CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Don’t remind the Carolina Panthers they are 2-0 just like they were last season.
They’ll either say it’s really not the same or they don’t want to talk about it as they begin preparing for their NFC South opener against 0-2 New Orleans.
You can’t blame them.
After last year’s fast start, the Panthers went 1-8-1 before rallying to win their final four games and win the weak NFC South with a 7-8-1 record.
“We were also beat up a lot more,’’ coach Ron Rivera said on Monday when asked about the similarities. “We could look at a lot of things. The bottom line ... I’m not going to look at what happened last year.’’
Rivera is right in terms of there were a lot of issues last season, beginning with injuries in a Week 3 37-19 loss to Pittsburgh that mounted in a 38-10 loss at Baltimore the following week.
Carolina also was dealing with Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy going on the commissioner’s exempt list after Week 2 to deal with his domestic violence case.
“I don’t want to compare this year to last year,’’ defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. “I don’t think that is right. Every year is different. Every team is different. I just know where we are right now.’’
Defensively, the comparisons to this time last year are striking.
The Panthers rank second in the NFL in points allowed with 26 compared to 21 a year ago. They could be first after Monday night’s game between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts. The Jets have allowed only 10 points, but they’ve played only one game.
Carolina allowed 172 yards rushing in its first two games combined last season, 157 this season. It allowed 587 total yards at this point a year ago compared to 565 now.
After allowing 10.5 points in their first two games and looking like one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Panthers allowed 34.8 points over the next five games and 31.0 over the next 10.
This year’s defense appears better, particularly when you consider it has been without middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (concussion) the last six quarters and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (foot) both games.
The secondary definitely is stronger. Only safety Roman Harper remains from the four defensive backs who started Week 3 in 2014.
The defensive line is deeper and more stable. On Houston’s final couple of snaps, with end Charles Johnson on the sideline with cramps because of the heat, the Panthers were able to get pressure with three defensive tackles (Kawann Short, Kyle Love and Colin Cole) and pass rush specialist Mario Addison at end.
Short actually slid over and played the left end spot for Johnson.
“Guys are stepping in and doing an awesome job,’’ McDermott said. “That’s our identity on defense. Next guy up. Toughness.’’
McDermott said similar things last year after Addison, Wes Horton and Kony Ealy stepped up to replace Hardy in a 24-7 victory over Detroit that got Carolina to 2-0.
But, as he reminded, that was then and this is now.
The Panthers are focused on the struggling Saints, not last year, as they should be. They don’t want to be talking again about how the bottom fell out.
