By Mike Cranston
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó When the Carolina Panthers began their difficult six-game stretch to end the regular season, coach John Fox joked how each week became the biggest, most-hyped game the franchise has played.
After the Panthers’ chances at the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs were squashed thanks to countless missed tackles, an overmatched defensive line and a soft secondary in a 34-28 overtime loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, another gigantic game is looming.
“The good thing that happened over the weekend, we did clinch a spot in the playoffs,” Fox said Monday. “Right now, if we win in New Orleans, we can clinch a No. 2 seed, we can get a first-round bye and we’ll be division winners. So I think this will be the next biggest game.”
Because they couldn’t stop the run, got a bad break with the wind on a game-winning field goal attempt and couldn’t get Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams involved late, the Panthers won’t be resting their starters this weekend at the Superdome.
Instead, it could determine if Carolina has a realistic shot to make a deep playoff run.
If the Panthers (11-4) lose to the Saints and surging Atlanta beats woeful St. Louis (2-13) at home, the Falcons (10-5) would capture the NFC South title by winning the tiebreaker. That would leave Carolina as the No. 5 seed, with no bye, probably no home games and facing a cross-country trip to Arizona for a first-round game.
“It would be just awful not to get that first-round bye,” linebacker Jon Beason said. “I think we owe it to ourselves to finish off what we have done this season.”
While they clinched a playoff berth when Dallas lost to Baltimore on Saturday night, the Panthers had much higher hopes when they entered Giants Stadium. And they looked like the better team early against the defending Super Bowl champions, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions in building a 21-10 lead.
But Smith didn’t catch a pass in the second half and Carolina’s leaky defense couldn’t hold the lead, even after Williams’ fourth touchdown run made it 28-20 early in the fourth quarter.
Hurt by the absence of defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu, who did not dress with an ankle injury, and Damione Lewis, who left in the fourth quarter with a bad shoulder, the Panthers were defenseless against the run.
Ken Lucas struggled at cornerback, too, as his pass interference penalty in the end zone set up Brandon Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left. Lucas was beaten again on the tying 2-point conversion pass.
The Panthers still had a chance to win it, but the strong wind pushed John Kasay’s 50-yard field goal attempt wide left with 4 seconds left.
The Panthers then curiously handed off to Jonathan Stewart ó not Williams ó twice on their only possession of OT. After punting, Derrick Ward ran right over the Panthers. His tackle-breaking runs of 51, 14 and 17 yards set up Jacobs’ 2-yard TD run to win it.
Ward finished with 215 yards rushing, the most by an opposing player against the Panthers. The 301 yards were the second most allowed in the team’s 14-year history.
“The politically correct thing to say is they’re a great combination of running backs,” Beason said. “They are, but based on the film, 300 yards ó I’d say about 250 was on us.”