4 surprising factors during first quarter of Panthers 2022 season

Carolina Panthers have the same problems

This was supposed to be the year that head coach Matt Rhule finally got the Carolina Panthers to a competitive place. Perhaps even sneaking into a wildcard spot if everything went better than expected.

That might still be the case. But through four weeks of the 2022 season, it’s proving to be yet another unmitigated disaster for the former Baylor man.

The Panthers just haven’t been able to get themselves over the line in key moments. What’s more frustrating is the same complications seem to be holding them back and there is no development transpiring from many players drafted by the current regime.

Rhule and the Panthers have just one win from their last 10 games dating back to last season. They are 1-25 when an opposing offense scores more than 17 points, which is simply unacceptable and not befitting a successful NFL franchise.

Time is running out for Rhule regardless of whether he has David Tepper’s full support or not. Most fans are already done with his methods and lack of adjustments in games or during game week preparations, with the coach already being linked with some vacancies at the college level given his current job status.

Most scapegoats for Carolina’s failings under Rhule have already been removed from the equation. If Rhule cannot make a better go of things during a tricky series of games leading up to their Week 13 bye, then that might be all Tepper needs to cut his $62 million experiment short.