The Carolina Panthers head into the final four games of the regular season tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South. With two matchups against Tampa remaining, the division race is expected to tighten in the coming weeks.
Coming off a bye, Carolina travels to New Orleans this weekend. The Saints beat the Panthers 17-7 earlier this season, and the Panthers hope to even the series as they continue their push for a playoff spot.
This week’s NFL slate features several games with postseason implications. Tampa Bay opens the week on Thursday night when the Buccaneers host Mike Hughes and the Atlanta Falcons.
In high school football, Kinston is preparing for its first state championship appearance in a decade. The Vikings are aiming to bring home the town’s first state title since 1955. Weather-related school closures on Wednesday could limit the team’s practice time, officials said.
WCTI will stream all high school football championship games on its website and YouTube channel beginning Thursday.
At the college level, East Carolina University is losing its defensive coordinator. Josh Aldridge has accepted the same position at South Florida after one season in Greenville. Under Aldridge, ECU’s defense ranked 48th nationally, allowing 20 points per game — the best mark in the American Athletic Conference. Aldridge will not coach in the Military Bowl on Dec. 27, when ECU faces Pittsburgh.
College basketball schedules are light this week as many programs enter final exams.