2011 Super Bowl Run Unlikely For Carolina Panthers, Betting Odds Say

NFL News - February 19th, 2010 - Written by John

The Carolina Panthers seem to be heading for a dramatic makeover in 2010. After years at center stage, Julius Peppers is hitting the free agent market, Jake Delhomme appears to be on his way out, and a shaky offensive line isn't guaranteed either. It will be a dramatic change for the team that reached the Super Bowl in 2003, yet found nothing but disappointment since, which makes it a longshot to win the 2011 championship. Bodog has the Panthersl with 35/1 odds to win next year's Super Bowl, according to NFL Betting Lines.

Carolina's best shot to reach the title game again was in 2008, when it went 12-4 and earned the no. 2 seed in the NFC. But Delhomme turned the threw five interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals in the second round, starting a costly streak of 20 turnovers in the next 11 games. Delhomme was fourth in the league in interceptions in '09, before breaking a throwing finger and missing the last five games.

In his place came Moore, a three-year veteran from Oregon State who had only previously seen mop up duty. But, boy, did he take advantage. Moore won four of five, including victories over the Vikings and Saints, and had a 98.5 rating. He threw for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns, and likely did enough to earn win the starting job going forward.

If that's the case, Moore will get plenty of help out of the backfield. No tandem gained more yards last year than that of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who each gained over 1,000 yards on the year. In fact, no other team had two 1,000-yard rushers in '09. Either could be an elite back in the NFL, but for now, it's split time. Williams ran for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns, and Stewart went for 1,133. He got the bulk of the carries late in the year with Williams injured, and had four 100-yard games over the last five.

Both averaged over five yards per carry, and the Panthers run game was third in the league.

Receiver Steve Smith didn't sizzle, but still managed 982 yards and seven touchdowns, four of which came with Moore under center.

But Carolina's defense needed some fine tuning, and will in '10. Sack-leader, Peppers is gone, which means Brown, a sophomore out of Florida State, will see more action at end. Jon Beason led the team in tackles with 142, and had the second-most sacks (three). Four Panthers cornerbacks had at least three interceptions.