The Carolina Panthers were within reach of an improbable NFC South crown this past season. So, have they done enough to close the gap to the throne?
Bleacher Report NFL analyst Gary Davenport thinks they have. Amongst the six players and teams Davenport believes will exceed expectations in 2023 are the Panthers, whose new twosome of head coach Frank Reich and quarterback Bryce Young could have enough backing for an impressive run:
It’s not just about Reich and Young, either. Miles Sanders was a 1,000-yard running back with the Eagles last year. Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark may not be the most imposing wide receiver duo, but both have 1,000-yard seasons on their professional resume.
In edge-rusher Brian Burns, linebacker Frankie Luvu, cornerback Jaycee Horn and safety Jeremy Chinn, the Panthers have talent on defense.
They may not have the most talented roster in the NFC South, but they aren’t that far off—and Reich may well be the division’s best coach.
He’s going to lead the Panthers to an NFC South title in his first season.
If the prophecy is fulfilled, it’ll be the first division championship for the franchise since 2015. That campaign, of course, saw Most Valuable Player Cam Newton lead his cats all the way to a 15-1 regular-season mark and a spot in Super Bowl 50.
Now, no one is expecting Reich and Young to get the Panthers to that point . . . obviously. But if they take a few folks by surprise and finish atop the NFC South, that’d be one heck of a first step for this fresh start.
