Here's where the Panthers stand in various power rankings following their 52-21 Thursday night loss to the Steelers.
Panthers rank: 7th (3rd in NFC)
Previous rank: 6th
NFC South: Saints 1st, Panthers 7th, Falcons 16th, Buccaneers 26th
This week's opponent: Lions 24th
Beyond the numbers: While some may try to write Carolina off after Thursday's debacle, Elliot Harrison considers it to be an "anomaly" based on the team's overall performance. The Panthers now have three losses, all of which are on the road. Two (Falcons and Redskins) were one-score defeats. "Maybe it's not time to panic yet," writes Harrison.
Panthers rank: 9th (5th in NFC)
Previous rank: 6th
NFC South: Saints 1st, Panthers 9th, Falcons 18th, Buccaneers 26th
This week's opponent: Lions 24th
Beyond the numbers: Carolina's defense has been solid overall - they're ranked 15th in total defense - but, as David Newton pointed out, the red zone has kept them from being "elite." The Panthers' 83.3 opponent red zone scoring percentage ranks next-to-last behind the Buccaneers (87.5).
Panthers rank: 9th (5th in NFC)
Previous rank: 6th
NFC South: Saints 1st, Panthers 9th, Falcons 20th, Buccaneers 26th
This week's opponent: Lions 24th
Beyond the numbers: Analyst Gary Davenport has been very vocal on how he feels about Carolina, good and bad, and this week was no different. "Some will chalk this up as just a bad night, and Lord knows everything that could go wrong did. But this was also a whuppin' that exposed Carolina's flaws," wrote Davenport. "The Panthers may be a playoff team, but it's hard to view them as a Super Bowl contender after that beating." We'll just have to see about that.
Panthers rank: 9th (5th in NFC)
Previous rank: 6th
NFC South: Saints 2nd, Panthers 9th, Falcons 20th, Buccaneers 25th
This week's opponent: Lions 23rd
Beyond the numbers: Frank Schwab still views the Panthers as a quality team but called the Steelers game "concerning." Allowing 14 points in two plays doomed Carolina early, but every team deals with short turnarounds and now that Carolina's is out of the way, it's time to regroup and refocus for the last chunk of the season.
Panthers rank: 10th (5th in NFC)
Previous rank: 7th
NFC South: Saints 1st, Panthers 10th, Falcons 18th, Buccaneers 25th
This week's opponent: Lions 27th
Beyond the numbers: Going backwards is never good for a team on the rise, but that's what Pete Prisco thinks of the Panthers' defense after Week 10. Prisco feels that "the chance to win the division is slipping away" for Carolina, though playing its next four games against teams currently with sub-.500 records could provide a boost to those hopes.
