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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Thomas Davis remembers the feeling in his stomach the previous time the Carolina Panthers hosted a playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals.Its something I dont want to relive, the Panthers 10-year veteran outside linebacker said Tuesday.Nor do Panthers fans.Six seasons ago the Cardinals, a 10-point underdog and a team that had shown little ability to win a game east of the Mississippi River, came into Charlotte and clobbered the NFC South champion Panthers 33-13. Carolina entered the game with a 12-4 record, but Arizona forced six Jake Delhomme turnovers.It was tough to lose that game — especially to lose that game the way we did, said Davis, one of six holdovers from that 2008 team.On Saturday, the Panthers (7-8-1) are seeking to get even when they host the Cardinals (11-5) in a wild-card game.Its been six years but Im still mad about this game (and motivated by it). running back DeAngelo Williams tweeted this week, posting a highlight video of the game with a picture of the score.Added fellow running back Jonathan Stewart: I remember how well things were going throughout the season and then you get to the playoffs and you stink it up.The loss marked a turning point in Panthers history.It not only ended Carolinas bid to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2003, but also sent the organization into a spiral.Things began to crumble.Delhomme was released one year later, general manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox were let go the year after that, and the Panthers would go 23-41 over the next four seasons.Carolina didnt return to the post-season until last year, falling to San Francisco 23-10 in the divisional playoffs.We went into a drought, Davis said. We dont want that to happen again. We have back-to-back playoff years going and we want to build off that.Centre Ryan Kalil said there are lessons to be learned from that defeat — namely that anything can happen in the post-season regardless of your record.The Panthers are in just such a situation to use that as motivation.Carolina is only the second NFL team to qualify for the post-season with a losing record in a non-strike-shortened season. The other is the 2010 Seattle Seahawks, who went 7-9 but won a home playoff game over New Orleans.There are a lot of good teams in the NFL, Kalil said. There are a lot of teams that dont have a great records — but that doesnt mean theyre bad teams. It just means other teams have been a little better than them. Anybody can beat anybody, and you better believe that.Said Stewart: It tells you that no matter what you do during the regular season, it just doesnt matter. Things amp up to a whole different notch in the playoffs.For the 31-year-old Davis, the four-year run with a playoff appearance is a reminder for him to leave everything he has on the field Saturday, because he doesnt know when hell be back in the post-season.If we have another drought like that I may never get to go to the playoffs again, he said.The mood this week at the teams facility has been relaxed and loose.Coach Ron Rivera stood behind a podium on Tuesday and said he feels as if the Panthers are playing with house money after winning their final four games to get into the post-season when it appeared their season was over after a 3-8-1 start.But the Panthers are now playing with confidence.We have a lot of momentum right now and were just going to continue to ride that, Davis said.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Authentic Wholesale Nike Shoes . 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Nike Shoes China .C. - Goodyear has warned teams that increased speeds at Charlotte Motor Speedway will put a heavy emphasis on the right front tires in Saturday nights race a€” a potentially key development for drivers trying to advance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.Hosting the Grey Cup game was often the kiss of death for CFL teams. Prior to 2011, only three clubs had ever won it as the host city -- the 1994 B.C. Lions, 77 Montreal Alouettes and 72 Hamilton Tiger-Cats. But B.C. and the Toronto Argonauts have bucked that tradition with convincing Grey Cup victories in their home stadiums the past two seasons. This years Grey Cup will be played Nov. 24 at Mosaic Stadium. But recent history has convinced Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin that his team is destined to reap the benefits of home-field advantage playing the big game before its rabid fans. "If it was guaranteed like that, then Id start playing the 6-49 and find a pattern there," Chamblin said with a chuckle. "If I had to put a percentage on it, Id say Ive thought about that (continuing recent Grey Cup trend) maybe one per cent. "I honestly think it just happens that way, I dont think guys play with any extra juice or anything like that. Now, it would be great being at our house but I dont think about whats happened the last two years." The 2013 season kicks off Thursday night with Winnipeg hosting the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field. The Bombers were scheduled to move into the new stadium last year but construction delays forced them to remain at Canad Inns Stadium. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit Toronto on Friday night to renew their long-standing rivalry. The Argonauts are scheduled to unfurl their 2012 championship banner prior to the contest. Later on Friday, the B.C. Lions are at Calgary in a rematch of last years West Division final won by the Stampeders. The Edmonton Eskimos host Saskatchewan on Saturday to cap the opening week. Saskatchewan last won the Grey Cup in 2007 but came agonizingly close in 2009 when Damon Duvals 33-yard field goal on the final play earned Montreal a 28-27 victory. Duval had missed from 43 yards out to seemingly give the Riders a 27-25 win, but a too many men penalty gave Duval a reprieve from 10 yards closer. The Riders will look to improve last years 8-10 record that left them third in the conference before losing a 36-30 semifinal decision to Calgary. GM Brendan Taman took steps in that direction this off-season, signing defensive back Dwight Anderson, linebackers Rey Williams and Tristan Black and defensive linemen John Chick and Ricky Foley as free agents while trading for defensive lineman Jermaine McElveen. But his biggest move was acquiring slotback Geroy Simon from B.C. in January. The six-foot, 198-pound Simon is the CFLs all-time receiving yards leader and needs just 29 catches to break Ben Cahoons league mark of 1,017 career receptions. "Theres definitely a sense of excitement around here with all the additions that have been made," said Foley, the top Canadian in Torontos 35-22 win over Calgary in the 100th Grey Cup last year. "As a veteran, I know you dont win the Grey Cup on paper and every team made moves in the off-season to put themselves in a position to win it. "But I think its known around the league what this team has done, the guys theyve brought in and what theyre trying to do and theyre making that push for the hometown Cup." Simon was a two-time Grey Cup champion and six-time all-star over 12 seasons in B.C. but missed five games last year with hamstring ailments. He finished with 54 catches for 700 yards and two TDs, the first time in 10 seasons Simon hadnt cracked the 1,000-yard receiving plateau. Saskatchewan is counting on the 37-year-old returning to form and taking some heat off speedy Weston Dressler (94 catches, 1,206 yards, 13 TDs). "Obviously, his on-field play speaks for itself," said Taman. "His value to our team on and off the field is going to be immense.dddddddddddd "Geroys got some points to prove to a lot of people he still can play so I think theres a lot of bonuses to doing it." The addition of Simon certainly boosts Saskatchewans experience level, but Chamblin said a successful squad needs a blend of veteran savvy and youth. "If I was a position coach, Id just take the younger guy because Id want to mould him my way," Chamblin said. "But as far as being a head coach, youve got to have a balance of both." Getting out of the West Division wont be easy for the Riders as B.C. (league-best 13-5 record last year) and Calgary (defending conference champions) both look strong. New Edmonton GM Ed Hervey takes over a team that despite its 7-11 record still made the playoffs last year. Meanwhile in Toronto, quarterback Ricky Ray and CFL MVP Chad Owens both return to help the Argos defend their title. But gone are defensive linemen Foley, Ron Flemons and Kevin Huntley (both released), Armondo Armstead (New England Patriots, NFL) and Adriano Belli (retired), linebackers Black and Ejiro Kuale (free agent, Montreal), defensive backs Jordan Younger (retired), Pacino Horne (released) and Evan McCollough (free agent, Hamilton) and kicker/punter Noel Prefontaine (released). Two East Division clubs will sport new head coaches in 2013. Kent Austin, who guided Saskatchewan to its 07 title, returns to the CFL sidelines with Hamilton while Dan Hawkins takes over in Montreal. Austin takes over a Tiger-Cats squad that finished tied with Winnipeg with a league-worst 6-12 record. Austin, a Grey Cup champion as a player, assistant coach and head coach, faces two big challenges with the Ticats. Theyre minus big-play receiver Chris Williams, who remains embroiled in a bitter contract dispute, and must play their home games in Guelph, Ont., while a new facility is being built where venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium once stood. The Ticats are scheduled to move into the new stadium, which will host the 2015 Pam American Games soccer competition, next season. Hawkins, 52, begins his first season in Canada with huge shoes to fill. He replaces Marc Trestman, who guided Montreal to a 59-31 regular-season record and two Grey Cup titles in five years before becoming the Chicago Bears head coach. Hawkins spent the last two seasons as a college football analyst at ESPN but possesses an extensive NCAA coaching resume. He has little familiarity with three-down football, but Trestman also had no previous CFL coaching experience when he arrived in Montreal. Fortunately for Hawkins, quarterback Anthony Calvillo, 40, returns for a 20th CFL season. Pro footballs all-time passing leader flourished under Trestman, winning two Grey Cups and two CFL outstanding player awards while being named a league all-star three times over their five seasons together. But Calvillo isnt the leagues oldest player. That distinction belongs to B.C. kicker Paul McCallum, 43, who is gearing up for his 20th CFL campaign. Ironically, with Ottawa slated to return to the CFL next season, McCallum is the lone remaining active player to have played for the former Rough Riders franchise, which folded in 1996. The CFL wont have RONA as a national sponsor this year and Scotiabank is scheduled to leave at seasons end. But its new TV deal should soften the blow. League sources say the CFLs five-year agreement with TSN/RDS is worth about $43 million annually, almost triple the existing deal which expires at seasons end. This years 77 league games (72 regular season, four playoff and Grey Cup) will be televised. The 2014 broadcast schedule will expand to 84 contests with Ottawas expected return. ' ' '