The Carolina Panthers Offense: A Love Story

Last Tuesday, watching the film on Carolina’s 36-point Week 8 performance against Baltimore, I sent my editors this email:

“I know it's early in our content scheduling for Week 9, but can I claim a story about the Panthers offense? I'm watching their film right now and I think I might be falling in love.”

Head editor Mark Mravic replied, “Who are we to stand in the way of young love?”

My heart fluttered. Rarely do I know my Monday article assignment so far in advance, and I spent the days building up unrealistic expectation for the Panthers against Tampa Bay. Facing an iffy—and familiar—Bucs defense, they’d light it up maybe to such a degree that I could even sensationalize them as a Super…