Are the Carolina Panthers the most overrated team in 2020?
By Dean Jones
The Carolina Panthers face a daunting task ahead of them in 2020, but should their roster be considered overrated despite lowly expectations?
It appears unlikely that the Carolina Panthers are going to make a tilt at a Super Bowl in 2020. The roster has had a complete makeover which is further complicated by the lack of time together thanks to social distancing measures surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
New head coach Matt Rhule will be in for a baptism of fire during a schedule that is arguably the toughest in the NFL. While he gets something of a free hit during the first year of the rebuild. The franchise will still need to show some signs of growth heading into another pivotal offseason in 2021.
A recent article from Cole Thompson of Pro Football Network further highlighted the Panthers’ predicament heading into the new season. He claimed that Carolina could be the NFL’s most overrated team in 2020 despite modest expectations regarding this current group.
"It’s safe to say that few believe the Panthers will be a playoff team this year. In reality, more and more are starting to believe that they will be the most overrated team instead. With the Panthers being apart of a loaded QB-driven division and having gone through a change at the helm, some have questioned what they will be able to accomplish in 2020. The problem is, they’re not a 7-9 win team—or a 6-10 roster either. Too many players will need to flourish fast to contend in a division set for competitive action. Their out of division schedule features Kansas City, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Denver — all of whom are viewed as potential playoff rosters. Rhule’s reign in Queen City might end with them conquering all 32 other franchises. For 2020, raise the white flag and continue to improve. It’s going to be a season of surrender and rebuilding until further notice."
While it seems inconceivable for anyone to overestimate the Carolina Panthers next season. To say they are overrated is something of an outlandish statement to make given their lack of ambition, at least from the perspective of mounting a challenge to secure the Vince Lombardi Trophy.