Four Quarters: A Look at the Carolina Panthers' 2009 Schedule, Pt. 4

Conventional wisdom says the Panthers are a tough team to play in December. There's some merit to that, as the Panthers have gone 21-12 in December and January under John Fox. This year, the Panthers better hope conventional wisdom holds because the December schedule is a killer. At this point in the season, the Panthers will probably be a strong position with a record that could be anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3, depending on injuries and whether Meeks' defense works out well. Around the NFC South, Tampa Bay will probably be nursing a record boasting three or four wins and will be a spoiler at best. I believe this year the Falcons' defense keeps them grounded, and they might have five wins at this point. There's just enough hope in Atlanta to make them a pain for their opponents, but they'll realistically be out of the playoff hunt. After Sean Payton's traditional slow start, brought on this year by their starting ends missing the first four games, New Orleans will have rebounded with six or ... (link)