Carolina Panthers Must Avoid Complacency Before Showdown with New Orleans

Amid the controversy that surrounded the conclusion of Monday Night Football featuring the New England Patriots (7-3) and the host Carolina Panthers (7-3), one thing was for certain: The Panthers are indeed postseason contenders in 2013.

Carolina has fought all season to establish itself as relevant in the playoff picture, and after two consecutive victories over winning teams, its mission has been accomplished.

Moving forward, it seems easy to suggest the Panthers are a shoo-in for a wild-card berth. However, this team is thinking big and is very much in contention for the NFC South crown. They have a favorable schedule and one that allows them to control their own destiny. Of their remaining six games, only one team has a winning record.

Not surprisingly, that team is the division rival New Orleans Saints.

Carolina will be able to prove its mettle against the high-octane Saints offense, but for now, let’s focus on the winnable games.

Nothing is ever handed in this league, and to be the best, it must be earned. The Panthers travel to Miami to take on an increasingly dysfunctional Dolphins team before returning home to close out the season series against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both games should be easily won by Carolina, but both games could serve as trap games or catch the Panthers being complacent in their preparation.

If the Panthers are caught napping in either game and come up short, their first encounter with the Saints may not mean too much. As it stands, they are one game out of first place and could remain like that or be in a first-place tie by Week 14.

The latter would make for a very interesting late-season matchup and a possible game that gets flexed to prime time.

Too many people are already proclaiming the Saints the division champions, but nobody saw the Panthers coming either. Carolina gets its first crack against its rival in Week 14, and depending on how the following week goes against the New York Jets, the Panthers could be in a position to clinch the division at home when the Saints come to town.

Fortunately, it seems as though head coach Ron Rivera has his team focused and taking each game one week at a time. His preparation is concentrated on the team. When asked about being in the running for Coach of the Year, Rivera’s response was simple: "No. What I do care about, again, is Miami (Sunday’s opponent)."

Carolina has a short week to prepare for the Dolphins, and interestingly enough, the team in South Beach is the lone team the Panthers have never defeated in the regular season. Sunday could very well serve as a trap game if the Panthers are not fully prepared.

However, the defense is a top-five unit. The Panthers have given up the fewest points (135) and field arguably the best front four in the league. From front to back, the defense seems to have guys ready to make plays. The Panthers have yet to allow a first quarter touchdown all season, and that has helped them claim victory the past two weeks.

While the defense has been subject to much admiration and praise for its turnaround, the offense must not go overlooked. Cam Newton has grown into the quarterback many envisioned him being when he was taken first overall in the 2011 draft. His final drive on Monday night served as a career-defining moment for the young signal caller.

Newton will have to continue his growth and build upon his success to keep the Panthers in contention with the Saints. His contests against San Francisco and New England were both tough tests. New Orleans figures to be the final exam.

He has developed a great rapport with his receivers, and if he can be a little more accurate on his mid-range throws, he will become slightly more dangerous.

If Newton is to be successful, the running game will need to pick up and take the pressure off him. The Panthers have a solid trio of running backs in DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert.

However, it seems as though the ground game has become a bit stagnant in recent weeks. While the Patriots stacked eight in the box to keep the Carolina ground game in check, not every team can do that without running the risk of giving up the big play.

Regardless, the Panthers have been able to run a balanced offense during their current six-game winning streak.

Carolina is no longer going to be underestimated. That being said, the Panthers' remaining opponents will give them all they can handle. If they continue to play their style of football, the Panthers should be in good shape.

They have six games left, and any complacency on their part could unravel what has become an unprecedented run to the playoffs.  

Don't become complacent in following me as the Panthers march toward the postseason

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