"Looking at statistics, 10-6 could get you in, or it may not," safety Kurt Coleman said. "Right now, we've just got to go 1-0 in a short week."
Coleman's comments came moments after a demoralizing loss to the Chiefs dropped Carolina to 3-6 in advance of Thursday's game against New Orleans. If the Panthers were to run the table and finish 10-6 – requiring a seven-game winning streak that's half of the 14-game streak Carolina had last season – they'd be in good shape but not set for sure. Go 6-1 to finish 9-7, and history suggests it would be tough but the current standings suggest it would be possible.