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Pete Prisco

Power Rankings: Panthers tight-roping way to playoff fate

By | CBSSports.com Senior Writer

Updated Dec. 23

We always talk about the fine line in the NFL between good and bad, champs and chumps.

The Carolina Panthers might be living that right now.

The Panthers were a 50-yard field goal away from earning the top seed in the NFC Sunday night, which would have meant the NFC playoffs had to go through Charlotte.

Power Rankings: Panthers tight-roping way to playoff fate - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice

If John Kasay makes the kick at the end of regulation -- tough in those windy conditions -- the Panthers defeat the New York Giants and take the top seed. Kasay missed, the Giants won in overtime and now the Panthers might be staring at the wild-card route.

Ouch.

If Carolina loses to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and the Atlanta Falcons beat the St. Louis Rams at home, the Panthers will be the fifth seed in the playoffs, which means a road game at Arizona while Atlanta wins the division and gets that coveted bye.

If the Panthers defeat the Saints, they win the NFC South and take the second seed and get a bye.

I was all set to pencil the Panthers into the second spot in my CBSSports.com Power Rankings late Sunday before the Giants rallied to win that game. The Panthers played their butts off -- for nothing.

You can bet the Panthers will get a full dose of Sean Payton's bag of tricks in New Orleans. Drew Brees is 402 yards away from breaking Dan Marino's single-season record for passing yards and the Saints are playing for nothing.

How much fun will they have?

Not only that, but the Panthers are playing a second consecutive road game and put an awful lot into beating the Giants. What will they have left?

This is when coaches like John Fox earn their money. Getting his team back focused will be a challenge.

I saw the Saints-Panthers game live the first time they played. The Panthers beat up the Saints, mugging the outside receivers, forcing Brees to pull the ball down a lot. They better hope to do the same. The only problem is the Saints are much better offensively at home than they are on the road.

This is not a good situation for the Panthers. A loss and all the momentum they had heading into the fourth quarter of that game with the Giants, when it looked like a No. 1 seed was theirs, will be gone. The road to the Super Bowl would be a tough one with a loss, and a disappointment.

Coaches always talk cliché-speak about one play can be the difference in winning it all. That missed field goal by Kasay just might be that play for the Panthers.

What a fine line it is indeed.

Power Rankings
CurrentTeamPrevious
Giants1Giants · Trends8
With a young team, an elite quarterback and a coach who knows how to make these playoff runs, they will be a Super factor again.
Packers2Packers · Trends1
They have to do a better job on the defensive side of the ball in 2012. There was a major regress by a lot of defensive players in 2011.
Patriots3Patriots · Trends3
Bad drafting is starting to catch up with this team. It's time to fix that. And one has to ask: Has Tom Brady lost his postseason magic?
49ers449ers · Trends4
Alex Smith is a free agent, but don't expect him to go anywhere. But if the 49ers are going to stay a good team, they have to throw it better.
Ravens5Ravens · Trends5
This is a team getting up in years at some spots, which might mean the window is closing.
Saints6Saints · Trends2
Biggest offseason priority: Getting Drew Brees signed to a long-term deal. You can bet it will happen soon.
Steelers7Steelers · Trends6
They face a lot of uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball. What veterans won't be back? Who shouldn't be?
Texans8Texans · Trends10
If Matt Schaub comes back healthy, this could be the team to beat in the AFC next season. They have a tough decision on Mario Williams in free agency.
Falcons9Falcons · Trends7
They have two new coordinators, and that might be a good thing. Dirk Koetter will bring more down-the-field stuff to the offense.
Bengals10Bengals · Trends11
This is a young team on the rise. As the young players mature, especially Andy Dalton, they will be a Super contender.
Lions11Lions · Trends9
It's all about improving the defense and getting more out of the running game on offense. Cliff Avril is a priority free agent.
Cowboys12Cowboys · Trends13
We think they underachieve every year, but are they really as good as we think?
Broncos13Broncos · Trends12
The entire offseason will be devoted to making Tim Tebow a better passer. Good luck with that.
Eagles14Eagles · Trends14
The Eagles' big splash last year didn't pay any dividends. Now they have to regroup and try and get back to playoff football. If not, Andy Reid could be gone after the 2012 season.
Titans15Titans · Trends15
Jake Locker needs to be the starter in 2012. It's time to move forward.
Jets16Jets · Trends16
How do they fix that broken team? The locker room seems to be a mess. There is a lack of discipline.
Cardinals17Cardinals · Trends17
There is talk they will get into the Manning derby? If that's true, what's that say about Kevin Kolb?
Chargers18Chargers · Trends18
Was keeping Norv Turner the right move? Philip Rivers thinks so. But we know he has to win in 2012.
Raiders19Raiders · Trends19
Dennis Allen takes over the NFL's most dysfunctional franchise. Is Greg Knapp the right guy to lead that talented offense?
Seahawks20Seahawks · Trends20
Who will be the starting quarterback in 2012? Do they make a push for Matt Flynn?
Bears21Bears · Trends21
With Mike Martz out, and Mike Tice in, it appears they will move more to a running offense. Is that a good thing? Matt Forte is a top offseason priority.
Chiefs22Chiefs · Trends22
Romeo Crennel gets his second chance to be a head coach. Better sweep the office for bugs first.
Dolphins23Dolphins · Trends23
I like the hire of Joe Philbin, a bright offensive mind. Now they need to get him a quarterback. Peyton Manning?
Redskins24Redskins · Trends24
Here's another team that is expected to be in the Manning sweepstakes. They have to do something there.
Panthers25Panthers · Trends25
Cam Newton fixed the offense. Now it's time for the defense to be addressed this offseason.
Bills26Bills · Trends26
They are switching to a 4-3 front. That means they have to find some ends to help the pass rush.
Jaguars27Jaguars · Trends27
Mike Mularkey is the new coach, but the key will be how much of new owner Shad Kahn's money they are willing to spend in free agency.
Buccaneers28Buccaneers · Trends28
New coach Greg Schiano's first order of duty has to be to get Josh Freeman playing to his 2010 levels again.
Browns29Browns · Trends29
They have to decide if Colt McCoy is the long-term answer. He didn't look like it in 2011.
Vikings30Vikings · Trends30
They need to get better players around Christian Ponder. He needs weapons, especially with Adrian Peterson coming off a torn ACL.
Colts31Colts · Trends31
The Peyton Manning saga is getting old. The team needs to make a decision soon and move on. New coach Chuck Pagano has a lot of work to do.
Rams32Rams · Trends32
Jeff Fisher takes over a team with a lot of holes. They have to get Sam Bradford some weapons.
 
 
 
 
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