SI NFL Power Rankings: Panthers Aren't the Worst Team in the League

Carolina may be the only winless team, but they may not be the worst team.

It's been a miserable start to the season for the Carolina Panthers, dropping all six of their contests heading into the bye week. No one saw this coming. Even 2-4 would have been respectable with a rookie starting at quarterback and a new coaching staff at the helm.

But 0-6? Ouch.

The good news is, the Panthers' slate gets a little "easier" after the open week with dates with Houston, Indianapolis, and Chicago. It's not a guarantee that the Panthers will get back on track but one could assume that with the staff Frank Reich has assembled, they will get things figured out and start collecting a few wins here and there.

Despite being the only winless team in the NFL, Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr doesn't have the Panthers at No. 32 (dead last) in his latest power rankings. Instead, he has them at No. 31.

"The move to Thomas Brown as a play-caller is worth watching in Carolina. I’d actually thought the entire operation in Carolina looked better each of the last two weeks. It makes me wonder how involved Brown was leading up to last week’s opening script. We’ve written about Brown here. His roots in the McVay system—and his experience marrying a run and pass game together—should help."

So who could possibly be worse than the 0-6 Panthers? For Orr, it's the New England Patriots.

"The Patriots faked the cool field goal block thing! Did you see that!? That was neat. Totally worth the re-watch of that game. Totally worth the time in my life I won’t get back. In all seriousness, the rest of this season should be an audit. Bill Belichick said it best: the Patriots need to start over. Keep Jabrill Peppers for finally doing something about all the free space Las Vegas was gobbling over the middle of the field and knocking loose an interception, though."

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