Carolina Panthers fans could be forgiven for thinking that this was going to be another lost season earlier in the campaign. Things didn't begin as anyone would have liked, but head coach Dave Canales finally kick-started his squad into life at long last.
The Panthers are riding on the crest of a wave right now. They are 5-4 through nine weeks, and although things are going to get tougher later in the schedule, this project appears to be on the right trajectory after years of languishing among the league's bottom feeders.
That doesn't happen without some shocks along the way.