I knew Carolina had played a soft schedule, but didn't realize their opponents are 9-22. I think that is misleading, b/c I still like SEA. And tough (or at least as tough as it gets this year) slate; @SEA, PHI, IND, GB
Saw this post at work this afternoon, but didn't have the time to research and write up a response then. I don't get this line of reasoning honestly. First, Carolina's opponent record is 9-20, but you shouldn't count the losses that Carolina handed their opponents in the equation. So Carolina's opponents' records in games outside of playing Carolina is:
Jacksonville: 1-4
Houston: 2-3
New Orleans: 2-3
Tampa Bay: 2-2
Seattle: 2-3
Total: 9-15 or a 0.375 winning percentage. Admittedly weak.
But let's take a look at the opponent's win percentage of the other undefeated teams:
New England:
Pittsburgh: 4-1
Buffalo: 3-2
Jacksonville: 1-4
Dallas: 2-2
Indy: 3-2
Total: 13-11 or 0.542. Strong, NE has definitely played the best/toughest schedule of the undefeated teams.
Cincinnati:
Oakland: 2-2
San Diego: 2-3
Baltimore: 1-4
Kansas City: 1-4
Seattle: 2-3
Buffalo: 3-2
Total: 11-18 or 0.379. Very similar to Carolina's 0.375.
Green Bay:
Chicago: 2-3
Seattle: 2-3
Kansas City: 1-4
San Francisco: 2-3
St. Louis: 2-2
San Diego: 2-3
Total: 11-18 or 0.379. Again, quite similar to Carolina's 0.375.
Denver:
Baltimore: 1-4
Kansas City: 1-4
Detroit: 1-4
Minnesota: 3-1
Oakland: 2-2
Cleveland: 2-3
Total: 10-18 or 0.357. Worse than Carolina's and 5 of those 6 games were wins by 7 or less points.
So, yes, Carolina hasn't played a murderer's row of a schedule, but let's not act like the other undefeated teams sans NE have played impressive schedules either. In fact, it's only because of the "names" of the teams that Carolina has played that they assume the Panthers have played by far the worst schedule of the 5.