3. 2014 Carolina Panthers
Regular season: 7-8-1 | Playoffs: 1-1
Ron Rivera’s 2014 squad became the second losing team in the Super Bowl era to make the playoffs, following the 2010 Seahawks. And like that Seahawks team, the 2014 Panthers improbably won a wild-card game before elimination in the divisional round. They also became the first team to win back-to-back NFC South titles, for what that’s worth. Cam Newton enjoyed clear development as a passer when healthy, but he was limited to 14 games — missing one late in the season due to a car crash. Although tight end Greg Olsen and receiver Kelvin Benjamin had matching 1,008-yard seasons, the passing game was limited to Newton’s health and availability (as it has been since), and the defense struggled mightily during a six-game midseason losing streak. Still, this team was one year away from a 15-1 season in which it made the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history.