Carolina's 30-10 victory Sunday agianst Denver was impressive but it leads to some questions.
Can this team keep it going and run through the playoffs and go all the way to the Super Bowl?
There's a long way until that happens but certainly what the Panthers are doing is impressive. Consider the recent gauntlet of teams they've had to go through:
While Green Bay isn't a playoff team, Carolina rallied late to win up there in a game that was pivotal because it came after that Atlanta loss. So, after the Green Bay win, Carolina then beats Tampa Bay, a possible playoff team, in an emotional home Monday night game. And then the Panthers come back on a short week in what could have been a letdown game and after a slow start take it to Denver.
Now it's on to New York where home-field advantage in the playoffs will likely be determined. Can the Panthers keep this going? Or will this be a team that you sometimes see in sports that peaks late in the season only to collapse in the playoffs?
A few things about the Panthers.
A week after running over Tampa, you've got to like how Carolina passed the ball. Granted, Denver had some DBs out because of injuries, including Champ Bailey. Still, Delhomme was spot on with most of his passes. I can only think or one or two where he was way off. Steve Smith had 9 catches for 165 yards. Muhsin Muhammad added four catches for 70 yards. One concern is you'd really like to see a third receiver but with two solid running backs it doesn't matter as much.
One thing to think about is how the Panthers offensive line is coming together. The group of Jordan Gross, Travelle Wharton, Ryan Kalil, Keydrick Vincent and Jeff Otah had not played an entire game as a unit until the Atlanta contest a few weeks ago. They're still learning, in a way, what Williams and Stewart can do. Gross told me afterward that Williams' cutback run for a TD just shows the linemen that they need to keep with their blocks because Williams could be coming their way even if the play isn't designed that way.
Now, the unit didn't complete Sunday's game together. Vincent suffered a groin injury and did not return. Coach John Fox said that injury and the ankle injury to DT Maake Kemoeatu will be updated later in the week.
As for the defense, you have to credit the Panthers. After a slow start where they gave up points on Denver's first two possessions, they shut the Broncos out. Denver went 3-and-out on three of its five second-half possessions, a good sign for the playoffs. The secondary, which had had some problems lately, did a fair job and didn't get burned for a pass for more than 20 yards. Keep that going and a team isn't going to lose many games.
Needless to say, it will be interesting to see how the Panthers respond on the road next week at New York -- espeically how they had trouble early in the games at Atlanta and at Tampa earlier this season.
A few other notes:
Fox reported no other injuries after the game other than Vincent and Kemoeatu.
Denver LB Jamie Winborn on Carolina's runinning backs: "I have to give it to those guys. Those are some tough backs.''
Carolina lineman Jeff Otah on the game's importance: "This was a big game because usually when we win a big game, chances are we lose the next one, so we really had to focus on that.
Team owner Jerry Richardson, awaiting a heart transplant, attended the game.
John Fox on how things are going: "You learn more about your team every week. I've learned that we're pretty tough minded. We have to respond and get ready for New York. We'll enjoy this one and be back to work (Monday). ... As these games go forward, they get bigger on the outside but it's the same game between the lines. That is the approach we take and have taken.''
One funny thing. DL Charles Johnson should have had a pick in the first half but the pass bounced off his hands when he stepped in front of a Denver receiver while back in coverage. It's rare he goes into coverage -- he told me he does it about 3-4 times a game -- but it hurt not getting that pick.
"I'm always talking about I have the best hands on the D-line,'' Johnson said. "That's going to bite me in the tail. At halftime I was already hearing about it,'' he added with a smile.
