UPDATE 2015/08/19: WR Kelvin Benjamin out for season with torn ACL
To the surprise of many, the Carolina Panthers made the postseason with a losing record as division champs and even managed to pull off a playoff victory over the Arizona Cardinals before falling to the Seattle Seahawks. With an offense that went into high gear late last season and a consistently stifling defense, the Panthers were expected to be one of the more exciting teams this season. However, with the loss of wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, their chances of being a contender have taken a huge hit.
Read on as we examine what went down during Carolina’s offseason and determine if another losing season or playoff berth (or maybe even both yet again) is in the horizon. Head on over to our coverage of the NFC South itself after this to see if the entire division will remain mediocre or not this season.
[sc:Football ]2015-2016 Carolina Panthers Preview
Overview
With a record of 3-8-1 and a six-game losing streak after 13 weeks of play in the 2014 season, the Carolina Panthers were looking set for a high draft pick for the following year. Instead, the Panthers roared back by reeling off four straight victories, including the division title-clinching finale over the Atlanta Falcons.
And in spite of the embarrassing losing record, Carolina became the first team in the NFC South to become back-to-back division champions. Going for a third-straight division crown is not far from becoming a reality, though. The Panthers still have their top proponents on both offense and defense, and the NFC South happens to be paired up with the equally mundane AFC South on schedule this 2015.
Offseason Review
Make no mistake: Carolina’s offense leans heavier toward the run than the passing game, and running back Jonathan Stewart will finally have his shot at becoming the team’s featured back.
[sc:NFL240banner ]With no more DeAngelo Williams around to share the touches, Stewart can finally get back to his top form from his first two years in the league if and only if he stays healthy. Stewart has not played a full season since 2011, and has missed a total of 20 games in the past three seasons. He finished with 809 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games last season.
However, a questionable decision by the Carolina front office in signing tackle Michael Oher in the offseason might work against the Panthers’ running and passing game alike. Oher – a disappointing acquisition of Tennessee in 2014 – is penciled in to start at left tackle instead of his natural position at right, and will have the daunting yet pun-worthy task of protecting quarterback Cam Newton’s blind side.
If Cam Newton decides to go to the air, he may have some trouble finding a sure set of hands. The team’s number one wide out Kelvin Benjamin went down in a joint team practice with the Miami Dolphins just after week one of the preseason. He underwent an MRI and the Panthers saw their playoff hopes fade with the announcement of the results. The exam revealed an ACL tear and that Benjamin would need season ending surgery.
Don’t count out the air game just yet. Veteren tight end Greg Olsen returns along with speedy WR Ten Ginn Jr to add some much needed experience to the offense. Meanwhile, a little bit of pressure turned into an absolute boat load of pressure for Michigan standout and #41 overall draft pick WR Devin Funchess. His role has increased ten fold thanks to the injury to Cam Newton’s right hand man.
Then there’s Carolina’s defense, which is one of only three in the league to rank in the top 10 in total defense for the past three seasons (Seattle and San Francisco were the other teams). Smashing middle linebacker Luke Keuchly leads the squad with his clinical tackling. He had an NFL-best 153 tackles for 2014. Together with Thomas Davis, Keuchly and the Panthers are well-equipped once again to put opposing offenses to a grinding halt.
As for Carolina’s pass rush, the team will likely have a smooth transition after the departure of troublesome Greg Hardy as long as defensive end Charles Johnson is still with the club. Johnson, an eight-season Panthers lifer, had 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles for the team last year.
Key Player – Cam Newton
The Panthers wouldn’t have as much success in recent years if it wasn’t for the gradual improvement of Cam Newton’s play.
Statistically, Newton had a down year in 2014 compared to his first three seasons in the league. His 3,127 passing yards, 6.98 average yards per completion, 18 touchdowns and total QB rating of 54.4 were all career lows. However, his decision-making ability and desire to win have stepped up as evidenced by his never-say-die attitude in the final games of last season.
He’s also the main reason why Carolina has a lethal rushing attack even without a standout running back in the roster. Newton had 539 rushing yards last year (to go with five rushing TDs) and became the first quarterback in NFL history to post four straight seasons of over 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards.
The self-proclaimed Superman will continue to put his team in prime contention for as long as he deals substantial damage both in the air and on the ground.
Key Game – at Seattle (October 18)
With Jacksonville, Houston, New Orleans and Tampa Bay slated for the first four games of the season in that exact order, Carolina could very well jump out with a blemish-free record before its bye in Week 5. However, the Seahawks welcoming party in Week 6 will kick off a brutal four-game stretch that leads to matches against Philadelphia, Green Bay and Indianapolis right after.
A win at CenturyLink Field will not only avenge Carolina’s 31-17 loss against the Seahawks from last year’s playoffs. It’s also the best time to get the Seattle monkey off of Carolina’s back to finally end the team’s 0-4 record against the Seahawks with Russell Wilson under center.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case Scenario
Cam Newton posts MVP-like numbers with a well-rounded offensive display. Carolina boasts one of the league’s elites defenses with Keuchly receiving some DPOY recognition for his performance. Division champs, plus a playoff run as far as the Conference Championship Game.
Worst Case Scenario
Newton has his worst season as his depleted receiving core and running game underwhelm. The rest of the AFC South makes strides, while Carolina suffers a steep decline to tally less than 8.5 wins en route to finishing no worse than third in the division.
Complete Schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 13 | @ Jacksonville | 1:00 PM |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 20 | Houston | 1:00 PM |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 27 | New Orleans | 1:00 PM |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 4 | @ Tampa Bay | 1:00 PM |
| 5 | Bye Week | ||
| 6 | Sun, Oct 18 | @ Seattle | 4:05 PM |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 25 | Philadelphia | 8:30 PM |
| 8 | Mon, Nov 2 | Indianapolis | 9:30 PM |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 8 | Green Bay | 2:00 PM |
| 10 | Sun, Nov 15 | @ Tennessee | 2:00 PM |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 22 | Washington | 2:00 PM |
| 12 | Thu, Nov 26 | @ Dallas | 5:30 PM |
| 13 | Sun, Dec 6 | @ New Orleans | 2:00 PM |
| 14 | Sun, Dec 13 | Atlanta | 2:00 PM |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 20 | @ N. Y. Giants | 2:00 PM |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 27 | @ Atlanta | 2:00 PM |
| 17 | Sun, Jan 3 | Tampa Bay | 2:00 PM |
Writer’s Prediction
After a hot start, Carolina fizzles in midseason and misses out on the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
On the prowl for some quality wins like the Panthers? Create a betting account now to put your cunning predictions to the test.
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