Share
It's been obvious for months that the Carolina Panthers would face a brutal closing schedule, but it turns out theirs is the most difficult schedule among seven teams vying for two NFC wild-card playoff berths.
The Panthers' final six opponents have a combined record of 37-23 (.617 winning percentage). That's almost eight games tougher than the 29.2 average of combined wins for opponents of the other six teams.
That doesn't appear to bode well for the Panthers, considering their 4-6 record already trails the 6-4 New York Giants, Philadelphia and Green Bay by two games, and 5-5 Atlanta by a game.
Tied at 4-6 with Carolina are Chicago and San Francisco.
To make a playoff run, the Panthers probably need to beat the New York Jets (4-6) on Sunday and Tampa Bay (1-9) on Dec.6 before their schedule concludes with its most difficult four-game stretch of the season.
In addition to the Giants, the Panthers' closing opponents include Super Bowl contenders New England (7-3), Minnesota (9-1) and New Orleans (10-0).
The Giants face the second-most difficult schedule in the group. The Giants' opponents are a combined 35-25, two games below Carolina's opponents.
The easiest-looking schedules in the group belong to Atlanta and San Francisco, whose opponents have 25-35 records - 12 games lighter than the Panthers face. The Falcons play four of their final six at home, including against the most difficult team remaining on their schedule (New Orleans).
The Giants and Eagles, are within reach of a divisional title. They trail 7-3 Dallas in the NFC East. The other five teams are at least three games out of first place and have very little or no chance of winning their divisions.
Briefly
Just two games after taking over for injured Thomas Davis as a starting outside linebacker, Landon Johnson has joined Davis on the injured reserve list and will miss the rest of the season.
Johnson suffered a knee injury in Thursday's loss to Miami.
The Panthers signed linebacker/special teamer Jordan Senn to replace Johnson.
Senn appeared in 15 games for Indianapolis after joining the team lasts season as an undrafted rookie free agent from Portland State.
He was released and re-signed by the Colts this season, appearing in two games before getting cut again.
Johnson's spot in the starting lineup is expected to be filled by James Anderson or Dan Connor.
