The Rise of the 2013 Carolina Panthers - JCHISENH2016's Blog

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The Rise of the 2013 Carolina Panthers

Posted on December 29, 2013 at 11:26 PM.

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Imagine, 4 games into the season there is a 1-3 NFL team with a #1 pick QB who has turned into a huge bust and the future looks bleak at best. How many games do you think they'd end up winning? five or six? Maybe they would turn it around and end up a .500 team at 8-8, but that almost seems preposterous. You probably think it would take an absolute miracle just for the team to make the playoffs.

Well, what if they not only made the playoffs, but they won their division? What if they went 12-4 and got a first-round bye with the #2 seed in the NFC?

That is exactly what the red-hot Panthers did this season, as they even defeated the New Orleans Saints late in the season to become one of the NFL's best teams. Their bust QB, Cam Newton, isn't a bust anymore, as he has found his role within the offense and is taking Carolina into the playoffs for the first time in his three year career. Not only is Cam Newton playing well but boy-oh-boy is Ron Rivera coaching well. After the 1-3 start, Rivera's changed attitude and style turned the Panthers into a championship contender.

In the final twelve games of the regular season, Carolina went 11-1 and at one point they were on an eight game win streak with impressive wins over the 49ers and the Patriots.

The surging Panthers are trying to ride their hot streak all the way to an NFL title and at the moment it seems like nothing is stopping them.