Two seasons ago the Carolina Panthers were the darlings of the NFL. They nearly ran the table and settled for a 15-1 regular season record and a trip to the Super Bowl. Little did anyone know that a loss to the Broncos in the Big Game would be a massive turning point for the franchise. Cam Newton didn’t play well, the Panthers offense was stymied and the torturous run continued into last season. Newton was banged up and missed time with injury. He should be ready from offseason shoulder surgery and No. 1 pick Christian McCaffrey should help the offense improve. But will it be enough to climb back to the top of the NFC South?
NFC South Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta Falcons +154
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +283
Carolina Panthers +267
New Orleans Saints +415
Why the Carolina Panthers Will Win the NFC South
The biggest reason for optimism in Carolina is the return to form of Newton. He was the league’s MVP just two seasons ago, but it seems like much longer. His fall, as well as that of the team, was rapid, going from 15 wins and a Super Bowl appearance two years ago to 6-10, no postseason and last in the division in 2016.
Newton is only 28 and should have some good years ahead of him as long as the injuries don’t hit. He started 14 of his 15 games last season, but took a beating that even his large frame couldn’t overcome. The damage limited his overall effectiveness as he completed a career-low 52.9 percent of his passes. His 14 interceptions were also his most since his rookie season.
The offense will have a new look to help protect Newton from overzealous defenders. McCaffrey gives the team a pass catching threat out of the backfield and could easily match the production in that area from last year when Jonathan Stewart and Fozzy Whitaker combined for 34 receptions.
The Panthers saw their points per game average drop from a NFL-best 31.3 in 2015 to 23.1 last year. An increase in production could be all they need to turn six games lost by three or fewer points into victories, moving them up the standings.
The Panthers were hurt on defense last year when the secondary was blown up prior to the start of the season. During the year Luke Kuechly got blown up and missed the last six games with a concussion. Kuechly is back along with Thomas Davis to anchor a defense that was average. Help in the secondary from sophomores James Bradberry and Daryl Worley could make them great.
Why the Carolina Panther Won't Win the NFC South
Maybe we’ve seen the best of Newton and last season was a sign of things to come. If that’s the case, the Panthers have no chance in the quarterback-dominated division. Newton was abused last season and the punishment had an effect on his play. Opposing defenses were able to take his game away and the Panthers saw their efficiency plummet.
We could say Newton will have a bounce back season, he is relatively young after all. But just how he responds to offseason shoulder surgery will tell us a lot about what kind of offense Carolina is going to have. And how does Cam adjust to being a thrower and not a runner? The plan is for Newton to not take unnecessary abuse, that’s why McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel were taken early in the draft.
There are issues with the defense, too. Kuechly missed six games with a concussion and he’s barely hanging on to his career. Davis is in his mid-30s and likely won’t be the terror he was in years past. The pass defense struggled with several rookies in the secondary and although they got better as the season went on, continued strides are needed.
And let’s not forget about the rest of the NFC South, which has produced the conference champion in each of the past two seasons and is possibly the best division in the NFL. The Falcons are poised for a return trip to the Super Bowl. Tampa Bay has the pieces and could easily be the surprise of the league. And don’t sleep on Drew Brees and the Saints. A few unfortunate mistakes or injuries and the Panthers could find themselves in the basement again.
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