When the Kansas City Chiefs visit Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, the Panthers will face a team that can serve as a model for what Carolina is aiming to do.
Last season, the Chiefs became just the second team in the Super Bowl era to recover from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs, winning their last 10 games along the way. The Panthers started 1-5 this season and have won their last two games.
"We've always been aware of what our capabilities are. We just haven't lived up to that potential," Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said.