Path to Super Bowl LII: The Panthers have to solve the Saints in order to start their road back to the Super Bowl.

They went 0-2 against New Orleans this season. But if they beat them this time, they will travel to either Philadelphia or Minnesota in the divisional round. (To Philadelphia if the Rams beat the Falcons, to Minnesota if the Falcons beat the Rams.) Win that, and the Panthers would land in an NFC Championship Game against either the Eagles, Vikings, Rams or Falcons. The only way that game would be at home is if it were against the Falcons.

Reason for hope: The Panthers know the way to the Super Bowl as well as anyone in this field, having reached the big game two years ago. There has been a lot of turnover since then, but quarterback Cam Newton, tight end Greg Olsen and linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly are the team leaders and all were part of that run. That 2015 Carolina team was a front-runner that went 15-1 and didn’t confront much adversity until the Super Bowl, when it crumbled. This Carolina team has overcome a lot and shown a seasoned contender’s ability to thrive under difficult circumstances.

Reason for concern: The passing game. The Panthers entered Sunday’s regular-season finale ranked 27th in the league with 194.4 passing yards per game and 21st at 6.24 yards per pass attempt. They win with their run game and their fearsome front seven, and Newton’s ability to make plays with his legs when things break down is a big part of what they do. When they do throw it, it’s often short to dynamic running back Christian McCaffrey. But with Kelvin Benjamin shipped off to Buffalo, Curtis Samuel injured and Devin Funchess playing hurt, there aren’t many downfield weapons for Newton in a league that tends to require one or two of those in big games.

What America saw last weekend from the Atlanta Falcons was similar to what the team showed for 2? quarters of last year’s Super Bowl.

Can they keep it up as they head on the road again Saturday to Philadelphia?

The Falcons have that balanced offense — if Matt Ryan is efficient — to challenge any opponents. Where they made their mark against the Rams was on defense.

We don’t have a (complicated) defense, but we are very detailed, says defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel, a former NFL player who got the job last February. And the detail of expectations of understanding that they have to make our defense come to life, and they’re doing an awesome job at it.

Philadelphia’s defense has been up and down recently, and it has dealt with a bunch of injuries. Depth has been a plus for Jim Schwartz’s unit.

The edge here belongs to Atlanta at quarterback — if Ryan is efficient — with backup Nick Foles running the offense for the Eagles. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Foles fly. Or struggle.

It’s noteworthy because of how consistently both are in the championship picture.

Campbell recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks — which helped the Jaguars finish with 55, just one shy of Pittsburgh’s NFL-high 56 — and was the biggest key to the defense finishing No. 1 in pass defense and second in yards per game, takeaways and points allowed per game. Campbell played inside for his entire eight seasons in Arizona before moving outside with the Jaguars and was energized by the move. In addition, he provided the much-needed veteran leadership the team craved. It took only a few weeks in OTAs before coaches and players (offensive guys included) were raving about that. Don’t overlook that as one of the reasons the Jaguars are in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. — Mike DiRocco

In a defensive locker room full of overachieving starters, Byard separated himself as a star in the making with 10 total turnovers (eight interceptions and two forced fumbles). Byard finished the season as the NFL’s co-leader in interceptions, and his playmaking ability came in bunches. What impressed his teammates and coaches even more was his evolution as a complete safety and leader in his second pro season and first as a full-time starter. Byard was snubbed for the Pro Bowl, but he’ll make future ones, and soon the world will know his name. He’s the Titans’ MVP, with defensive lineman Jurrell Casey and linebacker Wesley Woodyard deserving honorable mentions. — Cameron Wolfe

Miller finished with 10 sacks — his fourth consecutive season with double-digit sacks and the sixth of his career — and while that was not what he or perhaps the Broncos expected, he earned every one of those against a wave of blockers consistently tipped his way. Denver didn’t move him around the formation as much as the team said it might in training camp, but in a troubled season on so many fronts, Miller consistently performed and might’ve had his best season against the run. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. also enjoyed a standout season. — Jeff Legwold

James’ teams have made seven straight Finals, Nick Saban’s Bama has had seven straight No. 1 recruiting classes, and both will surely rank within the preseason top two (or relative equivalent) next season.

Comparing James’ run to college football’s greatest modern dynasty also helps to shore up his legacy against any stray haters, not that that should be necessary. If not even the most stacked non-NFL team in all of football can win the crown every year, why should anyone demand James pull off the same, especially now that MVPs have joined forces against him?

It can be difficult for the causal football fan to notice Suh’s great season.

But despite constant double-teams, Suh was able to do it all for Miami with 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Suh also made players around him better, which was a change from previous years. — James Walker

The obvious choice is Brady, who is a strong candidate for NFL MVP honors, and one can never go wrong with that. While his performance dipped over the last few weeks, he still finished the season with a league-high 4,577 passing yards. With Brady always in the lead position, it’s always good to add the non-Brady-MVP category, and that would be a toss-up between Lewis and Rob Gronkowski. Since taking over lead-back duties on Oct. 15 against the Jets, Lewis has been the team’s most consistent, dynamic, dual-threat playmaker as he finished the season with 180 rushes for 896 yards and six touchdowns, with 32 catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns. — Mike Reiss

The journeyman QB posted career highs in completions, yards and touchdown passes, galvanizing the team with his upbeat leadership style. The Jets were only 5-8 before McCown’s season-ending hand injury, but at least the offense was respectable with him under center. As one player said: We lost a lot when Josh went down. McCown, 38, is a free agent. — Rich Cimini

Add two-time MVP and two-time NBA champion Stephen Curry to the list of players and personalities who have taken notice of Trae Young, Oklahoma’s star guard who has emerged as one of the most dynamic backcourt talents the game has seen in recent years.

Curry was asked about Young Wednesday night after Golden State’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. His response can be summed up in two words: He’s unbelievable.

He’s unbelievable, just the confidence that he plays with. I call it the flare, but he seems like he’s always composed and knows what he’s trying to do every time he has the ball in his hands. He shoots a lot of deep threes and has a creativity to his game that’s so fluid to watch. The comparisons are what they are and I know when I turn on the game to watch him play… that kind of magnetism is pretty special in the college game…He’s fun to watch.

Vincent Smith might be best known for becoming a viral sensation after Jadeveon Clowney decleated him in the 2013 Outback Bowl.

But the hit never defined him, and now the former Wolverines RB’s Team Gardens project is making its mark in the community.

And The Hit didn’t just turn the Outback Bowl back in the Gamecocks’ favor — though it did that, too. One play after Clowney mauled Smith, South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw connected with a streaking Ace Sanders in the end zone to put his team back on top, 27-22, and the Gamecocks would go on to seal their 33-28 bowl victory with a 32-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left on the clock.

In the end, it was the hit that launched a thousand takes. LeBron James weighed in via Twitter (He’s the Freak Part 2). Armchair quarterbacks debated the merits of Clowney playing at all his junior season, if he was the preordained No. 1 pick 16 months before he was eligible for the 2014 NFL draft. So now, on the five-year anniversary of The Hit — and on the cusp of South Carolina and Michigan’s rematch in this year’s Outback Bowl — we talk to the players, coaches and analysts who watched the hit become The Hit in real time.

We’re only including this pick because it’s the one the Celtics dealt to the Suns in the Isaiah Thomas trade. That worked out pretty well for Boston!

Boston originally got it when it took on Tyler Zeller from the Cavs in 2014. That move cleared the cap space necessary for Cleveland to sign LeBron James.

In the Pierce/Garnett deal, the Celtics also acquired the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in 2017. The Nets had the league’s worst record in 2016-17 and won the draft lottery thanks to the luck of the pingpong balls, so Boston obviously exercised its swap rights. But Boston then dealt that pick to the Philadelphia 76ers and got the 76ers’ No. 3 overall pick, along with another future first-rounder in return.

Ajayi finished with 408 yards rushing, one touchdown and an average of 5.8 yards per carry in seven games for the Eagles. Blount led the team with 766 yards rushing and Clement had 321.

The offense sputtered in the last two games with Nick Foles at quarterback. Relying on Ajayi’s running can help take pressure off Foles.

I’m excited. I’m already a round further than I’ve been in my career, said Ajayi, who had 33 yards rushing in a wild-card loss to Pittsburgh last year. For the guys who’ve been to the playoffs and lost, those memories of getting bounced should definitely fuel you. You should have that chip, want to get there and want to bring it home and that starts this Saturday.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick answers James Harrison questions �� kind of

Bill Belichick over the years has developed a reputation for giving short, coach-speak answers to questions from media, even though the Patriots coach sometimes delivers thoughtful responses in press conferences. Perhaps it depends on the question, the subject and/or the 65-year-old’s mood.

Belichick on Wednesday seemed to be in no mood to talk James Harrison, or at least expand on his answers.

Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, a potential candidate to replace Lewis had the team changed head coaches, will leave the organization to pursue opportunities elsewhere, a source told ESPN.

Guenther has an expiring contract, and he is expected to be a leading candidate to become defensive coordinator with the Oakland Raiders when Jon Gruden takes that job, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Regardless, Manning wants an opportunity to try to keep his job.

Whether they think (current backup) Davis Webb is the quarterback or they get a quarterback and there’s competition, I can compete, Manning said Tuesday on WFAN (via Newsday). I don’t mind competition. I think that’s always part of it, you’re trying to compete for the starting job and get better. I do want to play. I don’t know how many more years I do have but I do think I can play at a high level and while I can, I want to be out there.

We want him back, Lue said. We need him back. We need a guy who can run pick-and-roll, can score the basketball, can get to the free throw line, can play with pace, can get into the paint. We need that. We’re excited about him. He’s very close. I understand how it feels to want to play, and the medical staff is saying he just needs a little bit more time. He has to be patient. I have to be patient. The players have to be patient.

Indiana lawmaker proposes bill for Colts to give refunds to those offended by players kneeling

An Indiana lawmaker is proposing a bill where the Colts would have to offer refunds to fans if their players were to kneel in protest during the national anthem.

According to the Indy Star, Rep. Milo Smith (R-Columbus) is seeking passage of the bill for Colts’ home games.

To me when they take a knee during the national anthem, it’s not respecting the national anthem or our country, Smith said. Our government isn’t perfect, but it’s still the best country in the world and I think we need to be respectful of it.

The Colts were at the forefront of anthem protests earlier this year on the day the team retired Peyton Manning’s number. That afternoon players from the 49ers knelt during the national anthem prompting Vice President Mike Pence, who was in attendance, to walk out of the stadium and offer up a rebuttal on Twitter.

Following their first losing season since 2011, the Colts face several offseason questions, led by the status of their QB and head coach.

That’s why we do it, why you keep coming back, why you compete, prepare, fight, and scratch and claw and keep digging — for those five minutes. And those five minutes we just had was the best five minutes of my life.

Pagano led the Colts to the playoffs, including reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2014, in each of his first three seasons as coach. The Colts went undefeated in the AFC South in 2013 and 2014. The future appeared to be bright for the Colts and Pagano because they had Luck leading the way for the franchise.

But things started to change in 2015 for the Colts. That was the start of back-to-back 8-8 seasons and missing the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1997-98. Luck played only seven games in 2015 because of a shoulder injury and a lacerated kidney. He continued to battle the shoulder injury for most of the 2016 season.

Despite the mediocre record, Pagano survived the 2016 season and Irsay decided to fire general manager Ryan Grigson and retain Pagano. Irsay said at the time that Pagano, who is under contract through the 2019 season, would be the coach for the 2017 season.