Playoff berths, edges at stake for Panthers
WASHINGTON, Dec 18, (AFP): Undefeated Carolina will try to become only the fourth NFL team to start 14-0 by defeating the New York Giants on Sunday while rivals try to clinch playoff berths.
The Panthers can secure a home-field edge throughout the National Conference (NFC) playoffs with a victory and an Arizona loss at Philadelphia, although the Cardinals are one of the NFL’s hottest teams with seven wins in a row.
Eight prior teams have reached 13-0 but only three reached 14-0, including the unbeaten 1972 Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins, the 2009 Indianapolis Colts and 2007 New England Patriots, who were unbeaten before losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl.
The Giants also ended 13-0 runs by the 1934 Chicago Bears, 1998 Denver Broncos and 2011 Green Bay Packers.
New York has the worst rushing attack in the NFL but a big pass threat in quarterback Eli Manning and receiver Odell Beckham Jnr, known for his spectacular one-handed grabs.
The Giants (6-7)
are
level
with Philadelphia and Washington atop the NFC East, a division someone has to win to reach the playoffs. Washington will host Buffalo (6-7) Sunday.
Green Bay, Minnesota and Seattle can clinch playoff spots in the NFC, joining Arizona and Carolina.
The Packers simply need a victory Sunday at Oakland to secure a place in the post-season title hunt, but Minnesota, which plays host to Chicago, and Seattle, which entertains Cleveland, would require wins plus multiple other games falling exactly their way to book playoff trips. yard touchdown run in the first half saw him reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season, making him the Rams’ first rookie to reach the milestone since Jerome Bettis in 1993.
Running back Benny Cunningham added a 102-yard kickoff return to the Tampa Bay three-yard-line to set up a 19yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston completed 29 of 50 passes for 363 yards and fourth quarter touchdowns to tight ends Luke Stocker and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
Winston also threw an interception and gave up a fumble.
Connor Barth kicked three field goals for Tampa Bay, who fell to 6-8 with their second straight defeat.
Meeanwhile, New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady topped fan voting announced Thursday for the NFL’s Pro Bowl exhibition, narrowly edging Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
Brady received 701,554 votes by fans while Newton received 701,086.
The other top vote-getters among quarterbacks were the Cincinnati Bengals’ Andy Dalton, the Arizona Cardinals’ Carson Palmer and the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
Final selections for the Pro Bowl are determined by a combination of votes from fans, coaches and players, with the results to be announced on Tuesday.
The Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu on Jan 31.
Plenty of those fans who voted for Brady and Newton will no doubt be hoping they won’t actually be in it, but will instead be preparing for a Super Bowl 50 showdown on February 7 in San Francisco.
Eight Panthers players finished top the voting at their positions: fullback Mike Tolbert, guard Trai Turner, center Ryan Kalil, outside linebacker Thomas Davis, inside linebacker Luke Kuechly, cornerback Josh Norman, free safety Kurt Coleman and special teams player Joe Webb.
New England had three players voted number one at their positions: Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Dr Bennet Omalu (left), and actor Will Smith pose together at the cast photo call for
the film ‘Concussion’ at The Crosby Street Hotel on Dec 14, in New York. (AP)