And with good reason.

Whoever wins Sunday night's game on NBC will be the top seed in the NFC playoffs and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Both teams are 11-3 and the winner will capture the head-to-head tiebreaker, which means their Week 17 game will be irrelevant.

Despite being 11-3, the Panthers still haven't clinched anything yet -- and it's possible, although unlikely, they could go from playing for the No. 1 seed in the NFC to not even making the playoffs.

However, the only way the Panthers won't make the playoffs is if they lose their final two games against the Giants and New Orleans Saints and if Tampa Bay, Dallas and Atlanta all win their final two games.

Fox said the Panthers still have to be considered "underdogs" heading into Sunday's game. Of course, he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I know next week is our newest biggest game ever," Fox said with a laugh at his Monday press conference before adding, "(just) like the last three."

However, this really is the biggest regular-season game in team history.

It's the first time in their 14-year NFL history the Panthers have an opportunity to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win.

In injury news, Fox had no updates on defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu (ankle) and right guard Keydrick Vincent (groin). It doesn't sound like Kemoeatu's injury is all that serious, but we'll have to wait until Wednesday to get the official word.