The Carolina Panthers fell from the top of the NFC South division in 2016 after dominating the competition for three seasons. Since the 2002 realignment and invention of the division no team had won back-to-back championships until the Panthers won three in a row from 2013-2015.
During that span Carolina was 14-4 in divisional play.
The Panthers lost more divisional games in 2016 alone.
Losing both games to the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina’s sole divisional win came against the New Orleans Saints on a Thursday night. Overshadowed by the loss of linebacker Luke Kuechly, it would be the only divisional win for a Panthers team that landed in the basement of the NFC South.