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The Carolina Panthers had a tough Week 5, losing 42-24 to the Detroit Lions and bringing their season record to 0-5. Despite this, Frank Reich, the Panthers’ head coach, remains steadfast in his refusal to consider a rebuild. Reich maintains that the Panthers will soon reach their full potential as long as they continue to make progress. However, his unwavering optimism blinds him to the reality that the team is far from being competitive in football.
Now, let’s assess the Panthers’ standing in the NFC South division compared to other teams after another completed week of play.
The general agreement is that the Panthers are the most inferior team in the NFL. This is not unexpected. Reich’s team is the sole team in the league that has not yet won a game. Based on their performance in Week 5, it seems unlikely that this will change in the near future.
| Team | Record | Win% | Points for | Points against | Home record | Away Record | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 3-1 | .750 | 84 | 68 | 1-1 | 2-0 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-2 | .600 | 83 | 96 | 3-0 | 0-2 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-2 | .600 | 96 | 76 | 1-1 | 2-1 | W1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0-5 | .000 | 91 | 144 | 0-2 | 0-3 | L5 |
Trading Up: A big mistake?
The acquisition of Bryce Young appeared to be a game-changing move for the Panthers, but not in the way they had anticipated.
On gameday 5, the Panthers suffered another defeat, leaving them with a frustrating 0-5 record. Aside from the absence of a single victory, the team also had to relinquish their 2024 first-round draft pick as part of the trade with the Chicago Bears to secure the top pick and Young. Additionally, numerous other assets were surrendered to the Bears.
This trade is a stark reminder that the outcome often does not justify the substantial investment to secure a quarterback. While Young’s performance has not been outstanding thus far, this is not the primary concern. There is still a possibility that he may live up to the commendations he received before the draft. The real issue lies in what the Panthers sacrificed to acquire him.
For those seeking a lesson in the detrimental effects of impatience, the Panthers’ decision to trade for their quarterback immediately instead of waiting a year serves as a prime example. Once a direct comparison is made, it will likely reveal a disheartening outcome for Carolina.
The NFC South Odds
The New Orleans Saints are the most favored NFC South team to make the playoffs, with odds of -180, not far off from their preseason odds of -210.
There’s a good chance that this division will have a wild card team besides the division winner. This is reflected in the odds as the Falcons have a price of -135 to make the playoffs, while Tampa sits with -120. North Carolina betting apps still position New Orleans as the lone NFC South team with Super Bowl odds less than 50/1. The Saints have odds of +3500 to win it all, versus the Falcons [+6000] and the Buccaneers [+7000].
The Carolina Panthers, on the other hand, have dropped behind with a 0-5 record. They now have the highest-priced Super Bowl winner odds in the NFL [+75000] and are the least probable team to win the NFC South [+7500].
Offense isn’t the only problem.
While the focus remains on head coach Frank Reich and rookie quarterback Bryce Young, it is important to note the struggles of the Panthers’ defense. Since Week 1, the defense has faced a significant problem.
Despite injuries affecting the team, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has successfully limited big plays in the passing game with his strategy. However, the same cannot be said for the run defense, as it ranks in the lower third of the league in multiple categories.
In five games, the Panthers have allowed 21 explosive runs, which are carries of 10 or more yards. Most of these big plays, 20 to be exact, have occurred on first or second down. As a result, opponents have been able to average 4.86 yards per carry against Carolina, making it the fifth-highest average allowed in the league.