5 NFL Teams Poised For Regression in 2014

Alex Smith

2. Carolina Panthers (12-4)

Did any contending club have a worse offseason than Carolina?

Up-and-coming quarterback Cam Newton has been deprived of any offensive weapons. DeAngelo Williams is no longer a quality back in this league, and his top targets include journeyman Jerricho Cotchery, aging Jason Avant, and rookie Kelvin Benjamin. Oh, and half of his offensive line has gone rogue.

Defensively, the unit lost a handful of key players, largely in the secondary, one of the more underrated parts of the team in 2013.

Playing in the ultra-competitive NFC South, there’s no way the Panthers vie for a division title this coming season, not unless Newton can literally rip off his jersey and we see a Superman suit underneath.

2014: 5-11

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Sam Spiegelman
Sam Spiegelman is a native New Yorker covering sports in New Orleans. He likes Game of Thrones way too much. Tweet him @samspiegs.