2014 Week 1 NFC Power Rankings
Carolina Panthers quarterback
Cam Newton. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
9. Carolina Panthers (2013 record: 12-4) Last season finish: Lost in NFC Divisional Round
Week 1 Matchup: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9/7 4:25 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers had a magical run in 2013. After starting 1-3, they would win 11 of their last 12 and find themselves NFC South Division Champions.
Unfortunately, a Superman taunt and bicep kiss would be all she wrote for their playoff appearance. Enter 2014 and the Panthers find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Gone are veterans Jordan Gross to retirement and Steve Smith to Baltimore. Ted Ginn is in Arizona, Brandon Lafell has gone to New England, and Domenik Hixon has departed as well.
Cam Newton is fresh off ankle surgery and needing to gel with new additions Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant, and Kelvin Benjamin. Is Jonathan Stewart finally healthy enough to team with DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert to keep Cam Newton from taking the usual punishment of an entire season?
And I’ll just go out on a limb and say that Luke Kuechly will win Defensive MVP honors this upcoming season. The linebacker is fantastic in all aspects of the game. But the Panthers will need plenty of defensive help to keep them atop the NFC South.