Carolina Panthers remain on course for embarrassing NFL record

A complete collapse in 2021 has the Carolina Panthers on course for a rather embarrassing NFL record when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18.

After things started so well for the Carolina Panthers this season, another campaign of abject failure was confirmed some time ago. Just where the organization goes from here will shape its short and long-term future this spring.

Losing football is par for the course since team owner David Tepper bought the Panthers from Jerry Richardson. Four straight seasons of mediocrity or worse is not a good look, but all signs point to the billionaire keeping head coach Matt Rhule in the job for the 2022 campaign despite almost no progression in Year 2 of his tenure.

Judging by Carolina’s opponents in 2022, things could yet get worse before they get better. A far cry from some projections after a dominant opening that saw the Panthers at 3-0 following wins against the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Houston Texans.

As it turned out, any increased expectations were fool’s gold. Yet more hopes diminished no matter what Rhule is trying to sell during his press conferences.

It’s just not good enough. Something that could lead the Panthers to an unwanted and embarrassing NFL record with defeat at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18.

Carolina Panthers could make NFL history at the Bucs.

According to Scott Fontana of The New York Daily News, citing Pro Football Reference as a reference, the Panthers are one more loss away from finishing with the league’s worst-ever record for a team that started 3-0.

This comes with the addition of a 17-game season but is far from ideal nonetheless.

"The Carolina Panthers are one loss away from finishing with the worst record in NFL history for a team that started 3-0. The 2001 Chargers and 2012 Cardinals went from 3-0 to 5-11. Panthers would be 5-12 if the Buccaneers beat them Sunday."

This is obviously a damning indictment of how things are actually transpiring in Carolina. The pressure is well and truly on those in power and Rhule’s performance – coupled with his final say on personnel decisions – is coming in for heavy criticism.

Rhule looks like a man out of his depth. Both in terms of coaching in-game, preparing his players, or evaluating at the pro level.

The former Baylor man has his work cut out this offseason if Tepper gives him a reprieve as expected. Most fans have already seen enough, in all honesty, but they aren’t the ones cutting the checks when it’s all said and done.

Rhule still sees things differently from many on the outside looking in. His process is “1,000 percent working” according to a recent interview and even after another disappointing loss at the Saints, he was far more positive than most during his Monday presser.

"“You can say whatever, the offense, that was a team yesterday, anyone could see they played really hard and they played as a team and had tremendous energy and fought.”"

Talk is incredibly cheap at this stage. Gaining a dubious NFL record and finishing the campaign 5-12 would no doubt give Tepper some pause for thought when it comes to Rhule’s future.