Panthers Have The Right Ingredients to Win It All

With the NFL playoffs set to begin tomorrow there is a lot of buzz and debate as to who will be world champions this season.  While it would be hard to argue against the defending champion Giants going all the way again in the NFC, I don't think this will be their year to get it done. 

With five NFC teams making it to the postseason this year who failed to do so last season and home field advantage, the Giants appear to be the smart bet, but don't pencil them in quite yet.  On the other side of the coin you have the Carolina Panthers, who have proven they are a team to be reckoned with.

The Panthers finished this season with a 12-4 record, good enough to win the NFC South and earn a bye into the NFC divisional playoffs in two weeks.  Carolina improved greatly from last season's disappointing 7-9 record and were a model of consistent play this season. 

Like the Giants, the Panthers are very much a run-first team—they do it often and usually very successfully, as they were third in team rushing this season.  Leading the charge is DeAngelo Williams, who was third in rushing, finishing with 1515 yards, and a 5.5 yards per carry average, good for 18 touchdowns. 

In the air the always explosive Steve Smith had another great season with 78 catches for 1421 yards, good for third in the NFL this season.  The receiving corps was bolstered also by the return of Muhsin Muhammad, who was second on the team in receiving, just short of 1000 yards for the year. 

While Jake Delhomme was in the middle of the pack in terms of his stats this season, he only threw 12 interceptions all season, which shows how far he has come in his decision making. 

On the other side of the ball they are as solid as ever defensively, led by linebacker Jon Beason, who was third in the league in tackles with 136.  They have all the right ingredients to win, but another huge factor they have is they have a proven track record that has been very impressive in the postseason. 

In three postseason appearances for the Panthers, they have never done worse than making the NFC title game, they have a perfect home record in the playoffs and have been just as impressive on the road, losing only twice.  When it comes to preparation John Fox is as good a coach as any when it comes to getting his team ready for the playoffs.  This is the time of the year the Panthers relish.

Delhomme has proven that he is a guy that can get it done in the big game and he has shown that while he may be rattled at times he is never out of it and is always capable of producing magic when it counts the most. 

Fox knows the New York Giants inside and out, having worked for years as defensive coordinator; while the Giants' personnel may have changed, but since Fox left their game plan and strategies have not changed much, they are still very much a team that relies on a great running game and a great defense that makes you earn every yard. 

The Panthers may not have dominated the league statistically this season, but as a team you would be hard pressed to find a lot of major weaknesses in their game.  They also have the experience of having been through the long playoff road before, and having some so far and not winning it all before could fuel the fire for Carolina to finish what they couldn't in 2003. 

Now is when the real season begins.  Forget the players and teams who shined the last 16 weeks of the season—now is when the true warriors come out.  The Panthers are prepared and poised to make some noise this season.  NFL teams beware, the Panthers are here to win.