5 Carolina Panthers with everything to lose over final 2 games of 2021
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers have everything on the line heading into the final two games of what’s become a disappointing 2021 season overall?
The season is getting out of hand for the Carolina Panthers after yet another poor home loss at Bank of America Stadium. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made light work of their NFC South divisional rivals in Week 16, which takes Matt Rhule’s to 5-10 after starting the campaign 3-0 against inferior or injury-ravaged opposition.
This is not sitting well with large sections of the team’s fanbase, who made their feelings known on Sunday. Things are becoming more uncertain with every passing week and if the coaching staff cannot somehow salvage something from the season, it might force team owner David Tepper into drastic action if it affects his bottom line.
According to reports, Tepper is planning on keeping Rhule in 2022. But even though there is a temptation for some to take things a little more easily with just two games remaining, most of them have something to lose other than results on the field.
With this in mind, here are five Panthers with most at stake before the campaign comes to a conclusion.
Panther No. 1
Jeff Nixon – Carolina Panthers OC
Firing offensive coordinator Joe Brady during the bye week has not had the desired effect. The Panthers remain anemic, unable to generate meaningful yards, and seem completely disjointed under the tutelage of interim play-caller Jeff Nixon.
This normally indicates that it’s either a scheme problem or the right personnel isn’t in place.
The reality is, it might be both.
A constant revolving door at quarterback and poor execution on the offensive line is holding this team back. Nixon is auditioning for the role long-term, but if things continue in a similar fashion over Carolina’s final two fixtures, it appears unlikely he’ll get a permanent promotion.