Carolina Panthers quick start predicts fate of 2019 season
Fate of the Carolina Panthers season to be projected just five days into the 2019 schedule.
In just a few weeks, the Carolina Panthers open regular season play inside Bank of America Stadium against the reigning NFC champions, Los Angeles Rams. While this alone is a difficult task, Carolina also faces a quick turnaround – hosting divisional rival Tampa Bay the following Thursday night in their Week 2 matchup.
Playing two games in five days isn’t unheard of and has actually become commonplace since Thursday night games were introduced. However, starting the year off with two games in the same week is a bit different and something that could potentially make or break the Panthers entire season.
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Entering 2018, only 10-percent of NFL teams made the playoffs after beginning the year with two straight losses (0-2) since 2007. With each game holding the same value, there would obviously be time remaining in order to turn the season around but understanding such a significant majority of teams struggle after back-to-back losses should warrant extra focus – especially if the Panthers fail to break into the win column against Los Angeles.
Over the same time period, opening the schedule with back-to-back wins (2-0) hasn’t necessarily translated into a playoff berth. While over half (57.1-percent) did extend their seasons, the correlation for not making the playoffs with two losses is significantly higher. However, each time the Panthers started 2-0 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017), they did reach the playoffs.
Carolina also started 0-2 twice over the same time period, missing the playoffs in 2011 but managed to overcome the odds and reach postseason play in 2013 after starting 1-3. Going 11-1 in the remaining games, the Panthers finished 12-4, winning the NFC South division before losing in the divisional playoff round.
Next. Preseason Game 2 Takeaways. dark
Despite underwhelming projections and especially after last season, fans can ill afford to get too excited if Carolina wins their first two games or knowing they’ve beaten the odds before, get too low after 0-2 but the odds would not be in their favor.