Carolina Panthers Team Review & Playoff Preview

After a tremendous comeback season, the Carolina Panthers are zeroing in on a division title & first-round playoff bye.

Carolina Panthers: Season Overview
After failing to make the NFL playoffs last season, the 7-9 Carolina Panthers were out to redeem themselves heading into the 2008 NFL season. Much to the delight of fans with Carolina Panthers tickets, the Carolina Panthers got off to a fast 2-0 start, notching close wins over both the San Diego Chargers and the Chicago Bears. The Carolina Panthers bounced back from a Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings with a couple of blowout Ws against the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs.

Carolina Panthers tickets featured a tough loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the Carolina Panthers reeled off an impressive 4-0 winning streak, including Ws over the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals along with the lowly Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions. In Week 12, the Atlanta Falcons exacted revenge in an offensive shootout, winning 45-28. The loss didn’t faze the Carolina Panthers or fans with Carolina Panthers tickets as the team tallied three wins in a row over the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Denver Broncos before dropping a devastating loss to the New York Giants in Week 16. Next up? The New Orleans Saints in a Week 17 finale.

Carolina Panthers: Offense
Fans with Carolina Panthers tickets are treated to an offensive showcase when the Carolina Panthers take the field. The Carolina Panthers send out an explosive running back tandem in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who have combined for upward of 2,100 already this season. DeAngelo Williams’ 18 touchdowns (and counting) lead the league, while Jonathan Stewart’s breakaway speed excites fans with Carolina Panthers tickets.

QB Jake Delhomme, who missed the latter part of the 2007 NFL season due to injury, has enjoyed a great offensive year back at center thanks to a dangerous rushing game and a wealth of receivers to hit downfield. Steve Smith is a dangerous playmaker, posting nearly 1,300 receiving yards, while veteran receiver Mushin Muhammad is an offensive threat to boot. Fans with Carolina Panthers tickets love to see the mammoth offensive line open up holes for the ground game and give Delhomme plenty of time in the pocket.

Carolina Panthers: Defense
It’s easy to see why sack machine Julius Peppers is a favorite of fans with Carolina Panthers tickets. Boasting strength, speed, and veteran savvy, Julius Peppers is one of the best pass rushers in the league and has taken the young, second-year Jon Beason under his wing. Both Julius Peppers and Jon Beason are Pro-Bowl bound and bring hard hits and intense pass rushing to the Carolina Panthers’ signature black-and-blue defense that keeps fans with Carolina Panthers tickets crowding into the stands. Chris Gamble and Chris Harris have done a good job anchoring the secondary this season.

Carolina Panthers: Special Teams
Carolina Panthers tickets have featured a solid special-teams corps throughout the season. Kicker John Kasay has put up gaudy numbers in 2008, converting 100 percent on extra points along with connecting on 24 of 26 field goal attempts heading into Week 17. Fans with Carolina Panthers tickets have cheered on return man Mark Jones all year long and watched him explode for a 59-yard kickoff return and 55-yard punt return in Week 10 against the Oakland Raiders.

Carolina Panthers: Playoffs
In Week 16, the Carolina Panthers squared off with the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Despite a heartbreaking 34-28 overtime loss to the Giants, the Carolina Panthers are zeroing in on the No. 2 seed and will need a Week 17 win (or even tie) against the New Orleans Saints in order to lock up the NFC South title along with a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. The Carolina Panthers will need to focus on winning in Week 17 and cannot allow the New Orleans Saints to play the spoiler.

The Atlanta Falcons are right on the Carolina Panthers’ tails and are keeping fans with Carolina Panthers playoff tickets on the edge of their seats to find out where their beloved Caroline Panthers will stand in the playoff bracket. Whether the Carolina Panthers are starting out on the road and playing on Wild Card weekend or enjoying a first-round bye in the playoffs, fans with Carolina Panthers playoff tickets are behind their team 100 percent on their road (whatever the route) to the Super Bowl.