Carolina's Time Is Now

The year after a good year hasn't historically been kind to the Carolina Panthers.

The franchise had three winning seasons before last year, and all three were followed by big dives. A 12-4 record in 1996 became 7-9 in 1997; 11-5 in 2003 dropped to 7-9 in '04; 11-5 in '05 slipped to 8-8 a year later.

Carolina has an all-time record of 115-119, which is the very definition of mediocrity.

So in that light, what should we expect from the Panthers in 2009, a year removed from a 12-4 performance that was their fourth winning season ever? A slide back to average (or worse)? More wins? The same? A South championship repeat? A second consecutive trip to the playoffs?

Here's a hint: The time is now for Carolina. Let's take a closer look:

Question 1: Can Carolina post two winning seasons in a row for the first time in franchise history?

Answer: If John Fox, Jake Delhomme and the rest of the gang can't do it this season, there won't be any excuses. Every single starter from '08 is back (assuming Julius Peppers stops holding his breath and suits up for what would be his final go-round in Charlotte), so at the very least Carolina should reach 9-7 and that unprecedented milestone.

Question 2: Can Carolina set another franchise record with 13 wins in 2009?

Answer: Everybody back or not, that one's going to be tougher. A lot tougher. Make that a whole lot tougher.

With 12 wins comes a more daunting schedule outside of your division, and compounding the challenge is that the South also looks like it will be at least as good as last year when it was the toughest division in football. It's impossible to overstate how difficult the Panthers' slate is this year.

Dates with the likes of Detroit, Oakland and Kansas City certainly didn't hurt the cause in '08, but in 2009 that comedy show, which combined for seven victories, will be replaced with a political thriller, rated R for violence and adult situations.

The Panthers play Miami, the defending AFC East champion, as well as New England, which didn't make the playoffs despite going 11-5 without Tom Brady (he's back), and the New York Giants, the NFC's top seed with a 12-4 mark in '08. Only Miami is at home.

Carolina also travels to Dallas and the New York Jets—both of which were 9-7 and are expected to be better. And we're not done.

Also on tap is Minnesota, which beat Carolina handily last year on its way to a 10-6 record and the NFC North title. To open the season, the Panthers host Philadelphia, the NFC runnerup in 2008, and travel to Arizona to take on the Super Bowl runner-up Cardinals.

And don't forget 11-5 Atlanta twice, 9-7 Tampa Bay twice and 8-8 New Orleans twice. That would be an injury-riddled 8-8 New Orleans that boasts the best offense in the NFL.

Only 7-9 Buffalo and 8-8 Washington, both at home, could remotely be described as breathers for Carolina, and the hard truth is the Panthers could be better than last year and not win 10 times. Thirteen is out of the question.

Question 3: Can Carolina repeat in the South, and, if not, will the Panthers at least make the playoffs?

Answer: When it's all said and done, this is all that matters. The short answer is Carolina has as good a chance as anybody to win the South, and with the Panthers' returning talent, anything short of that will have to be called a failure (even though Atlanta is probably just as good, and New Orleans and Tampa aren't far behind).

Helping Carolina's cause is that Atlanta and New Orleans play many of the same tough out-of-division opponents thanks to the NFL's rotating schedule, though the Falcons get the 7-9 49ers and the Saints open the season with the 0-16 Lions at home and travel to 2-14 St. Louis later in the year.

Whoever wins the South will have to go at least 4-2 against the rest of the division, and while the Eagles made the playoffs with nine wins a year ago a team would be foolish to think it can get in without at least 10.

Can the Panthers pull those two feats off? On paper, yes.

But the difficult schedule and a division that offers no relief mean Carolina has almost no margin for error.

Delhomme can't get hurt (even Jake haters can't deny what happened in '07 without him). Peppers must sign and remember he's playing for his rapidly shortening NFL future. And new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks has to shore up a depth-challenged unit that was gutted several times last season.

Still, all things considered, a team coming off of a 12-4 season couldn't ask to have more going for it a year later. The offense is legit and was unstoppable by the end of the season. The defense suffered from lack of depth and poor coaching—both of which have been addressed.

Barring a catastrophic run of injuries—which is always possible in the NFL—Carolina is one of a handful of teams to beat. Those seasons don't come around often. The Panthers had better make the most of it.