If recent history is any indication the Carolina Panthers are due for an NFC South Championship. The team from Bank of America Stadium has a history akin to that of a roller coaster. One year they’re Super Bowl contenders and the next they’re cellar dwelling in their division. The latest version of the Panthers turned out to be the cellar dwellers. Well not quite, they did finish ahead of the traumatized Atlanta Falcons but you get the picture.

2007 might even have turned out well for Carolina if not for injuries at a key position. While Jake Delholme began the year as the starting quarterback his performance left mush to be desired. Ever the gambler, Delholme injured his elbow on a scramble in week 3. That left David Carr to take over and the hard luck QB eventually gave way to the old timer, Vinnie Testaverde. The two backups engineered a 5 game losing streak in the middle of the season that pretty much wiped out Carolina’s chances of post-season play.

Whether history repeats itself or not, the Panthers have a tough road ahead. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have turned themselves around under Jon Gruden and the New Orleans Saints have accumulated an impressive degree of offensive talent. Either could challenge again in the NFC South. Or the Panthers could once again climb the steep hill of the NFL.