Written by Pablo Figueroa at Sporting Charts
Before the 2015 NFL season started, the thoughts on the Carolina Panthers were full of questions regarding their immediate future. The loss of running back DeAngelo Williams suggested that the offense was finally ready to abandon its power rushing approach and instead allow QB Cam Newton to be the focal point. Already with four years of NFL experience, Newton entered 2015 still at the tender age of 26, so the franchise was banking on that potential to propel Carolina to new heights.
Still, prognosticators were not impressed. The Panthers finished the offseason with a Vegas over/under of 8.5 wins, right around the same number of its NFC South counterparts, with the Falcons listed at 9 wins and the Saints at 8. The thought was that again the South would be a lousy division, and any of these three teams had similar opportunities to hover around .500 and contend for a weak playoff spot.
Instead, the Panthers blew by that total on Week 10, Newton has become the frontrunner for MVP, and the Panthers are on the verge of making history. It’s important to remember at this point that just last season, Carolina stood at 3-8-1 with many wondering if the Auburn alum was the right quarterback for the future. From that point on, the Panthers have won 17 straight regular season games, a Wild Card playoff contests, and with their only loss coming shorthanded against the eventual NFC champs. This turnaround has been stunning for the franchise, who had never even surpassed 12 wins over a full season before.
Carolina’s +168 point differential is the best in the NFL, and while it suggests the acumen of a 10-win team, everyone needs a bit of luck if they want to go 13-0. Even while the Panthers have looked erratic from time to time, they’ve had the pulse to win close games (5-0 in games decided by a touchdown), while also taking 7 double-digit victories. They are first in points scored and fourth in points allowed, while both their total offense and defense rank in the top 10. They also lead the league with a +18 turnover margin, with #2 Kansas City being far behind at +12. In many ways, the Panthers have been the best team in the NFL, and have the look and the numbers that prove it.
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