The Carolina Panthers may not be the worst team in the NFL, but they don’t make a compelling case for it. After another loss that was just as uncompetitive as the first two weeks of the season, the current power rankings in the NFL are once again unkind to the team.

Vinnie Iyer’s weekly power rankings are out for Week 8, and Panthers fans will have to scroll for a while again to find their team. At 1-5 and a -133 point difference in 2024, that shouldn’t be a surprise. What might be surprising, however, is that they are not ranked 32nd.

That honor goes to the Cleveland Browns, although 31st place, where the Panthers currently stand, isn’t much better. Iyer was brutal in his assessment: “The Panthers are now in a complete offensive collapse, regardless of the QB, and it doesn’t help that their defense is an injury-riddled mess that can’t stop them.”

Andy Dalton threw two interceptions and managed just 93 yards in three and a half quarters. His pick six on the first drive effectively ended things as the Panthers were near the red zone when he turned an errant screen pass directly to Dante Fowler and failed to make the tackle. Bryce Young came on in relief shortly after the two-minute warning for three plays (a run, a short pass and a screen).

Things are not looking good for the Panthers at the moment, as Iyer so aptly pointed out. The excitement on offense that was present when Dalton was installed is long gone. He had four interceptions in the last two weeks. The defense, which is missing virtually every playmaker except Jaycee Horn, is as porous as any unit in the league.

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