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Bellwether Game(s): Weeks 6 & 7, at Tampa Bay and home to New Orleans. If the Panthers sweep against their competition for the NFC South crown, they are in great shape to control the division. Lose both and the playoffs are a real long shot.

Prediction: The Panthers are shaping up to be one of the prized playoff sleepers for a lot of pundits and publications, and I share that sentiment. So long as Delhomme is back to his old self and the defensive back seven can make plays, this team has a great chance to win the NFC South. The schedule sets up nicely, with a run from Weeks 2 thru 10 where they face just one 2007 playoff team (division rival Tampa Bay), and other than facing the Bucs twice, the only returning playoff teams they face are the opener at San Diego and late season trips to Green Bay and the Giants. Consider this: only 6 games on the schedule are against teams with firmly established quarterbacks. Both Coach Fox and GM Hurney are squarely on the hot seat, and both are well-liked and respected by the players. That is powerful incentive, and the Panthers are poised to seize the opportunity to leap back into the playoffs and make for a very dangerous out come January. It’s back to the playoffs with an 11-5 finish that earns John Fox a well-deserved extension.

Rooster wrote:Told you so! The Panthers have so much talent but just enough injuries to miss the playoffs.

Seeing you post here made me Google Dream Theater tour dates but they're all so far away. Rock on nonetheless!