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Carolina Panthers: Discouraging 2019 early offseason ranking

By Brandon Scott

FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers looks on during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers looks on during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Carolina Panthers rank in bottom half of the league to begin 2019 season.

The Carolina Panthers were off to a hot start last year before a shoulder injury to quarterback Cam Newton derailed the season. Winning six of eight during the first half, Carolina lost seven in a row following and although football remains a  team sport, the contrast in performance was evident.

In eight games, Newton completed 67-percent of his passes for 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Adding four more scores on the ground, Newton was playing at an MVP level but after a hit from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt his effectiveness waned.

Over the next six games, the Panthers franchise quarterback maintained his high completion percentage (68-percent) but his touchdowns dropped to nine and he had an equal number of interceptions, without scoring on the ground.

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The downfall kept Carolina in games but they couldn’t find ways to win and it was recently revealed that down the stretch, Newton was unable to throw the football more than 30-yards down the field.

As a result, the Panthers finished 7-9 and the newest offseason rankings for 2019 reflect their second half performance. Despite optimism for a healthy Newton next season, ESPN ranks Carolina No. 19 to start the year.

A lot rides on Newton’s ability to be productive and, if healthy, the Panthers should contend for a return to the playoffs. However, the departures of some key figures already this offseason, including Thomas Davis (free agent), Ryan Kalil (retirement) and Julius Peppers (retirement) leaves a cloud of uncertainty lingering over both sides of the football.

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Third in the NFC South, the Panthers fall behind New Orleans (No. 3), Atlanta (No. 18) and only rank above Tampa Bay (No. 24).

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