Today at 1:00 p.m. ET the Carolina Panthers (11-4) will look to shore up an NFC South title against a divisional foe, the Atlanta Falcons (4-11) on FOX in NFL Week 17 action that can be live streamed here. Panthers fans can listen to the game on 1110 WBT, while Falcons fans can tune in to 790 The Zone.
Carolina is locked into a playoff spot, but in addition to possibly winning their division, there is a slim chance of the Panthers earning a No. 1 seed, and home field advantage throughout the postseason. Wide receiver Steve Smith is doubtful this week, so the burden of generating offense will shift heavily onto the shoulders of quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton had an off game last week, but the Panthers still managed to win against the New Orleans Saints. "Cam was very resilient," coach Ron Rivera said. "He struggled all day and he knows that. But he came through when we needed him."
Newton knows that there were many doubters early in the season, and they likely were out in full force as he struggled vs. New Orleans. "When we were 1/3 there was a lot of what-ifs, a lot of people that were jumping off the bandwagon," Newton said. "It was a lot of finger-pointing and saying, 'I told you so.' But as a team we stuck together and didn't veer off and had faith in each other."
With a bunch at stake, the Panthers aren't sleeping on the threat Matt Ryan and the Falcons pose. "If we can win this week we get a break, and that's huge," middle linebacker Luke Kuechly said. "It's going to be tough. The Falcons are a good team and they have good weapons. They're much better than their record shows."
Panthers Injury Report:
QB |
Ankle |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|
DT |
Calf |
Out (Definitely Will Not Play) |
Out |
|
WR |
Knee |
Out (Definitely Will Not Play) |
Out |
|
S |
Ankle |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|
RB |
Knee |
Out (Definitely Will Not Play) |
Out |
Falcons Injury Report:
DT |
-- |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
-- |
|
WR |
Ankle |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Questionable |
|
CB |
Ankle |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|
RB |
Concussion |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Out |
|
LB |
Knee |
Did Not Participate In Practice |
Out |
|
C |
Neck |
Full Participation in Practice |
Probable |
|
TE |
Toe |
Limited Participation in Practice |
Probable |
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