The Carolina Panthers have been quite rude to their fans this season. Inconsistency, anemic passing, and significant injuries have combined to prevent the Panthers from seizing a moment that has lain waiting for them all season. All it would have taken was a single win over the Arizona Cardinals or the New Orleans Saints and the Panthers would have sewn up the NFC South at least a week ago, if not more. One more upset built on surprisingly strong first halves against the San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle
Seahawks could have done the same. Instead, the Panthers are fighting for a position they should have locked up—and never really should have been in, per preseason projections—with two division games this weekend deciding their postseason fate.
Just being in that fight is an accomplishment that most Panthers fans seem to recognize. Our season long confidence graphic—look for it in the offseason—is likely to be sued by Carowinds for copy-right infringement, but there has been a steady upwards trajectory in spite of Carolina’s roller-coaster record over the last eight weeks. In fact, fan confidence in the direction of this team has not dipped below 50% since the season low of 9% after their Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots.
This week that number rests at a comfortable 79%. Folks aren’t convinced, superstitions aside, that the Panthers are going to the Super Bowl this season. But most of us think that Dave Canales and Dan Morgan will lead the team to the playoffs more often than once every eight years.
Of course, a majority of fans also believe the 8-8 Carolina Panthers are going to the playoffs this season. A plurality of fans even think the Panthers will punch their own ticket with a “statement” win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 18% of y’all have bought more into the vibes of this season and are expecting chaos and shenanigans, via an Atlanta Falcons win over the Saints, to be the Panthers path to postseason contention.
I guess we’ll find out who is right soon enough.
