CHARLOTTE – If the Panthers and Titans were suddenly shifted into the same division, Carolina could mathematically eliminate Tennessee from contention for the division title with a victory Sunday in Nashville.
But Carolina in no way intends to take Tennessee lightly – both because of who the Panthers are and because of who the Titans are.
The Titans are 2-6, but they put up 76 points while beating NFC South foes New Orleans and Tampa Bay and nearly knocked off Atlanta even with quarterback Marcus Mariota out with an injury.
"We're facing a team that just beat a division opponent because of their resiliency," quarterback Cam Newton said of the Titans, who rallied to beat the Saints 34-28 in New Orleans last Sunday. "In a hostile environment, they showed great determination and will. We have to get ready to attack them early and often."
"Them going to New Orleans and beating them should raise a flag," defensive tackle Dwan Edwards added. "If we're not on top of our stuff, we can get beaten."
The Titans opened the season with an impressive victory over the Buccaneers but then dropped six consecutive games before beating the Saints last week. Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the most recent NFL Draft, was knocked out of a loss to Miami in the middle of the skid with a knee injury and missed the next two games. Before the injury, the Titans lost to Indianapolis and Buffalo by a total of three points.
"Their record does not indicate how good of a team they are," linebacker Thomas Davis said. "They're 2-6 right now, but you have to look at the fact that they played two games without their starting quarterback. Those two games, if he would have played, I think they probably would have won those football games.
"They're a much better team than their record indicates, and we can't take them lightly. We've got to be ready to play football. If we don't, it's not going to end well for us."
Yes, there are reasons for the Panthers to take the Titans seriously. But more importantly, this Panthers team is programmed to take every opponent seriously. At 8-0, an unprecedented record for this franchise, Carolina is determined to not become a victim of its own success.
"The good thing about our guys is that we consider all of those wins to be behind us, so we just move onto getting the next win," left tackle Michael Oher said. "It's the character of these guys to not get too high, not get too low but just stay humble and keep their hard hats on."
Newton said that nothing has changed in light of Carolina's recent success. If anything has changed, it's the way opponents view the Panthers.
"Of course we have a big target on us now – everyone wants to be the team that beats the Carolina Panthers – but that's how we want it," Newton said. "None of that will change our approach to the game. We're still going to play hard-nosed, protecting the football, running the football, tackling, getting good field position from special teams. Everybody is doing their job, and that's what it's all about."
So far, the Panthers have done their jobs well enough to win every game. Their focus, however, remains on the job at hand.
"We're taking each week as it comes, and we've said that since we were 1-0. That's not going to change," tight end Greg Olsen said. "We haven't accomplished anything. We've gone to 1-0 eight times, and we're going to try to get to 1-0 for a ninth time."
Week 10: Panthers vs. Titans
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen, right, and Tennessee Titans' Akeem Ayers, left, and Jordan Babineaux, center, scramble for Olsen's fumble during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. The Titans recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson (28) runs through the tackle of Carolina Panthers' James Anderson (50) during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Tennessee Titans' Damian Williams (17) runs past Carolina Panthers' Sherrod Martin (23) and Omar Gaither (59) for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak watches during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Tennessee Titans' Will Witherspoon (92) and Colin McCarthy (52) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck (8) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) is tackled by Tennessee Titans' Jason McCourty (30) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera, right, argues a call with head linesman Ed Camp, left, during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans' Marc Mariani (83) celebrates his punt return for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Tennessee Titans' Damian Williams, right, catches a pass as Carolina Panthers' Captain Munnerlyn, left, defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson (28) runs for a first down against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck (8) throws a pass as Carolina Panthers' Greg Hardy defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. The Titans won 30-3. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Cam Newton, centro, de los Panthers de Carolina, sufre una captura por Colin McCarthy, izquierda, y Karl Klug, de los Titans de Tenes��, en Charlotte, Carolina del Norte, el domingo 13 de noviembre de 2011. (Foto AP/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers' Chris Gamble (20) returns an interception as Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck (8) runs in for the tackle during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. The Titans won 30-3. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter of the Titans' 30-3 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans' Damian Williams (17) catches a pass as Carolina Panthers' Darius Butler (27) defends during the fourth quarter of the Titans' 30-3 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck runs to the 1-yard line against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter of the Titans' 30-3 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton looks on from the sidelines during the third quarter of the Panthers' 30-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson (28) runs for a long gain as Carolina Panthers' Sherrod Martin (23) defends during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Tennessee Titans' Matt Hasselbeck (8) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) scrambles as Tennessee Titans' Malcolm Sheppard (96) and William Hayes (95) pursue during the fourth quarter of the Titans' 30-3 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Omar Gaither (59) reaches in vain to intercept a Tennessee Titans pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
