Panthers rout Broncos, finish 8-0 at home December 15
Charlotte Observer
"With ailing owner Jerry Richardson watching from his open-air luxury suite, the Carolina Panthers completed an unbeaten home regular season and set the stage for a Big Apple showdown next week for the right to play as many as two playoff games at Bank of America Stadium.
In what is rapidly evolving into a storybook season, the Panthers followed up a spectacular Monday night win against Tampa Bay with a 30-10 thumping of the Denver Broncos.
Carolina improved to 11-3, two games ahead of NFC South rivals Tampa Bay and Atlanta after the Falcons' overtime win against the Bucs on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
The Panthers travel north next week to face the New York Giants in a showdown for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Giants lost at Dallas on Sunday night tointo a tie with Carolina for the best record in the NFC.
If the Panthers beat New York, they'll have a first-round playoff bye and a chance to host the NFC Championship Game for the first time.
Even if the Panthers lose to the Giants, they could win the NFC South and earn a first-round bye by beating the New Orleans Saints in their Dec.28 regular-season finale.
Amazingly, even though the Panthers have the best record through 14 games in team history, they haven't clinched a playoff berth.
Sunday's game against Denver had all the markings of being a trap game, but the Panthers refused to let up in their quest to win the championship Richardson has been eyeing since the franchise began playing in 1995.
Carolina last went 8-0 at home during the regular season in 1996. Not known for exorbitant praise, coach John Fox declared it a big accomplishment and tipped his hat to his players.
"We've got a unique bunch," he said. "I think it was something they put on their list of goals and we were able to accomplish it. I think it's been done one other time here in this organization. It's not easy to do anywhere, so those guys are to be commended."
There's hardly any way to measure how much it meant to Richardson, who is awaiting a heart transplant.
He didn't visit the players in the locker room, but took his customary seat in his box behind the West end zone. Later in the game, he sat draped in a Panthers' blanket.
"I think the best medicine for him right now is us winning," said quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Because the game was sandwiched between Carolina's big win against Tampa Bay and its game against the Giants, Fox tried to make sure the Panthers didn't overlook the Broncos or become overconfident because of the flattering praise they received for convincingly beating the Buccaneers.
"It was a very emotional game (against the Bucs)," he said. "Our fans were jacked up. It was against a division rival. … I thought our guys handled it really, really well."
Defensive end Julius Peppers said the Panthers were - and are - determined not to let their play lapse.
"All these things that are"
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