CHARLOTTE, NC — Football can be fickle.
A few weeks ago, it looked like the Panthers’ playoff hopes were dead in the water. Fans were disgruntled, and the team couldn’t seem to buy a win. But the boys just keep pounding. And now, fans are pumped for the postseason possibilities.
“I believe they’ll beat them,” says a Panthers’ fan. “I look forward to it.”
True fans always believe, but Panthers’ fans were tested. Six straight losses, injuries everywhere. It seemed a return trip to the playoffs would slip away.
“We went through it, and we were able to win,” says Whitney Atkinson from Raleigh. “Now it’s up to us to go down to Atlanta and take them down.”
The team did turn it around.
Three straight wins puts them back on top of a down division, and in the driver’s seat.
“You want to be able to control your own destiny, be the ones to know that you don’t have to look at the TV, you don’t have to see all that kind of stuff,” says Atkinson. “You know that if you win, you’re in.”
This team has battled injuries and distractions all season, even the loss of their star quarterback in the middle of the current win streak.
But Superman walked away from a scary accident, and Cam Newton was back on the field for Sunday’s win over Cleveland.
“Ah man, it was fantastic yesterday!” says Panthers fan Jeff Moore. “Cam coming out like that after flipping his car. Playing the way he played. He looked like Cam is supposed to look. It was a great day man. The building was rocking. It was fantastic.” “
Like many Panthers fans, Matthews resident Moore is thinking about making the trip to Atlanta this weekend for the NFC South showdown. A prospect that once seemed remote.
“Couple of weeks ago it was like I don’t know if we’re going to go,” says Moore. “But if we can make it work, we’re planning on going this year.”
The Panthers have never made back-to-back playoff appearances. A win Sunday in Atlanta will make that happen, and secure a home game in the Wild Card round.
Carolina fans are ready to follow their team into the postseason.
“They’ve got the potential,” says Panthers fan Scott Jolley from Lincolnton. “They’ve got the players. They did real well yesterday, and things are coming together.”
Sunday’s game is scheduled for a 1:00 pm kick in the Georgia Dome. WCCB Charlotte is your home for all things Panther all week. We will have live coverage from Atlanta Saturday and Sunday.
