Here's where the Panthers (2-1) stand in various power rankings following their Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and heading into Sunday's game at the Baltimore Ravens.
NFL.com
Panthers' rank: 13th (6th in NFC)
Previous rank: 4th
NFC South: Falcons 10th, Panthers 13th, Saints 14th, Buccaneers 31st
This week's opponent: Ravens 9th
Beyond the numbers: Elliot Harrison doesn't even mention the Steelers game in his analysis, instead pointing ahead to Sunday's game against former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith's new team, the Baltimore Ravens. Carolina is moving on as well.
FoxSports.com
Panthers' rank: 7th (4th in NFC)
Previous rank: 4th
NFC South: Panthers 7th, Falcons 9th, Saints 19th, Buccaneers 32nd
This week's opponent: Ravens 10th
Beyond the numbers: Dan Schneier moves the Panthers down fewer spots than anyone else while noting that Carolina's offensive and defensive fronts struggled against the Steelers.
CBSSports.com
Panthers' rank: 11th (5th in NFC)
Previous rank: 5th
NFC South: Falcons 7th, Panthers 11th, Saints 18th, Buccaneers 30th
This week's opponent: Ravens 9th
Beyond the numbers: Pete Prisco asks what happened to the Panthers defense while wondering out loud whether the Steelers game was an aberration or a reality check. Time will tell.
ESPN.com
Panthers' rank: 10th (6th in NFC)
Previous rank: 6th
NFC South: Falcons 9th, Panthers 10th, Saints 15th, Buccaneers 31st
This week's opponent: Ravens 13th
Beyond the numbers: ESPN notes that Carolina allowed the Steelers 244 rush yards between the tackles, the most by any team in a single game since ESPN's Stats & Info began tracking such things in 2006.
NBCSports.com
Panthers' rank: 15th (9th in NFC)
Previous rank: 6th
NFC South: Falcons 9th, Saints 11th, Panthers 15th, Buccaneers 32nd
This week's opponent: Ravens 7th
Beyond the numbers: While the other four rankers keep Carolina within the top six of the NFC, Mike Florio drops the Panthers to ninth in the conference and third in the division.
