Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales feels that the team has a whole lot of growing up to do.
The Carolina Panthers had everything in front of them this past Sunday. Two weeks prior, they had stunned the Los Angeles Rams to improve to 7-6 and then got some time off during the Week 14 bye. They then had what appeared to be an easy win on their slate for Week 15.
But for the second time this season, the Panthers lost to the New Orleans Saints, and now, instead of holding sole possession of first place in the NFC South, Carolina fell below the Tampa Bay Buccaneers courtesy of not having the tiebreaker.
The Panthers have alternated losses and wins over the last six games, and head coach Dave Canales wants to see more consistency from his club.
"Yeah, this team is trying to find an identity of professionalism, of maturity to just have that consistent outcome weekly," Canales said, via the team website. "That's what we're looking for. That's what we're shooting for. That is our best football. That's what we have to go find, and that's the challenge that we all have as a staff, and certainly the players as well."
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales. Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images.Carolina is still a young and inexperienced ballclub, so setbacks are to be expected. However, Canales is urging his team to take that next step with the playoffs in sight.
"We're all in this thing together, and we have to find consistency because that's what really good teams look like, because they show up week in and week out, and they do the basic parts of their job to where the other opponent should have to make spectacular plays to win the game," Canales added.
Making the postseason will now be an uphill battle for the Panthers. Their easiest path to a playoff berth is by sweeping the Buccaneers, but that's easier said than done.
Carolina can also hope to split with Tampa Bay, beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 and hope that the Bucs lose to the Miami Dolphins, but that also seems like a rather unlikely route.
Realistically speaking, the Panthers have shot themselves in the foot by losing twice to a lowly Saints squad. If Carolina would have just taken care of business in one of those two games, it would have a very simple avenue to the postseaso.
Now, the Panthers must dig deep and find the consistency that Canales desires. Whether or not they are actually capable of it, however, is another story entirely.