Panthers face road tests late in season

By Bud L. Ellis

For the Carolina Panthers to take the next step and return to the playoffs in 2010, they will have to finish strong as four of their final six games are away from home.

The National Football League has released its game dates and times for the new season. Carolina begins the slate on the road Sept. 12 at the New York Giants. The home opener comes the next week against Tampa Bay, and the Panthers stay home to play Cincinnati Sept. 26.

Carolina head s to Super Bowl champion New Orleans on Oct. 3, followed by a home game against Chicago before the Panthers take their bye on Oct. 17. The Panthers play host to San Francisco on Oct. 24, followed by a visit to St. Louis and a home game against Super Bowl champion New Orleans on Nov. 7.

After traveling to Tampa Bay, the Panthers play host to Baltimore. Four of the final six games are away from home, starting with a trip to Cleveland to end November. December begins with the longest road trip of the season, to Seattle, and a home game with division rival Atlanta.

After playing host to Arizona, Carolina plays at Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football on Dec. 23. The regular season ends in Atlanta on Jan. 2.

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Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 7:43 pm by Bud · No Comments

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Easier path for Panthers in 2010

By Bud L. Ellis

After finishing at .500 while playing the second-hardest schedule in the National Football League in 2009, the Carolina Panthers will find a little easier sledding come 2010.

The Panthers, who finished 8-8 in the NFC South despite the difficult slate last season, know their home and road opponents for the upcoming season. Dates have yet to be announced by the NFL, but the Panthers can tell with a first glance that the schedule won’t be as difficult as it was last season.

Only five of Carolina’s 16 games are against playoff teams, including a pair of NFC South games against Super Bowl champion New Orleans. The trip to New Orleans is the only road game against a postseason qualifier. The other games against playoff teams, all at home, are against NFC West champ Arizona, AFC North champion Cincinnati, and AFC wild-card qualifier Baltimore.

The rest of the home schedule features games with division rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Chicago. Road games include trips to Atlanta and Tampa Bay, Seattle, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and the New York Giants. Four of the road games are against teams that lost 11 or more games a year ago.

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Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 7:45 am by Bud · No Comments

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, National Football League, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers