The Panthers have had several solid seasons under John Fox in his first seven years in Charlotte. None of them were as successful as the regular season campaign of 2008, where the Panthers won 12 games and the NFC's top seed. Therefore, none of the postseason losses could match the spectacularity of the crash-and-burn 33-13 head-scratcher to double-digit underdog Arizona at home. Quarterback Jake Delhomme was inked to a longterm extension after the loss, despite fumbling once and throwing five interceptions in the meltdown to Arizona. The executives have basically kept most things the same, preferring the 'status quo' for a 12-win team that just simply picked a bad time to play a bad game.

Get your FREE copy NOW!

Most notably, the Panthers imported defensive coordinator Ron Meeks from Indianapolis after Carolina gave up 31 or more points in five of the last seven games. Stud defensive end Julius Peppers made some offseason waves, saying he's prefer to play in a 3-4 scheme rather than Carolina's 4-3. The team gave Peppers the franchise tag, so he signed for one year earlier in the summer. Peppers' presence and happiness cannot be underscored, as Meeks runs a Cover-2 that is obviously dependent on pressure from the defensive linemen. The secondary was a step slower in 2008 and torched in the playoff loss by Arizona's talented wideouts. Salary cap limitations and a lack of a first-round draft choice limited what GM Marty Hurney could add to his team in the offeseason. On offense, the entire line returns intact, as do running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Depth is a concern up front.

Get your 2009 NFL Football Preview Guide