Through five games, nine guys had sacks, but all nine had just one. After Week 6, a loss in New Orleans, Tre Boston had pulled ahead for the team lead. The safety had two.
Compare that with what’s happened through five games this season. The Panthers have totaled 17 sacks, good for third-most in the league. And four guys have more than one:
The 37-year-old Peppers has so far looked “like one of the best offseason free-agent pickups in the league,” but the uptick in pressure isn’t just a 2017 thing.
Over their final 10 games last season, the Panthers rallied with 35 sacks to finish behind only Arizona for the league lead.