Panthers Take Care Of Bucs To Achieve Home-Field Advantage Throughout Playoffs

In losing their perfect season last week to the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers have now one goal in mind: to win the Super Bowl. In winning the NFC South division, being the outright No. 1 seed, and achieving a first-round bye, the only thing the Panthers were playing for was for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In yesterday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Charlotte, this would be the goal if they were to stay in the city throughout the next couple weeks.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was all passing and rushing yesterday throughout the game, finishing the game with 21 of 26 passes completed for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Newton also rushed for two touchdowns, tying Steve Young’s NFL record of 43 touchdowns. Other notable stat lines was Panthers rookie wide receiver Devin Funchess caught for 120 yards and a touchdown and Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 44 yards and a touchdown as well.

With the season over and Super Bowl hopes high, the Panthers have a desire of stopping any team that comes through Charlotte. “We find our edge playing in front of the home crowd,” Newton said after his sure MVP-type game. “Everything here feels just right. We don’t have travel to a hostile environment. This is our house — and it’s hostile.” The Panthers will have to wait on who will be coming to Charlotte when Wild-Card weekend kicks off next weekend.