"The Carolina Panthers will look across the Superdome Sunday and see a New Orleans Saints team preparing for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Meanwhile, the Panthers will miss the postseason party for the third year in a row. But many of the team's veteran players believe they are not far from contending again.

"We were a lot of players away last year," said center Ryan Kalil. "This year I think we're really close. And that's exciting.""