This season didn’t go as planned for the Panthers, but the team capped a late-season resurgence Sunday by beating a shell of the New Orleans Saints, 23-10. Carolina finished the season on a three-game winning streak to reach 8-8.

Here are five points to ponder now that the offseason officially has begun.

1. Was that John Fox’s final game as the Panthers’ head coach?

Fox just wrapped up his eighth year at the helm in Carolina. He has led the team to two NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl appearance, but the Panthers have now missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons and not won a playoff game since 2005.

Fox has one year left on his contract and while the organization is willing to bring him back, it so far is not willing to extend his deal. That means Fox could either return as something of a lame duck or decide to look for work elsewhere. If this was in fact his final game with the team, Carolina fans owe him a debt of gratitude for what he’s done for the organization.

John Fox could choose to pursue another NFL job rather that return to coach the Panthers for a ninth season.

2. Has Matt Moore earned himself a starting job next season?

After taking over for Jake Delhomme, Moore was consistently solid and occasionally brilliant. He led the team to a 4-1 record and in his final four games, threw eight touchdowns and no interceptions. On Sunday, he completed about 60 percent of his passes and threw a beautiful touchdown pass to Dwayne Jarrett at the end of the first half.

Moore is a restricted free agent but probably will be brought back and made the frontrunner for the starting job ahead of Delhomme or whomever else the team brings in during the offseason. He deserves the opportunity.

3. How good can the Panthers’ two-pronged rushing attack be?

Unstoppable. DeAnglo Williams didn’t play Sunday for the second straight week, allowing Jonathan Stewart to get the start. Stewart broke off a huge 67-yard touchdown run and finished with 125 yards on 16 carries before leaving with an injury in the third quarter.

Stewart’s effort gave him the team rushing lead over Williams, 1,133 yards to 1,117. The Carolina tandem became the first to each break the 1,000-yard mark since the AFL-NFL merger. If both players go into next season healthy, look out.

4. Was Julius Peppers’ late interception his last hurrah in a Panthers’ uniform?

Peppers was Carolina’s first-round pick in 2002 and has put together a great career with the team. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season and has not commented on whether he will return next season.

With an uncapped year coming, the Panthers could put the franchise tag on their star defensive end, which would result in them paying him upwards of $20 million. They might prefer to sign him to a long-term deal, but it’s unclear if Peppers would be willing. It does sound as though the defense’s improved performance down the stretch has made that scenario more likely.

5. What does the future hold for Jarrett?

The big receiver from USC is in his third season with the Panthers after being taken in the second round of the 2007 draft. It’s fair to say he’s been a major disappointment, with just 28 receptions heading into Sunday’s game.

Jarrett hadn’t even played since Week 12 but was active Sunday due to Steve Smith’s injury. He responded with the best game of his career, setting career highs in catches (5) and yards (68), while hauling in his first career touchdown. He also made a beautiful leaping grab to convert a key fourth down. It can take receivers awhile to figure things out in the NFL, but it’s hard to say if Jarrett’s performance Sunday will be enough to convince the Panthers to stick with him.

Dwayne Jarrett stretched for his first NFL touchdown Sunday, but it took him three full seasons to get it.

-- ANDREW SIMON