The Carolina Panthers' 2014 season was one of wild ups and downs. Sitting at 3-8-1 following a Week 13 loss to the Vikings, it looked like house-cleaning time. Ron Rivera would be fired, Dave Gettleman's seat may warm, and even Cam Newton's status as a franchise quarterback could be called into question.
Five straight wins later, the Panthers had not only taken an NFC South championship but had also advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs. The run would end following a firm backhanding by the Seahawks, yet it was more than enough to keep everyone around in 2015.