CHARLOTTE — Get your snacks and your coffee ready, take a nap if you need to, because it's going to be a late one on Monday. The Panthers (6-5) are playing their first prime time game this season, a Monday Night Football showdown with the San Francisco 49ers (7-4).

The NFC matchup could end up having playoff implications, as the Panthers head into the final quarter of games. Half a game back from the Bucs, who will play Sunday night against the Rams (8-2), this weekend also has the potential to affect the division race.

"It's about consistency and the improvement that has to happen throughout the year is what I'm most proud of," coach Dave Canales said Saturday, of his team putting themselves in this fight.

"We've battled to be in this position that we're in, and now the challenge is to

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