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With one-fourth of their season completed, the Carolina Panthers are 3-1.
“We're a quarter of the way through,” said quarterback Jake Delhomme. “If we keep it going, we're 12-4 and that'll get us there.”
“There” is the playoffs, a destination the Panthers haven't reached since the 2005 season, when they lost to Seattle in the NFC Championship Game.
Here's what's gone right – and what needs to still be fixed – for the Panthers as they prepare for Sunday's home game against the Kansas City Chiefs:
What's gone right
Jake's arm: The biggest preseason question was how well Delhomme's surgically repaired elbow would hold up.
Answer: Beautifully. Delhomme's throwing arm is as strong as ever, with him completing 60 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and just one interception. Although his 86.8 passer rating is in the middle of the pack among NFL quarterbacks, he'll move up quickly with more games like he had Sunday against Atlanta (294 yards, two touchdowns, 124.8 rating).
That elusive second receiver: After Muhsin Muhammad left for Chicago in 2005, the Panthers spent three seasons looking for an adequate replacement opposite Steve Smith.
They seem to have found that guy: Muhammad. He returned to the team this season and has caught 22 passes for 287 yards.
Kickers: The Panthers chose to use a roster spot on kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd, and he hasn't disappointed. He's got nine touchbacks (leading the NFL) on 47.4 percent of his kicks (more than twice the league average). In the meantime, ever-reliable John Kasay, who struggled with kickoffs last season, has made all eight of his field goals and has moved into a tie for ninth on the NFL's all-time list (366) for field-goals made.
Simplified “D”: The Panthers changed their defensive philosophy, moving to a simpler system that allows players more freedom to go to the ball with abandon. They've already faced some of the NFL's top running backs – guys such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner – and have held each under 100 yards (next up: Kansas City's Larry Johnson). The pass defense is ranked second in the NFC, averaging 172.0 yards.
Home-field advantage: The Panthers were 2-6 at Bank of America Stadium last season, but have won both their home games this season. They're in the midst of a five-game stretch that includes four home games. Taking advantage of that is a priority and would give them a leg up on a late-season stretch that includes four road games in six weeks.
Needs fixing
Yellow flags: The Panthers lead the league in penalties (39, for 251 yards) and had 11 for 90 yards last week against Atlanta. The good news: Only two of those against the Falcons were false starts. Carolina had six false-start penalties two weeks ago against Minnesota in its only loss of the season.
The punting game: Jason Baker is having a solid season (a 37.2-yard net average), but he's had two punts blocked. Also, while the Panthers wait for returner Ryne Robinson to return from a knee injury, replacement Mark Jones has averaged just 8.8 yards per return (his longest is 31 yards).
Offensive line's health: The revamped offensive line is holding together – barely. Stalwart tackle Jordan Gross might miss the next two games with a concussion, and injuries have also brought down guard Travelle Wharton and rookie tackle Jeff Otah at times.
But, after allowing five sacks against the Vikings and constantly flinching for all those false-starts, the offensive line kept NFL sacks leader John Abraham in check on Sunday. The Falcons didn't sack Delhomme once and at game's end his white uniform was as clean as it was at the start – a wonderful sight for an offensive line.
