Carolina Panthers: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season

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Obviously, Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback Cam Newton wears No. 1 and was the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He’s had some ups and downs during his eight-year career to date. And this offseason, the 30-year old performer underwent shoulder surgery and hopes to get his team back in the playoffs after the club finished 7-9 this past year.

Ah, the postseason. It’s odd to think that Ron Rivera’s club won the NFC South three straight seasons from 2013-15. That final campaign featured a 15-1 win-loss record with Newton capturing NFL MVP honors. The Panthers would reach Super Bowl 50 and would fall to the Denver Broncos, 24-10. One year later, the club dropped to 6-10 and in last place in the NFC South.

In 2017, it was 11-5 and back to the playoffs. This past season, 7-9 and third place in the division. Some would say the pattern is a direct reflection of head coach Ron Rivera’s and Newton’s lack of consistency. But the fact is that the Carolina Panthers first took the field in 1995 and still haven’t posted consecutive winning campaigns. Of course, that won’t happen in 2019.

As the franchise enters its 25th season in the league, it will be interesting to see if the Panthers rebound in a big way in 2019. And can they start to build a consistent winner over the next few years?