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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers are playing their first home NFL playoff game in almost a decade Saturday.
The Panthers are facing the Los Angeles Rams, a team they beat in November, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
Charlotte is buzzing as the city hosts the game on its home turf. This week, there were several events to celebrate before the game, including a pep rally and Sound the Drum Tour.
Members of the Carolina SuperFans United group who attend every home game wearing Panthers gear, masks, wigs and hats are excited to cheer on the Panthers.
Friday, Sonjia Howard was putting the final touches for her gameday outfit in her Panthers-themed craft room.
“A lot of times, if you put your own ideas and creativity into your own [out]fit, you’re going to come out looking like exactly the way you want to, and you’re going to feel proud because you did it,” Howard said.
Howard has been a Panthers fan since 1998.
“I’ve been through a lot of players and a lot of games, ups and downs, ebbs and flows. I’m sticking with them, my team,” Howard said.
In 2021, she became a superfan and is known as Pink Fan Fur. She attends home games and some away games sporting pink, blue, black silver and glittery outfits.
“We keep them energized,” Howard said.
In 2022, she retired from the military and moved to Charlotte because of the Panthers.
“I live in this state, the Queen City, North Carolina, to be a Panthers fan, that Panthers fan and go to these games,” Howard said.
Howard is looking forward to attend the Panthers playoff game Saturday. The last time the Panthers made it to the playoffs was in 2017.
“It’s very important that we make the playoffs because that’s what we do. We try to make it to the Super Bowl, and it’s very hard so I feel very happy that we did,” Howard said.
She’ll be sharing the excitement with Jamanda Moore, a new superfan known as Carolina Show Stopper.
“I kind of feel shaky a little bit because I know they want it. We want it, and this is our time to literally show up and show out, so I am ready. I’m ready to be pumped,” Moore said.
Moore said after a season of ups and downs, she believes if the Panthers execute in the beginning they can beat the Rams again.
“I feel like they have finally found their strengths, their weakness and actually just really believing in themselves,” Moore said.
Howard said she even dreamt the Panthers won.
“We’re going to be so freaking happy. We’re going to be so elated over the moon because I know once we beat the Rams, we’re taking it all the way to the house,” Moore said.
They plan to join other fans Saturday at a tailgate hosted by the Roaring Riot before heading to the game to cheer on the Panthers.
If the game doesn’t go their way, they still plan to continue supporting the Panthers next season.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
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Estephany Escobar
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