Fox says Panthers are ready for next 'biggest game ever'

Fox says Panthers are ready for next 'biggest game ever'
December 16
Gaston Gazette
"With each passing week - and each passing victory - the games keep getting bigger for the Carolina Panthers.

And there has never been a bigger regular season game than this Sunday night's showdown with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants at Giants Stadium on national television.

The winner of this game will wrap up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It's the first time in Carolina's 14-year history they will be playing for a chance to secure the top seed.

"I know next week's our new 'biggest game ever' - like the last three," said coach John Fox said Monday, taking a lighthearted poke at the media hype surrounding the team's game last Monday against Tampa Bay with first place in the NFC South on the line.

Fox has been on the verge of clinching a No. 1 seed before as an assistant coach, but never as head coach of the Panthers. Carolina made the playoffs as a No. 3 seed in 2003 and a No. 5 seed in 2005 under Fox.

"I think the key is that you keep it in perspective, much like two weeks ago against Tampa (Bay), last week against Denver. When you get to this point in the year, in December, they're all big games, and our new 'biggest game' is against New York," Fox said. "Like all of them, whether it's in the playoffs or trying to get into the playoffs, they're all very, very important."

But he knows this one is special.

He seemed more interested Monday in talking about the Giants rather than Carolina's 30-10 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday which allowed the Panthers to finish the regular season a perfect 8-0 at home.

"We were pleased with yesterday," Fox said. "And to be honest with you, I've already pretty much forgotten about it and now I'm moving on to New York. But I was pleased with our play yesterday, yes."

Strangely enough, the Panthers haven't clinched a playoff berth despite an 11-3 record.

However, the only way they don't make the playoffs is if the lose their final two games and Atlanta, Dallas and Tampa Bay win out. As ridiculous as that sounds, it's not out of the realm of possibility - the Panthers have the toughest schedule left of those four teams -- so there is still pressure on the Panthers to continue playing well.

"We're going to play to win all the time, but there's no guarantees," Fox said. "Last year, the team that won the world championship didn't win the division (the Giants). We went to the Super Bowl (in 2003) and didn't (get a first-round bye). So all of it's important, but the key is to continue to try to get victories. We've got a very, very tough challenge ahead of us going to their place, to the defending world champions' house. Right now, that's about all we need to focus on.""
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