Panthers prepare for winner-take-all matchup

Panthers prepare for winner-take-all matchup
December 16
Charlotte Observer
"The Carolina Panthers never have played a regular-season game with as much at stake as they will Sunday night at Giants Stadium.

There's nothing sensational or overly dramatic about that statement. It's not a case of saying something is the greatest just because it's the latest.

It's just a fact.

They'll face the New York Giants in a nationally televised 8:15 game (NBC, WCNC, Ch. 36) in a winner-take-all battle to be the NFC's top seed and have the accompanying home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Panthers have reached the NFC Championship Game three times but never as the top seed and never as the home team.

In fact, they've never played a regular-season game with the top seed on the line.

A victory against New York would mean the Panthers could go to New Orleans for their Dec.28 regular-season finale not needing to win and could, if they chose, rest some key players for all or part of the game to stay fresh for the playoffs.

Home-field advantage is no guarantee of reaching the Super Bowl, of course. The Giants won three away games as a wild-card team last season en route to upsetting New England for the league championship.

But playing at home would be a huge plus for the Panthers. They've completed an unbeaten regular season at Bank of America Stadium - every other NFL team except Tampa Bay (6-0) has at least one home loss - and didn't lose on their home field during the preseason.

With home-field advantage, the Panthers would have a first-round bye and then host an NFC semifinal. Win that, and the conference championship game would be here.

Just imagine what Charlotte would be like if the city were to be the site of the NFC Championship Game - with a Super Bowl berth at stake. The excitement would be unprecedented."
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