Carolina Panthers: Rationale for Return

The Carolina Panthers are in the window now. Can they get back to the Super Bowl this year?

The Carolina Panthers will be in preseason play in less than a month. Most recently we saw that Cam Newton did not win the individual honors at the Espys that he was nominated for. Of course no one expected him to win either. Those titles are awarded to players who win Championships, not to mere NFL MVPs. Cue LeBron James winning those awards.

For Newton to have a stab at next year’s Espys, the Panthers will have to win a Super Bowl. That is easier said than done since the losing Super Bowl team has not returned to the big game since the 1993-4 season (Hi Buffalo). The track record for losing Super Bowl teams even making the playoffs the next season is pretty grim.

So why would the Panthers be any different? The fantasy football experts are certain that Newton doesn’t have top 30 value this year. Their best cornerback wears a red jersey in Washington right now. Their Achilles heel against Denver went barely addressed during the off season. Jonathan Stewart is another year older.

The experts have not given up on the Panthers though. Regularly the Panthers are picked to win the NFC South again. Vegas likes the Panthers to return better than any team to get there other than the New England Patriots (Tom Brady revenge mission).

So what is going that would give the Panthers the edge in making it back? There are several factors including divisional strength, Newton’s progress, defensive consistency, and is probably about the Benjamin.

Next: Division Strength