The Carolina Panthers are 5-3 heading into this week’s game at San Francisco. The winning record so far this year comes despite:
• A Carolina running back rushing for 100 yards or more in a game only once so far this season (DeAngelo Williams had 120 yards against the New York Giants).
• Matching that, exactly once this season has a Carolina play had 100 or more receiving yards in a game (Brandon LaFell, 107 yards against Minnesota).
• Steve Smith has been the Panthers’ leading receiver by yardage only once so far this season (69 yards, against the St. Louis Rams). Greg Olson has led the team in receiving yards three times so far this season while Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn, Jr. have each led the team in receiving yards twice.
These are indeed strange times we live in.
