CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers coach John Fox has spent much of this week trying to downplay the importance of his team getting the NFC playoffs' second seed and an accompanying first-round bye.

That scenario along with an NFC South championship would materialize if the Panthers (11-4) beat the New Orleans Saints (8-7) today in their regular-season finale at the Superdome, or if the St. Louis Rams (2-13) can beat the Atlanta Falcons (10-5).

Actually, Fox might be on to something.

The past three Super Bowl champions — last season's New York Giants, the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005 — won the league title without a first-round bye.

The Giants (fifth seed) and Steelers (sixth seed) had to win three road games to advance to the Super Bowl during their championship seasons. The Colts were the AFC's third seed in '06.

"The biggest thing we were trying to accomplish over the last month ... was getting in the playoffs," Fox said. "And we've accomplished that. That's the number one goal. There are no guarantees if you're a high seed or low seed."

Since 2000, four teams that have been seeded either one or two in the playoffs have won the Super Bowl.

That's opposed to the decade of the 1990s, when eight Super Bowl champs were the No.1 or 2 seed.

"I think the game has changed," Fox said of the difference. "There is more parity in the league. There were dominant teams in those days. There were some teams that were just flat better. I think the landscape of our league makes everything more equal. I think you're seeing that in college football (and) pro football."

Winning today and having next week off could benefit the Panthers immensely. Injuries have cropped up on the defensive line, where tackle Maake Kemoeatu, a Kahuku High and Utah alum, is questionable for today's game with an ankle injury and the other starter at tackle, Damione Lewis, is doubtful because of a shoulder injury.

Even if Kemoeatu plays, having an extra week to get him completely healthy would be valuable, as it would for Lewis.

Then there's the mental side of things. The Panthers played the Giants last week for the NFC's No. 1 seed. The Giants won in overtime, 34-28.