After last night's win against Tampa Bay, the Carolina Panthers are above .500 for the first time since 2008. That was 70 games ago. Is it too soon to say the 4-3 Panthers have finally turned things around?
Just a few weeks ago, we were wondering if the Panthers were choking and in need of a new coach.

Now, sitting in second place in the NFC South, Carolina is behind the 5-1 New Orleans Saints and above the 2-4 Atlanta Falcons and 0-7 Buccaneers. Just think, at this time last year, the Panthers were 1-6 and on their way to a 7-9 season. In 2011, the team was 6-10 and back in 2010 - the rock-bottom Panthers were a miserable 2-14.

While chatter about the playoffs is sure to start making its way around town, you have to look at Carolina's schedule to bring you back to reality. Look, I'd love for the Panthers to make a run for the Super Bowl, but I'm not so sure it's going to happen this year.

The Panthers have winnable games left against the 4-3 Jets, winless Buccaneers and Dolphins (3-3), but also have to play division-leading New Orleans twice, Atlanta twice, San Francisco (5-2) and New England (5-2).

It looks like 7-9 is still a possibility, but you have to remember that Carolina has been playing its best football late in the year in recent seasons. In 2012, they won five of their last six games and in 2011 won four of the final six.

While it's too early to book a spot for the playoffs, or even a wild card spot, through the first seven games, Carolina is doing exactly what it needs to do to remain a contender. The next four games will truly test the Panthers strength. Let's hope next week's game against the Falcons doesn't trip them up at the start.