Will the Carolina Panthers go undefeated?

It’s hard to see someone slowing down the Carolina Panthers with the pace they are on, but can they capture one of the most elusive feats in the NFL?

The Carolina Panthers improved to 11-0 with their dominating performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving afternoon. Although Carolina’s MVP candidate Cam Newton threw for just 183 yards in the game, the Panthers wiped out Dallas 33-14 on the strength of two defensive touchdowns. The relentless Panthers’ defense forced Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo to throw three interceptions before ending his afternoon early with a left shoulder injury.

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Granted, this wasn’t the 1993 Dallas Cowboys that Carolina dispatched, but by doing it on the road and making it look fairly easy is still impressive to me. That being said, can this Carolina Panthers team that failed to produce a winning record last year actually run the table this year and make history by being the NFL’s first 19-0 team?

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First of all, I think Carolina’s balance is going to be tough to match. Even if Newton doesn’t explode offensively for a bunch of yards, Carolina’s defense has proven to be more than capable of winning a game. Allowing just 19.1 points per game this year, Carolina ranks fifth in that department. Plus with the NFL’s fourth ranked rushing attack, Carolina knows how to take the air out of the football late in games to close teams out.

But the question about going undefeated really doesn’t have much to do with how good Carolina is. I think it has more to do with whether or not it is the best interest of the team to go after a 16-0 season. Strangely enough, the NFL has two remaining unbeaten teams this year with the New England Patriots (10-0) being the other. As we recall in 2007, New England flirted with history and ended the regular season at 16-0. However, New England’s historic season was spoiled in the Super Bowl by the 10-6 New York Giants.

I could be wrong, but with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I don’t think future teams will go all out to try for an undefeated season. For top-seeded teams that have eyes on a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the main goal of the regular season is usually to secure the best record in the conference and then rest the first-stringers. Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick eschewed this philosophy and rolled the dice for a chance at making history. Belichick would have probably gotten his wish had it not been for a backup wide receiver named David Tyree.

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In the end, Belichick’s brazen attempt at running up the score and keeping his starters in the lineup late in games was not what derailed New England’s shot at perfection. But rather, a fluke catch on a perfectly defended pass was what did the Patriots in. Nonetheless, I think the stigma of knowing how New England’s storybook 2007 season ended will deter the next coach like Ron Rivera from going for the gusto. Who knows, maybe even Belichick himself will pull in the reigns on his team this year if he has another chance at finishing 16-0.

A head coach may not see it in his team’s best interest to fire all of their bullets for a chance at an undefeated season. Another fly in the ointment is the opposing teams. An opposing team like the New Orleans Saints or New York Giants that are stumbling through mediocre seasons may look at the Panthers as not just another opponent, but as a shot at redemption. A shot to right all the wrongs of a frustrating season. From this point forward, Carolina’s and New England’s unblemished records will almost act as a bulls eye that every team will be aiming for.

I really admire the job that Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera has done with this group. Slowly but surely, Carolina has built a ferocious defensive unit with great depth and playmakers at all three levels. Re-acquiring Ted Ginn Jr. has been a great addition to Carolina’s offense and special teams unit, and the Panthers haven’t missed a beat despite the loss of DeAngelo Williams on offense and trouble maker Greg Hardy on defense.

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However, I just can’t see another NFL team going undefeated, or for that matter, wanting to go undefeated. Once the Panthers clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs as expected, I anticipate “River Boat” Ron Rivera to play it safe and save his starters for more important matters; the NFL playoffs.