PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Playoff hopes deader than the pine needles on a Christmas tree in January. Injuries everywhere. The empty feelings created when six months of work, sweat and preparation lead to nothing but losing.

The Carolina Panthers know how the Pittsburgh Steelers feel now that their season has dissolved into the despair of defeat, their self-confidence in a shambles and the end to a six-game losing streak nowhere in sight.

Look in the mirror, the Panthers say, and they see themselves a year ago, when they were 2-12 and had nothing to look forward to but coach Dom Capers' firing.

That's why the Panthers (7-7), suddenly back in the NFC chase after winning four of five games, insist Sunday's game at Three Rivers Stadium will be much like a playoff game.

Approach it any differently, Pro Bowl quarterback Steve Beuerlein says, and they risk losing everything to a team that is 5-9 and has nothing to lose.

One of four NFC teams tied at 7-7, the Panthers must beat the Steelers and New Orleans on Jan. 2 and hope Dallas, Green Bay and the New York Giants all lose at least once.

"I don't think we'll get caught up in it, because there's still so much to do," Beuerlein said. "But it is exciting. You sit back and reflect about last year at this time, and we were pretty much on the outs.

"It's harder in that situation to get yourself motivated, but you've got to find a way. Right now, if you can't get yourself motivated knowing you're in the playoff hunt, then you're in the wrong business."

Barely a month ago, the Panthers were 3-6 and seemed finished; the Steelers were 5-3 and appeared to be positioning themselves for their annual run at the playoffs.

But the Panthers took off as soon as Beuerlein did, beating Green Bay with a game-winning touchdown run while throwing 15 TD passes in the last five games. For the season, he has 3,851 yards passing, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

By contrast, Steelers quarterbacks Kordell Stewart and Mike Tomczak have 28 touchdown passes combined the last two seasons.

The 37-year-old Tomczak will start again despite throwing four interceptions in a 35-19 loss at Kansas City last weekend because, coach Bill Cowher said, "He gives us the best chance to win our last two games."

But, just as they did last year by losing their final five, the Steelers are unraveling in December. Their defense, No. 1 in the NFL a month ago, finally crumpled after getting little support from the offense. It has yielded an average of 231 yards passing the last four games.

The blocking for Jerome Bettis has been so erratic, he still needs 107 yards for his sixth 1,000-yard season in seven years. It won't help that the depleted Steelers are down to their third tight end, their third right tackle and their second center.

"I still want to get 1,000 yards," Bettis said. "I have a lot to play for, I'm not really anxious to get out of here just yet."

Adding insult to their many injuries, the Steelers won't have a Pro Bowl representative for the first time. And team president Dan Rooney labeled their play "unprofessional" following home-field losses to AFC Central rivals Cleveland, Cincinnati and Baltimore.

The Steelers have been outscored 86-49 the last three games and, at 1-5, are assured of their worst home record since Three Rivers opened in 1970.

"But they won't have a U-Haul in the parking lot," Panthers cornerback Eric Davis said. "They won't have the car keys dangling. That organization is too proud."

There might be thousands of empty seats in a stadium that has sold out for every game since 1972. There were nearly 13,000 no-shows Dec. 12 against Baltimore, and there will probably be more than that Sunday.

"We have to approach it as if it were a two-game season now," said Stewart, who will see extensive playing time at wide receiver. "That's the best way to look at it now and do something positive with it."

However, the Steelers have done little against contenders down the stretch the last two seasons, and Carolina is one of the NFL's hottest teams.

"It doesn't stop here," said wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who had three touchdown catches last week against San Francisco. "It doesn't stop with .500. We want to play better than that. I think we're going to be a tough team to play against these next two games."

CAROLINA Season schedule and results

PITTSBURGH Season schedule and results

September 12 @New Orleans L 10-19 September 19 Jacksonville L 20-22 September 26 Cincinnati W 27-3 October 3 @Washington L 36-38 October 17 @San Francisco W 31-29 October 24 Detroit L 9-24 October 31 @Atlanta L 20-27 November 7 Philadelphia W 33-7 November 14 @St. Louis L 10-35 November 21 @Cleveland W 31-17 November 28 Atlanta W 34-28 December 5 St. Louis L 21-34 December 12 @Green Bay W 33-31 December 18 San Francisco W 41-24 December 26 @Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET January 2 New Orleans 1:00pm ET

September 12 @Cleveland W 43-0 September 19 @Baltimore W 23-20 September 26 Seattle L 10-29 October 3 Jacksonville L 3-17 October 10 @Buffalo L 21-24 October 17 @Cincinnati W 17-3 October 25 Atlanta W 13-9 November 7 @San Francisco W 27-6 November 14 Cleveland L 15-16 November 21 @Tennessee L 10-16 November 28 Cincinnati L 20-27 December 2 @Jacksonville L 6-20 December 12 Baltimore L 24-31 December 18 @Kansas City L 19-35 December 26 Carolina 1:00pm ET January 2 Tennessee 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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