Maybe head coach Frank Reich wasn’t just blowing smoke when he said his Carolina Panthers are “close.”
The first chapter in a new era of Carolina football has begun with four straight losses—with defeats to the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and, most recently, the Minnesota Vikings. But this isn’t your typical 0-4 start, folks. Actually, it’s almost impressive.
Buy Panthers TicketsAs noted by former team beat writer for The Charlotte Observer and current CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the Panthers are the first team since 2013 to lose the first four games of their season despite having led in each one of the contests.
The Carolina Panthers are the first team since 2013 to start the year 0-4 despite leading in each of their four games.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 3, 2023
And in case you’re scoring at home, those leads are (or were) as follows:
- Week 1: 10-7 (10:46 left in the third quarter)
- Week 2: 3-0 (7:04 left in the first quarter)
- Week 3: 3-0 (7:47 left in the first quarter)
- Week 3: 10-9 (4:54 left in the second quarter)
- Week 3: 13-9 (2:39 left in the second quarter)
- Week 4: 7-0 (10:27 left in the first quarter)
- Week 4: 10-0 (14:56 left in the second quarter)
- Week 4: 13-7 (end of second quarter)
Well, at least none of them were a 28-3 lead.
Anyway, the last team to “accomplish” this dubious feat were the 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those Bucs finished that campaign, one in which the Panthers rattled off 12 wins en route to an NFC South crown, at 4-12.
