The Atlanta Falcons already have matched the franchise's best record through 12 games, and they're sitting atop the NFC as they ride the crest of a six-game winning streak.
But they can't afford to slip up against one of the league's worst teams.
The Falcons' margin for error is razor-thin - they hold a one-game lead over defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans in the NFC South - as they hit the road to take on the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
It's the first of two meetings over the final month of the regular season, which qualifies as good news for the Falcons. Whereas the Saints face four teams with records of .500 or better to close out the regular season, the Falcons have two dates with the struggling Panthers sandwiched around games at Seattle and at home against New Orleans.
If the Falcons (10-2) falter against the Panthers, though, they would be in danger of slipping from having a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs to playing a first-round game on the road.
Of course, that seems unlikely given the state of affairs in Panthers camp. The Panthers (1-11) have lost six straight since beating San Francisco 23-20 at home on Oct. 24. Carolina jumped out to a 14-0 lead last week against Seattle before surrendering 31 unanswered points en route to a 31-14 loss.
Carolina's offense is in shambles - quarterback Matt Moore, offensive lineman Jeff Otah and running back DeAngelo Williams are all on injured reserve, and rookie Jimmy Clausen is 0-6 as the team's starting quarterback.
The running game has had some success in recent weeks thanks to a spark from Mike Goodson (194 yards, 2 TDs in past four games) and the return of Jonathan Stewart (190 yards, 1 TD in past two games), but Goodson injured his shoulder on a kickoff return late in the Seattle game and his status is uncertain for Sunday.
It might not matter, anyway, against a Falcons defense that ranks eighth in the league against the run, allowing 98.5 yards per game.
Atlanta needed to come back from a 24-14 deficit in the fourth quarter for a 28-24 road win against Tampa Bay last week. Eric Weems' 102-yard kickoff return touchdown closed the gap, and Matt Ryan directed a 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive culminating with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins for the lead.
It was the 13th time in Ryan's career that he has led a winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime, a feat he has accomplished six times this season.
Ryan's favorite target has been Roddy White, who leads the NFL with 91 catches and ranks second with 1,153 receiving yards. Running back Michael Turner also broke the 1,000-yard mark last week - he has 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez sprained his left ankle late in last week's game, but he is expected to play Sunday.