Panthers 試みる／企てる プレーオフ 封鎖; Jaguars in QB 煙霧
火刑／賭けるs are （疑いを）晴らす for the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars when the franchises 直面する off on New Year's Eve.
Jacksonville can インチ closer to the AFC South 分割 肩書を与える and a repeat プレーオフ 外見 by winning the next two weeks. The Jaguars try to snap a four-game losing streak Sunday and might be breaking in C.J. Beathard in place of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
A loss would 保証（人） the Panthers (2-13) the NFL's worst 記録，記録的な／記録する and 一時的に the 権利s to the No. 1 選ぶ in the 2024 草案. But that prized 選択 is 長，率いるd to Chicago to 完全にする the 貿易（する） that brought the franchise 新人 quarterback Bryce Young in April. Carolina is in 十分な 再構築するing 方式 and with no 長，率いる coach in place to 監督する the U-turn.
It wasn't all that long ago that Lawrence and the Jaguars were coming off of a 3-14 新人 season in 2021, and looking for a new 長，率いる coach. Enter Doug Pederson, and Jacksonville went 9-8 in 2022 to 衝突，墜落 the プレーオフs last January.
The Panthers are fresh off the most encouraging part of the season - though that's not 説 much. Carolina knocked off Atlanta two weeks ago and then nearly pulled an upset of Green Bay last week before losing 33-30 on a last-minute field goal.
While the Jaguars are uncertain about their quarterback 状況／情勢, Young is coming off his best game for Carolina. He threw for a career-best 312 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers vs. Green Bay.
"There's so much more to come," Panthers receiver DJ Chark Jr. said. "He's making plays. He's comfortable."
Jacksonville is one of three AFC South teams with an 8-7 記録，記録的な／記録する. Next week, when the Jaguars 直面する the Tennessee 巨人s (5-10), the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) and Houston Texans (8-7) go 長，率いる-to-長，率いる in wh at would 現在／一般に 形態／調整 up as a プレーオフ play-in game.
Losing to the Panthers would throw the entire South derby for a 宙返り飛行, but a 勝利，勝つ, coupled with Colts (vs. Raiders) and Texans (vs. 巨人s) losses Sunday, would 栄冠を与える the Jaguars 分割 champs.
"Everything's still 権利 in 前線 of us," Pederson said. "We have a 広大な／多数の／重要な 適切な時期 this week to just go 1-0 and that's our goal. You have to keep that in 視野, but the 底（に届く） line is we just have to play better."
Lawrence, 限られた／立憲的な all of last week in concussion 議定書, was able to play last Sunday but 苦しむd a shoulder sprain in a blowout loss at Tampa Bay. Beathard was 扱うing most of the 演習 work during Wednesday's practice and again is prepping to start.
But Lawrence is 限界ing throwing during the week in hopes of 存在 回復するd enough to play Sunday.
"It's still pretty sore and still 肉親，親類d of working through the beginning 行う／開催する／段階s of getting 支援する," Lawrence said. "We'll 肉親，親類d of see how it goes."
Beathard played the fourth ４半期/4分の1 of the Tampa Bay game, but Lawrence has started 51 連続した games (49 正規の／正選手 season, two プレーオフs) for the Jaguars.
Beathard's last start （機の）カム in the 2020 正規の／正選手-season finale when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Jaguars are making contingency 計画（する）s. Quarterback Matt Barkley was 調印するd off the New York 巨大（な）s practice squad.
A 加える for the Jaguars is that Beathard has been a part of 最近の game 計画（する）s and showed 約束 Sunday. He was 11-for-15 for 94 yards and a touchdown at Tampa Bay.
Ten turnovers in the past three games have been 頂上に the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of troublesome items for the Jaguars.
"The turnovers are the biggest thing," Pederson said. "Tha t's the biggest thing 権利 now."
Panthers 不快な／攻撃 取り組むs Ikem Ekwonu (foot) and Taylor Moton were both out of Wednesday's practice.
There is a dose of good news for the Jaguars. Jacksonville could have left 取り組む （機の）カム Thomas 支援する from 負傷させるd reserve. He was sidelined with a 膝 傷害 in late November.
"（機の）カム brings a level of physicality," Pederson said.
Jacksonville will be without safety and special teams whiz Daniel Thomas, who 苦しむd a broken arm last week.
Carolina is 4-3 かつてない vs. the Jaguars, 含むing 1-2 in Jacksonville.
--Field Level マスコミ
