Panthers, Steelers both shifting into playoff mode

Two teams headed for January football, the Panthers and Steelers, get to test their mettle tonight. It should be a good one in prime time.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, who’s 1-1 in Super Bowls, isn’t admitting any post-season thoughts are in the minds of his players or himself. But he has to like how the Steelers have performed in four straight victories.

“I’m not trying to look for specific areas, I just try to challenge these guys to get better every day,” Tomlin says.

“That’s what we’re focused on. I think that if we do that daily that will give us a chance to produce consistent performances that are on the rise. Not only in the second quarter [of the season] but as we continue through this journey.”

That journey has Carolina (6-2) at No. 7 Pittsburgh. The Steelers (5-2-1) are a 5 1 ⁄2 -point favourite in the week’s best matchup.

The Panthers have won three straight and five of six. They are particularly strong running the ball, though Pittsburgh is stingy in that area on defence.

Carolina trails New Orleans by one game in the NFC South and leads the wild-card chase. Pittsburgh has a half-game lead in the AFC North over Cincinnati.

This could come down to the final play, which would be a treat to begin Week 10. STEELERS, 33-31

SUNDAY DALLAS (plus 6 1 ⁄2 ) at PHILADELPHIA Yes, it’s a bitter-rivalry game. But Eagles come off a bye, Cowboys off a poor showing. EAGLES, 27-16 NEW ORLEANS (minus 4 1 ⁄2 )

at CINCINNATI With Eagles up next, Saints could stumble here. They won’t. SAINTS, 31-23

SEATTLE (plus 10) at L.A. RAMS That’s a lot of points for a game that many Seahawks fans will attend. RAMS, 30-23 ARIZONA (plus 16 1 ⁄2 )

at KANSAS CITY Pro Picks rarely is afraid to lay so many points. So ... CHIEFS 40, CARDINALS 22

DETROIT (plus 6 1 ⁄2 ) at CHICAGO First of two meetings in three weeks. BEARS, 22-14 WASHINGTON (plus 3) at TAMPA BAY Redskins’ record could plummet with all those O-line injuries. BUCCANEERS, 33-31 NEW ENGLAND (minus 6 1 ⁄2 )

at TENNESSEE Brady has Patriots in their usual fine November form. PATRIOTS, 31-19

ATLANTA (minus 4) at CLEVELAND Are the injury-ravaged Falcons in midst of a turnaround? FALCONS, 26-20 L.A. CHARGERS (minus 10)

at OAKLAND We ask once again: Have the Raiders given up? CHARGERS, 33-16

MIAMI (plus 10) at GREEN BAY Dolphins have better record, Packers have better team. PACKERS, 34-20 JACKSONVILLE (plus 3)

at INDIANAPOLIS Could there be a worse matchup this weekend? Well, see below. JAGUARS, 21-20

BUFFALO (plus 7) at N.Y. JETS Could there be a worse matchup? Well, see Monday night. JETS, 8-5

MONDAY NIGHT N.Y. GIANTS (plus 3 1 ⁄2 ) at SAN FRANCISCO The worst matchup. And in prime time. GIANTS, 19-13

——— 2018 RECORD: Last Week: Against spread (9-4). Straight up (9-4) Season Totals: Against spread (65-62-4). Straight up: (90-42-2)