First-Place Panthers Face Brutal Five-Game Stretch

Bill VothNews, Week 614 Comments

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Despite a number of issues both on and off the field, the 3-2 Panthers are alone atop the disappointing NFC South. How they do in their next five games could make or break their attempt to earn consecutive playoff trips for the time in franchise history.

The Panthers’ brutal upcoming schedule pits them against five teams that made the postseason last year, starting with Sunday’s trip to Cincinnati.

The Bengals were the last unbeaten team remaining until they were blown out 43-17 at New England Sunday night.

“Yes, (the Bengals) were a playoff team. We’ve played playoff teams before,” head coach Ron Rivera said, a day after the Panthers rallied from 14 points down to beat the Bears. “We’ve got to be able to handle who we’re playing, and get after who were playing. Take that one game at a time approach.”

While clichés are often boring and somewhat useless, the few Rivera spit out Monday seemed relevant. If you look ahead to this stretch against the Bengals, Packers, Seahawks, Saints and Eagles, you can easily find some scary numbers.

Carolina’s upcoming opponents have a combined 15-8 record, four currently have at least a share of a division lead, and all five offenses rank in the top 13 of points scored.

So yeah, it is probably better just to focus on Cincinnati right now.

“This is the next most-important game we play because it’s the next one we play,” Rivera said, repeating his much-used mantra. “What I talk to these guys about is this game. If you get ahead of yourself, you forget who you’re playing.”

PANTHERS’ SCARY STRETCH
  • Week 6 at Bengals (3-1)
  • Week 7 at Packers (3-2)
  • Week 8 vs Seahawks (3-1)
  • Week 9 vs Saints (2-3)
  • Week 10 at Eagles (4-1)

The five games feature:

  • Opponents with a combined 15-8 record.
  • Five playoffs teams from 2013, including the Super Bowl champion Seahawks, who the Panthers have lost to at home in consecutive seasons.
  • Five teams with offenses inside the top 13 in points scored.
  • Four teams with at least a share of their division lead.
  • Four teams from the NFC. The only AFC team is from the North. The Panthers are 0-2 against the division this year, losing by a combined 75-29 to the Steelers and Ravens.
  • Three road games against teams that are currently 7-0 at home.
  • Three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees).
  • Two prime-time games.
  • JRSmith89

    BlackBlueReview Why can’t you let us have this moment? Haha jk. Ya it’s gonna be brutal. make or break the season

  • BlackBlueReview

    JRSmith89 more interesting than playing the Jags, you know? even though in a stretch like this, one game vs. them would be welcomed.

  • mbw_87

    BlackBlueReview at least 3 of the 5 Defense in general stink and the best D we get to play at home. That’s the way I’m gonna look at it.

  • alfitzpatrick07

    BlackBlueReview good grief that is daunting in writing. I think 2 are winnable – I think we drop GB, SEA and PHI games tho.

  • JRSmith89

    BlackBlueReview Oh it’s definitely going to be interesting! But it also may make me want to throw my tv out the window. we will see haha

  • morbidtaint

    billvoth BlackBlueReview can’t you wait til Tuesday to depress us?

  • Jholt915

    billvoth BlackBlueReview I just went from glass half full to glass half empty.

  • mario_clp

    BlackBlueReview http://twitter.com/mario_clp/status/519231633879465984/photo/1

  • CodyJamesBurgin

    I think the Philly game will be more winnable then people are saying. We have a Thurs night game the week before. 10 days for our team to rest up and prepare before that Monday night match-up? I’ll take the Panthers.

  • KeithRichardson1

    If we take care of business we don’t have to hear about a weak schedule, J Stew and Fozzy will be back Sunday and D Will got his boot off today so he will be back soon. We need to get a punt returner, Philly Is a good receiver but he scares me on punt returns.

  • Chrisag1336

    BlackBlueReview defense shows up and no huddle offense plus a LOT of heart, we CAN do this!

  • 95KeepPounding

    BlackBlueReview they have to play us.

  • morbidtaint

    95KeepPounding BlackBlueReview Would bode well for us to win this next game though.

  • jrbryson19

    BlackBlueReview Keep_Pounding and we are in first of the NFCSOUTH All by ourselves!!! #PantherNation