After a 1-5 start it would take a miracle for the defending NFC Champions to return to the playoffs. Fortunately, the Carolina Panthers have a great example coming to Charlotte on Sunday to show them the way.
Chiefs vs. Panthers 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
The Panthers have no room for error if they’re going to overcome a 1-5 start and rally to the playoffs.
Carolina will host the Kansas City Chiefs, who became the league’s model for late-season redemption in 2015 when they rallied from 1-5 to become only the second team in NFL history to shake off such a terrible start and qualify for the postseason. The Chiefs won 10 straight games to finish last year at 11-5 and went all the way to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs before having their season snuffed out by the Patriots.
Kansas City has had a much happier start to its 2016. The team shot out to 6-2 and currently holds down the AFC’s first wild card spot despite playing in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions. The West is on pace to send three teams to the playoffs — Kansas City, 7-2 Oakland, and 6-3 Denver. If the Chiefs want to keep pace in an ever-churning postseason race, they’ll need to escape Carolina with a win.
The Panthers started their rally from 1-5 with back-to-back wins over Arizona and Los Angeles, but a victory over Kansas City would be their biggest of the season. A loss would likely disqualify them from a wide-open NFC playoff race.
How to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Place: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, and Evan Washburn
Online: Sunday Ticket
The More You Know: Chiefs fans can check out Arrowhead Pride. For Panthers fans, Cat Scratch Reader is your destination.
Three big things to know
1. Cam Newton just keeps getting lit up. Defenses have made their game plan clear against the Panthers this fall — keep hitting the former MVP who Carolina keeps behind center. Newton has absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment this season, ranging from a Week 1 loss to Denver to last week’s win over Los Angeles.
Newton has been remarkably durable, missing only about five quarters this fall, but the pressure has made him much less effective as a passer. His quarterback rating has fallen from 99.4 to 82.5 and he’s completing a career-low 57.7 percent of his passes.
2. Alex Smith will be back for the Chiefs. Smith suffered a pair of head injuries two weeks ago against the Colts, forcing him to miss a Week 9 victory over Jacksonville. He’ll take back the reins from reserve Nick Foles in Charlotte, pending disaster. Foles had been dynamic in relief against Indianapolis, but regressed in his first start since 2015. The former Pro Bowler needed 33 passes to throw for only 187 yards, an effort that could have led to defeat against a stronger team. Smith’s return is bad news for a Carolina defense that has struggled against the pass this season; the Panthers have allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a 98.5 rating against them.
3. Expect fury from the Carolina defensive line. The Panthers won’t give Smith much room to operate. The team ranks fifth in the NFL in sack rate, bringing down passers on nearly 7.5 percent of dropbacks this fall. Eight different Carolina defenders have recorded multiple sacks through eight games this season. Only three teams in the league have more sacks than the Panthers.
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