Panthers keep history alive in unfortunate projection
Sports Illustrated individual team projections spell mediocrity for the Carolina Panthers…
The Carolina Panthers have endured a significant amount of injuries to not have yet played a meaningful football game as both sides of the football (offense and defense) have suffered losses but none more significant than the offensive line.
Despite losing three potential starters at right tackle, left tackle and left guard, coach Ron Rivera keeps shuffling players around working to find a full time solution – albeit hopefully briefly – until Matt Kalil (LT), Amini Silatolu (LG) and Daryl Williams (RT) can return.
These absences have undoubtedly had an effect on how the media is portraying the Panthers this season but the team has shown little fault during preseason play. If NFL preseason football does anything it displays the depth of an organization by observing their performance level as backups, reserves and those hoping to make the roster increase their playing time. For Carolina, they’ve had some of these type players mixed in with starters since game one searching for suitable options up front and many have exceeded expectations.
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However, Sports Illustrated recently released their “2018 NFL Predictions” and the Panthers are slated to finish third in the NFC South with a 7-9 overall record. The momentum of an 11-5 season quickly forgotten even on the heels of an impressive 3-0 preseason to this point.
A losing record, even with the current injuries, just doesn’t seem fathomable but it would fall in line with their history, not just under Rivera, but all-time. Never has Carolina recorded back-to-back winning seasons, even capturing their division for three consecutive years the Panthers relied on a 7-8-1 record sandwiched between a 12-4 and 15-1 showing.
The Panthers have won 11 games twice before (2003, 2005) following up each with a 7-9 and 8-8 record, respectively. To make matters worse, Sports Illustrated picked divisional rival Atlanta to not only win the division but the Super Bowl.
Next. Panthers Ultimate 53-Man Roster. dark
Carolina visits the Falcons Week 2 in what could be a significant game in terms of the standings later in the season and an early grasp on the division.