4 big factors behind a possible playoff place for the Panthers in 2021

What are some of the big factors behind the Carolina Panthers potentially mounting a surprise playoff spot during the 2021 season?

Year 1 for Matt Rhule’s Carolina Panthers has come and gone.

Teddy Bridgewater is no more, Sam Darnold is in, Christian McCaffrey is back, and the defense is retooled, rebuilt, and ready to go. So are fans ready to believe this is the year the Panthers return to the playoffs? Or is it too soon to expect so much growth after only one year with Rhule and a retooled roster?

The hype for the 2021-22 iteration of the Panthers has been a healthy mix of good, bad, and ugly.

On one hand, the team is young, hungry, has an interesting mix of veterans, and primed for a breakout with up-and-coming players and coaches.

Yet, on the other hand, the team is inexperienced, dependent on an interesting mix of veterans, and overly confident in up-and-coming players and coaches.

Though the team’s record doesn’t accurately show how much talent the team possessed, there were a reasonable amount of things to be excited for the next few seasons.

The Panthers surprised other teams with an emerging edge presence capable of an All-Pro ceiling, a commanding force pushing the middle, a breakout star in the secondary, and two underrated but elite pass-catching targets.

But what can be reasonably expected for the team that finished third in the NFC South and 5-11 for the season?

To answer this, let’s take a look at three things that could determine what this season may hold.