Carolina Panthers: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season

45

Defense has long been the calling card of this franchise dating back to its first season in 1995. And that has certainly been the case under head coach Ron Rivera, who took over the team in 2011. That first season, the Carolina Panthers had their issues on this side of the ball. When it was all said and done, the club allowed 429 points and 46 offensive touchdowns — the most ever in a single season in the team’s brief history.

In 2018, Carolina defenders unexpectedly took their lumps throughout the year. After limiting the Dallas Cowboys to just eight points in a Week 1 win over the eventual NFC East champions, Rivera’s squad limited only three of its remaining foes to less than 20 points.

A unit that allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the NFL in 2017 fell to 12th in that category. By season’s end, the Panthers gave up 382 (up from 315 in 2017) and 45 offensive touchdowns, including 32 through the air.

This past season, Carolina defenders came up with just 35 sacks, nine by underrated defensive end Mario Addison. General manager Marty Hurney addressed the defensive front in free agency and the draft by signing six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy — the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers — and tabbing Florida State edge rusher Brian Burns with the 16th overall selection in April. That duo could go a long way to making the Panthers’ defensive front fearsome again.