The Carolina Panthers have won four of their past five games. That has some wishing they could keep playing and others eager to fast-forward to next season and a clean slate.
The Panthers are 6-9 entering Sunday's season finale against the New Orleans Saints (1 p.m., WGHP Ch. 10), but one thing is certain — there's plenty of optimism.
The team is buoyed by the thought of what rookie quarterback Cam Newton might accomplish with a full offseason to work with coaches. What's more, 16 players will be coming off injuries, and most players on the roster are under contract for 2012.
"I don't think there's any question everyone in this locker room is excited about next year," tight end Greg Olsen said.
Coach Ron Rivera said he was talking with his coaches this week about how nice it would be if this were a 20-game season, given the momentum the team has built.
"If we had just had a few more weeks, who knows?" Rivera said. "I wish we had a few more just to see, just to see if we've reached that point where we've matured enough."
Newton, a leading candidate for the NFL's offensive rookie-of-the-year award with 34 total touchdowns, said he "absolutely" wishes the Panthers could keep playing.
He sees a completely different team now from the early season Panthers. That one was tiptoeing toward an uncertain future. This one is surging, ready to bust up anything in its way.
"It's evident on film," Newton said. "But we can't get that back. You can't press rewind in life, and you sure can't press fast-forward, so you've got to live for the present. I think going into next year, we have to focus on what we can control.
"We have to learn from it. There are going to be mistakes made and things we (wish we) had back, but we had ample opportunities that we could have bounced back from to make a bigger difference."
The Panthers are ranked fourth in total offense and third in rushing, a dramatic turnaround from last season, when they were last in the league in total offense.
They're as dangerous as any offense in the league, with Newton running the show, talented backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart behind him, a super receiver in Steve Smith, and proven tight ends in Olsen and Jeremy Shockey.
They also have an underrated offensive line, which may be as good as any in the league, led by Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil.
Middle linebacker Dan Connor will be an unrestricted free agent and most likely will go from starter to backup if Jon Beason returns. But Connor said he might be willing to pass up a starting role elsewhere if it means staying with the Panthers and being on a winning team.
"We're going to get a lot of guys back (from injuries), and with what we've built this year, I think we're going to be a top contender next year," Connor said.
Olsen said beating the Saints would provide a big boost in confidence.
"The way these last four or five weeks have gone, there's just a real positive feeling heading into next year," Olsen said. "I think if you finish the season strong, it gives a different kind of feel to the offseason program, a different sense of energy to the offseason."
The Saints (12-3) have clinched a playoff spot and at least one home game. They are playing for a first-round bye, and the Panthers can do their part to prevent that.
"You really want to come out and play them the best you can because of what we're trying to build and the attitude we're trying to have," Rivera said. "To lose now would be disappointing."
"I think our guys have done a nice job. They've practiced well. I'm pretty excited about that."
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