Panthers to end perfect at home

Dave Goldberg

Friday, Dec. 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

When the NFL schedule came out last spring, the final-week game between Pittsburgh and Carolina looked like a playoff warmup for the Steelers against a second-year expansion team.

Instead, it's a matchup of two teams headed for the playoffs, with the Panthers looking like an NFL power.

Pittsburgh goes into Carolina on Sunday with the NFC Central title clinched. Carolina can win the NFC West with a victory. If New England loses Saturday to the Giants, the Steelers can still get a first-round bye, but that's unlikely, so Pittsburgh should know its playoff situation by gametime.

So assume Carolina is more motivated -- the line nearly doubled from three points to 5 1/2 (Carolina's the favorite) early in the week.

Remember that Carolina is 7-0 at home. And remember the defensive systems are nearly identical -- Dom Capers was Bill Cowher's defensive coordinator before taking the Panthers' head job. So each team's offense has seen a lot of the other guy's defense.

Finally, assume the Patriots will beat the Giants.

PANTHERS, 23-15

* NEW ENGLAND (-9) at NEW YORK GIANTS (Saturday): Let's get Bill Parcells' first game against his old team out of the way quickly. Actually, it's a wash -- there are three Parcells Giants left in New York (Brian Williams, Howard Cross and Rodney Hampton) and three in New England (William Roberts, Dave Meggett and Bob Kratch.) PATRIOTS, 27-10

* NEW ORLEANS (+5) at ST. LOUIS (Saturday): The Rams can make this a clean sweep of the NFC West's rear echelon. They might also save Rich Brooks. RAMS 24-16

* KANSAS CITY (+5) at BUFFALO: The winner is in the playoffs, the loser is probably out. Take the fading team that's playing at home. BILLS, 14-10

* INDIANAPOLIS (-1) at CINCINNATI: The Colts need to win to make the playoffs. The Bengals would like to get to .500. BENGALS, 24-23

* ATLANTA (+9) at JACKSON VILLE: The Jaguars need to win to make the playoffs. No problem against a team where fisticuffs can break out at any time between the quarterback and offensive line. JAGUARS, 34-9

* MINNESOTA (+11) at GREEN BAY: The only way the Packers lose home field is to lose by 19. PACKERS, 19-0

* DALLAS (off) at WASHINGTON: "This is our bye week," says Barry Switzer. REDSKINS, 19-6

* DENVER (-1 1/2 ) at SAN DIEGO: Mike Shanahan is treating this like Switzer -- an exhibition. CHARGERS 23-20

* ARIZONA (+5) at PHILADELPHIA: At this point, the Cardinals are better than the Eagles. CARDINALS, 24-20

* SEATTLE (+4) at OAKLAND: The Raiders need just eight penalties to break their own NFL record. SEAHAWKS, 20-17

* CHICAGO (+2 1/2 ) at TAMPA BAY: The Bucs have their 13th 10-loss season in 14 years, but they can get a plus-.500 second half. BUCS, 17-13

* MIAMI (-3) at NEW YORK JETS: Now that the Jets have clinched the top draft pick, they can go all out. JETS, 21-20

* HOUSTON (+3) at BALTIMORE: If the Ravens could play their entire schedule at home ... RAVENS, 31-27

* DETROIT (+12) at SAN FRAN CISCO (Monday night): The problem here is that the 49ers will know by gametime whether they need to win or not. It probably doesn't matter. 49ERS, 27-13

Last Week: 7-8 (spread); 8-7 (straight up).

Season: 114-110-1 (spread) 147-78 (straight up).