CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade bounced from one end of the table to the other, engaged in a heated game of ping pong.
Intense, maybe, but playful.
With members of the media filing into the Panthers’ locker room after Tuesday’s practice, the second-year NFL player displayed some youthful showmanship. He turned a rather routine return shot into an athletic, between-his-legs attempt. He missed and looked up with a wide grin.
Good times.
The NFC South-champion Carolina Panthers (8-9) finished with a sub-.500 record. They were outscored by 69 points. Entering Wild Card weekend, Carolina (+15000) was tagged as the biggest long shot to capture Super Bowl LX, according to BetOnline Sportsbook.
Panthers coach Dave Canales doesn’t care.
“I’m just so excited for Panthers fans everywhere,” Canales said. He spoke Sunday after learning the franchise clinched its first division title since 2015 via three-team tiebreaker.
Kicking off the NFL postseason, the No. 4-seeded Panthers face the No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Panthers topped the visiting Rams, 31-28, during a Week 13 matchup.
Youth has been served.
Carolina Panthers’ Prospects Growing Into Bigger Roles
When analyzing the Panthers’ 53-man roster, 11 are rookies. Thirty-one players have yet to experience the intensity – and showmanship – of the NFL playoffs.
In his second year as the overseer of the team’s culture, Canales sounded excited over the growth the players could experience Saturday.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” Canales said. “Again, as much as I try to preach to our group: ‘Every game is a championship moment, every game is a championship opportunity.’
“Here it is, right in front of us now, we’re in the playoffs.”
Helping to provide support to the young players, Calanes said he will lean on 22 players who have previously performed in the postseason, including six who earned Super Bowl rings.
“Football, this time of year, is about tackling, it’s about blocking, and it’s about being really efficient,” Canales said. “And with each round, the pass rushers get better and better. Here come the Rams, with a fantastic front five — the way they get after it, the way they play — these are the types of teams that are in the playoffs. And so, matching that energy, making sure we’re at our best has to be the focus.”
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