CHARLOTTE - Follow five media outlets throughout the season as their writers update their NFL power rankings, presented by Daimler Trucks North America.
ANALYSIS: "Wins over the lowly Jets and a decimated Saints squad invite some doubts about the validity of their 2-0 start, but the Panthers certainly look like a team that has the ability to hang with the majority of the NFC. Sam Darnold has been efficient and mostly mistake-free behind a sturdy offensive line, while Christian McCaffrey has put the offense on his back in consecutive weeks. The defense has been the real revelation here; led by Shaq Thompson, Carolina continues to swarm the opposing quarterback and put offensive game plans in the blender. The schedule stays soft in Week 3: A Thursday night road trip to Houston to face third-string rookie QB Davis Mills. The Panthers have a chance to hit October with serious momentum."
ANALYSIS: "Fantasy surprise: QB Sam Darnold
You can't say Christian McCaffrey here because nothing he has done is a surprise. So, the nod goes to Darnold who, while not lighting it up, has shown the consistency the Panthers were hoping for when they traded for him. Darnold has three touchdown passes to only one interception, and he also has a rushing touchdown. Most impressive is that he has completed 68.5% of his passes, way up from the 59.8% he had in three years with the Jets."
ANALYSIS: "Matt Rhule has this young team playing good football. The defense has a chance to be special and can really impact a game."
ANALYSIS: "It appears we may have underestimated the Carolina Panthers.
After gutting out a win over the hapless New York Jets in Week 1, the Panthers faced what appeared a daunting task in Week 2: a matchup with a New Orleans Saints team that blew out the Green Bay Packers last week.
The Panthers then outplayed the Saints in every facet of the game during a blowout win of their own.
Quarterback Sam Darnold was sharp, throwing for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Running back Christian McCaffrey played like Christian McCaffrey, tallying 137 total yards and a score. And the Carolina defense was stout, allowing only 128 yards of offense and forcing two turnovers.
"The Panthers have been one of the more surprising teams in the league so far this year," Davenport said. "But it could be a while before we really know how good they are. Their next eight games are all against teams that missed the postseason last year, and they don't face a team that finished .500 or better until they travel to Arizona on November 14."
"Situation matters," Sobleski said. "Darnold is finally being placed in a position to succeed, and the 2018 No. 3 overall pick is finally starting to realize his potential. In his first two games with the Panthers, Darnold has a higher competition percentage, average yards per attempt, QBR and quarterback rating than he ever did during his days with the New York Jets. More importantly, Carolina is 2-0. Maybe Darnold takes a step back over the next few weeks, but he'd still be playing better than he previously did."
ANALYSIS: "Should the Panthers be higher? Maybe. But I thought about the old tried-and-true "who would you pick to win on a neutral field?" method and I'm not ready to put them higher than this. That was obviously a very impressive performance against the Saints, but this is still a young team and I'm interested to see how it handles whatever speed bumps or growing pains pop up along the way."
Carolina is 3-2 all-time against the Texans.
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Terrell McClain (97) against the Houston Texans in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers tight end Richie Brockel (47) rushes for a seven-yard touchdown as Houston Texans strong safety Glover Quin (29) defends in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) flips into the endzone for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Houston Texans tight end Joel Dreessen (85) cannot quite get to the ball as Carolina Panthers strong safety Jordan Pugh (29) defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) against the Houston Texans in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers tight end Richie Brockel (47) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans as Texans fans look on in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) is tackled by Houston Texans strong safety Glover Quin (29) in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) makes a touchdown catch with Houston Texans defender Jamie Sharper (55) in pursuit, during the first quarter, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) catches a pass against the Houston Texans in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett (15) scrambles with the ball under pressure from Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) slips past Houston Texans' Von Hutchins, bottom, for a touchdown in the first quarter of a NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Texans wide receiver Bryant Johnson, center, and Carolina Panthers Captain Munnerlyn (41) and Jordan Senn in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Williams (34) runs past Houston Texans' Jamar Fletcher (21)in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Texans' Ron Dayne (36) runs past Carolina Panthers' Deke Cooper (35) in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to throw the ball downfield during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) works against Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) breaks the tackle of several Houston Texans players for a 74-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 34-21 loss to the Texans in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Texans' Andre Johnson (80) runs past Carolina Panthers' Dan Morgan (55) for a 31 yard touchdown in the first quarter of a NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Houston Texans' Owen Daniels, right, loses the ball as he is hit by Carolina Panthers' Deke Cooper (35) and Chris Harris, top, in the first quarter of a NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. The Panthers recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers tight end Jermaine Wiggins (84) fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Houston Texans Jamie Sharper (55) defends in the third quarter Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in Houston. The Texans won 14-10. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
