The Carolina Panthers went out in Week 2, threw 51 passes with a battered Cam Newton in an uncharacteristic approach, and lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their own stadium. After a few weeks of sound Panthers defense, pounding the rock, and some heart-pounding moments characteristic of the Cardiac Cats during times of success, the Panthers came out and inflicted their brand of football (sans Cam Newton) and won.
The Panthers brand of winning football since Ron Rivera took over has never been pretty, as they run the football ad nauseum and play defense in a way that looks to capitalize on mistakes by the other team.