The Carolina Panthers haven’t made much of an impact for most of the season, however they find themselves in the role of a spoiler for the second week in a row.
The Green Bay Packers arrive for Sunday afternoon’s game at Charlotte, N.C., with aspirations of reaching the NFC playoffs as a wild card, but they likely can’t afford another loss.
“It’s all about how we finish the season at this point with these three games that we’ve got,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said.
The Packers (6-8) likely have to win their final three games to qualify for the postseason.
“You’re being introduced to adversity and there’s two ways you’re going to respond to it,” Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker said. “You’re either going to lay down or you’re going to get up.”
After a three-game winning streak that included victories against division leaders Detroit and Kansas City, the Packers suffered defeats to the New York Giants and Tampa Bay to put their postseason prospects in jeopardy.
“We’ve got three games and every game is a playoff mentality,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “Who knows what will happen, but we can’t get it all back at once.”
The Panthers (2-12) secured their second victory of the season last week by topping visiting Atlanta 9-7, knocking the Falcons out of their share of first place in the NFC South. For Green Bay, a loss in Charlotte could be similarly devastating.
Carolina knows all about being down. The Panthers want to use their latest success to create a new vibe.
“Either you can use this season to just fall apart or use it to just keep getting better,” Carolina tight end Tommy Tremble said.
Interim coach Chris Tabor said he hopes that the uplifting feeling of finally winning another game can help carry the Panthers through the end of the season.
“We just keep going, and I know that we’re not where we want to be,” he said. “I understand all that, but based on that tape, you can’t question who they are. I was really happy for them that they were able to break through. Sometimes you knock at the door all the time, and no one answers.”
The Panthers were victorious versus Atlanta without scoring a touchdown. Carolina has been so sluggish offensively that it hasn’t scored a first-half touchdown in its past five games.
On the flip side, defensive failures have been troublesome for Green Bay.
“I’ve seen us execute this stuff before,” LaFleur said. “It’s unfortunate that it happened at this time of the year. … Every guy plays off one another and when there’s any type of miscommunication, you get gashed.”
While the Panthers might want to savor the Atlanta result, they know they must look to the next task if they want another reason to celebrate.
“My next process will be getting right into Green Bay,” Tabor said. “That’s where all my attention will be.”
The Panthers have linebacker Claudin Cherelus available to return from injured reserve after missing time with a knee injury. Fellow linebackers Brian Burns (illness), Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) and Marquis Haynes Sr. (illness) missed practice on Wednesday.
Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (toe) and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (neck) sat out Wednesday’s practice, although all indications are that Reed will play Sunday.
–Field Level Media