Panthers' dramatic decline proves continuity, momentum are key

One year ago, the word "dynasty" was frequently used when describing the 2015 Carolina Panthers. They had the look of a young team that had finally realized its potential, and would only get better in the coming seasons.

Cam Newton was deservedly the league's MVP, a group of journeymen on the offensive line was giving the quarterback all the protection he needed, Josh Norman and Luke Kuechly led a dominant defense, and the team chemistry appeared to be off the charts.

A week couldn't go by without Newton flashing his million-dollar smile or the team taking another group selfie after a win. The dabs were plentiful, and the Panthers could do no wrong.

Then, the Denver Broncos robbed the Panthers of a perfect ending to their magical season in Super Bowl 50, and in that game, the cracks began to show.

However, optimism still reigned supreme. While Carolina was unlikely to reach 15 wins again, it would surely be a Super Bowl contender again, right?

Newton was a superstar. Kuechly was a superstar. All the building blocks were in place.

Until they weren't. The Panthers' 2016 season is the ultimate evidence that continuity and momentum can be just as important as talent.

In terms of continuity, nothing messed with the Panthers' mojo more than allowing Norman to walk in free agency.

The logic was understandable: Carolina's front office didn't consider cornerback a premium position, so instead of sinking $15 million a year into Norman, they decided the money could be spent better elsewhere.

Problem is, Norman was the lone elite player in an otherwise underwhelming secondary, and the benefits of keeping him far outweighed the risks.

For a team that seemed built on sky-high confidence, on unmatched swagger, it had to kill the Panthers to watch Julio Jones run rampant for 300 yards in Week 4 while knowing they once had a player capable of limiting the All-Pro receiver.

Norman's departure was a sign things were changing in Carolina, but in hindsight, the loss to the Broncos should have shown the Panthers' model wasn't sustainable.

It's likely Newton still sees Von Miller bearing down on him when he tries to sleep at night.

Newton, so often the dominator, was physically overwhelmed and embarrassed by the Broncos' defense during the Super Bowl. They sacked him six times, and made the NFL's recently crowned MVP look mortal.

No dabs. No smile. No answers in the postgame presser.

In Week 1 of the 2016 season, the Panthers had a chance for revenge - a shot at regaining the momentum and confidence the Broncos had stripped them of seven months earlier.

This time, there was no Peyton Manning. Newton should have been the star attraction. Instead Denver's pass-rush took control of the game again, sacking the Panthers pivot three times en route to another win.

Newton hasn't look nearly as dominant since, and the team around him has fallen apart.

No team can avoid injuries, but it can mitigate them to the best of its abilities.

However, it's close to impossible for a defense already without Norman to push past the loss of Kuechly, who suffered a scary concussion against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11.

In the two games without the star linebacker, the Panthers have given up 75 points.

And Kuechly is just the latest in a long succession of injuries for the Panthers, particularly on the offensive line.

Newton's play has dipped in part because he's a streaky passer, even with an MVP award sitting at home. He was sensational last year thanks to the protection afforded him by his offensive line - far from the most talented group, but much more than the sum of its parts.

This season, however, stability has been hard to find. Left tackle Michael Oher has been out most of the year, All-Pro center Ryan Kalil missed multiple games before being shut down for the season, and the rest of the group regressed back to the mean.

Before the Sunday nighter against the Seattle Seahawks, the Panthers were already done. Sitting at 4-7, how could it get much worse?

Tiegate. That's a new low.

As Carolina trotted onto the field to start the game, it was backup Derek Anderson, not Newton, leading the team.

Head coach Ron Rivera benched his star passer for breaking the team's dress code by not wearing a tie, a decision that could fracture an already vulnerable locker room.

The tie that broke the camel's back, as it were.

Every team has to fight through adversity, but Carolina's 2015 team wasn't challenged. Everything fell into place, and the Panthers reaped the rewards.

This season, they've been hit hard, time and time again, and have failed to respond like a truly great team should.