Catscan: to complete their run of postseason upsets, the Panthers must follow this three-point plan.(Super Bowl Preview)

Let's be honest. Most of the folks who say Carolina will win the Super Bowl live in the vicinity of Tobacco Road. And many of them may be blowing whacky tobacky vapor up our backsides.

But then how many of us gave the Panthers much of a chance to beat the Rams--in St. Louis--in the divisional playoff round? Or the Eagles--in Philadelphia--in the NFC championship game? So let's not dismiss their chances against the Patriots in a neutral environment.

Only 10 of the previous 37 underdogs won a Super Bowl, but that group includes the last two champions--the Patriots in 2002 and the Buccaneers last year. The Panthers could make it a three-'dog night by following this plan.

Stand their ground. Carolina's M.O. is to control the clock, minimize mistakes and play a low-scoring game. The running game is the backbone of its offense, and coordinator Dan Henning devised a creative blocking scheme in the NFC championship game.

The Panthers came out in what could best be described as an inverted wishbone. Running back Stephen Davis lined up in a customary one-back position, 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Tight ends Ibis Mangum and Jermaine Wiggins joined Davis in the backfield, each of them a few yards behind the tackle on either side. Their role was to block the linebackers. It caught the Eagles off guard. The surprise formation helped the Panthers rush for 155 yards, including 76 by Davis and 60 by DeShaun Foster.

No matter what scheme Henning concocts for the Super Bowl, the Panthers must continue to run the ball to beat New England. "What they need to do is have positive yards on first down," says Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. "If they can do that and have the threat of a run game, they have a chance. If New England takes away the run game, it's going to be more difficult for them."

The Patriots stymied quarterbacks Steve McNair and Peyton Manning, the NFL's co-MVPs, in back-to-back playoff games so it's hard to imagine Jake Delhomme orchestrating an air force. Look for New England to bring strong safety Rodney Harrison into the box as an eighth run defender and try to force Carolina to win by passing the ball. If the Panthers can run, it could open up passing situations in which wide receiver Steve Smith is matched one-on-one against Ty Law or Tyrone Poole. And if Delhomme capitalizes on one of those opportunities, if could mean a quick six.