Well, it looks like it’s time to take Steve Wilks’ Carolina Panthers seriously.
A Week 14 win over the Seattle Seahawks now have these cats just one game behind first place in the NFC South and jumping up across the power rankings. Let’s see where they rank heading into Week 15.
Touchdown Wire
Author: Mark Lane
Rank: 26 (+3)
Take: “It is a testament to the Panthers how they haven’t given up to gear themselves for a road date with the Seattle Seahawks and come away with a win. A lot of Carolina’s problem was coaching. They still need to settle on a quarterback for the future in the offseason.”
USA TODAY
Author: Nate Davis
Rank: 20 (+7)
Take: “Win their final four games – all against teams currently with losing records – and Carolina will win the NFC South for the first time since its 15-1 2015 regular season culminated with a loss in Super Bowl 50.”
NFL.com
Author: Dan Hanzus
Rank: 20 (+7)
Take: “The Panthers are alive and well in the NFC South race after an impressive road win over the Seahawks. Sam Darnold played mistake-free football in his second start this season, but Carolina won the game behind a bruising rushing attack that bullied the Seattle front seven in crunch time. Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman combined for 148 of Carolina’s 223 yards on the ground, and Raheem Blackshear put the game away with an 8-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. The 5-8 Panthers control their destiny in the NFC South — win out, and they host a playoff game in January. If they do that, Steve Wilks will have his interim label removed at his NFL Coach of the Year press conference.”
ESPN
Author: David Newton
Rank: 25 (+2)
Take: “The Panthers have been much more efficient since interim coach Steve Wilks took over and committed to the running game. They’ve averaged 154.6 yards rushing and scored 10 rushing touchdowns in their past seven games, a big reason they are 4-4 under Wilks. On defense and special teams, the Panthers are about where they should be: playing at a high level. This defense can travel, and punter Johnny Hekker has been useful.”
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Rank: 25 (+3)
Take: “They are in the playoff mix. Think about that. With Sam Darnold, they could make the playoffs. Amazing.”
Pro Football Talk
Author: Mike Florio
Rank: 19 (+3)
Take: “Steve Wilks is making it harder and harder for David Tepper to not hire him.”
