As any Carolina Panthers fan might attest, the beginning of the 2016 season was shocking and utterly confusing. Aside from cornerback Josh Norman leaving to Washington, the Panthers didn’t lose any big-time players from last year’s team that compiled a 15-1 record, which included winning 14-straight games. Yet, there the Panthers were, 1-5 and in the cellar of the National Football League.
Going into the bye week, head coach Ron Rivera was searching for an answer to the Panthers’ woes. He called for two days of practice and then, unconventionally, told his team to take a break from football for a few days.
“I told them I want them to get away from it,” Rivera told the Charlotte Observer. “Don’t read anything, don’t watch anything, don’t listen to anything. Just get yourselves ready to come back focused in and start right back to work the following Monday.”
As counterintuitive as this strategy may seem, it appears to have worked.
Coming off of the bye week, the Panthers took on the Arizona Cardinals in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game. With both teams limping into this season’s matchup, a stark contrast to last year’s playoff battle, the Panthers again emerged victorious, defeating the Cardinals 30-20.
Carolina slugged out a close game in Los Angeles Sunday, defeating the newly minted LA Rams 13-10 behind a pair of field goals by kicker Graham Gano. After having three of its five losses this year come from a combined total of seven points, the Panthers may have recovered last year’s ability to get the ‘W’ in close matchups.
With the win yesterday, the Carolina Panthers now sit at 3-5. While still in last place in the NFC South, it is important to note that the team still has a viable shot at the playoffs. The division-leading Atlanta Falcons currently sport a record of 6-3, putting them only two-and-a-half games ahead of fourth place Carolina.
In between the two teams sits New Orleans and Tampa Bay at 4-4 and 3-5, respectively. With every team still needing to play each other once more before the season ends, the opportunity for Carolina to win out and take the divisional crown for a fourth-straight year is very possible.
Still, some may argue that the Panthers, having already lost to all three division rivals, have no shot of winning the division. Additionally, of its remaining eight games, Carolina faces five teams that currently hold above .500 records.
While it will be difficult for the Panthers to win the division, the team is only two games behind the current NFC Wild Card leading New York Giants (5-3) and a half-game behind the second team in running for the Wild Card, the Detroit Lions (5-4).
After Sunday’s win in LA, quarterback Cam Newton expressed optimism about the second half of the season. When speaking to the press after the game, Newton said that the season has “turned around before our eyes.”
Rivera expressed his thoughts on his team after the game yesterday as well.
“I feel pretty confident about who we are as a football team,” Rivera said.
Many fans believed that the return of No. 1 wideout Kelvin Benjamin from last year’s ACL injury would surely give Charlotte the Super Bowl win it so desperately yearns for. After losing on a Gano missed field goal in Denver to start the season, however, the Panthers played uncharacteristically, rattling off four-straight losses.
Watching the Panthers’ previous two wins, some may say that they saw glimpses of last season. Their inability to prevent opposing offenses from scoring has been trimmed down, allowing only 30 points combined in wins against Arizona and Los Angeles after allowing 41 in the loss to the Saints.
With Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil and left tackle Michael Oher currently sidelined with injuries, the Panthers’ offensive line has been simply terrible. Newton has played well, despite the amount of hits he takes every game. During Sunday’s win, Newton was sacked on five separate occasions.
As Carolina welcomes the Kansas City Chiefs to Charlotte this upcoming Sunday, the Panthers look to extend their win streak to three. The Chiefs (6-2) have won four-straight games, and head into town with a head of steam.
Unexpectedly, this season has been a roller coaster ride for the Carolina Panthers, but the second half of the year holds shimmers of hope.