and the season is coming down to Week 16 in the New Jersey swamps.</p> <p class="textBodyBlack">Unless you’re a Giants fan, you’ve got to love it.</p> </blockquote> <p>Let's step back for a minute. Not even two weeks ago, <a href="/si_blogs/for_the_record/posts/27201-what-super-bowl-matchup-are-you-rooting-for" target="_blank">we were already looking ahead</a> to a Subway Super Bowl. The larger lesson is it's useless to marry oneself to midseason predictions. But after last night's convincing outing against a fellow conference contender, do you believe the Panthers are the team to beat in the NFC?</p> <p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/12/09/snap.judgments/index.html" target="_blank">Don Banks: Snap Judgments from Carolina</a> [SI.com]<a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28125428/" target="_blank"><br />Panthers serve notice to NFC's elite</a> [NBCSports.com]<br /><a href="/si_blogs/for_the_record/posts/27201-what-super-bowl-matchup-are-you-rooting-for" target="_blank">What Super Bowl matchup are you rooting for?</a> [For The Record]</p>

The SI Staff

New York City 21244 30581 <div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img title="DeAngelo Williams" src="http://i.cnn.net/si/fannation/deang-tb.jpg" alt="DeAngelo Williams" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">DeAngelo Williams ran for a career-high 186 yards Monday.<br /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Streeter Lecka/Getty Images</div> </div> <p>Last night, the Panthers established a single-game franchise record with 299 rushing yards against the NFL's fourth-ranked defense, winning for the sixth time in seven games to improve to 10-3 -- and a pristine 7-0 at Bank of America Stadium.</p> <p>By virtue of New York's loss to Philadelphia, Carolina took control of its own destiny in the race for the top seed in the NFC playoffs. If the Panthers run the table in their last three regular-season contests -- at home against the Broncos and away to the Giants and the Saints -- the road to Super Bowl XLIII will run through Charlotte.</p> <p>SI.com's<strong> Don Banks</strong> elaborated on the <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/12/09/snap.judgments/index.html" target="_blank">significance of home-field advantage</a> for the Panthers in his Snap Judgments following last night's <em>Monday Night Football</em> flogging of the Bucs.</p> <blockquote> <p>And if the thought of Carolina staying home throughout the postseason doesn't strike fear into the hearts of every other NFC playoff contender, it should. The Panthers are now 7-0 at home this year, and home teams in the NFC South are a staggering 24-2 (.923), by far the best such mark in the NFL. Only the NFC East teams at 18-8 are roughly even in the same neighborhood, and the NFC South's home record this year is by far the league's finest since the 1970 merger (beating out the 2003 NFC West, at 26-6).<br /><br />Simply put, the Panthers can beat anyone at Bank of America Stadium this year, and that includes an 11-2 Giants team that suddenly seems less-than-invincible in light of their 20-13 home loss to the Eagles on Sunday.</p> </blockquote> <p>Banks isn't the only national scribe fancying the Panthers as a top overall seed in the NFC bracket.</p>