Raleigh NC| Carolina Panthers Defy Preseason Expectations

Team Continues To Surprise “Experts”

I know I’ve already written one blog about the Carolina Panthers, and I’m sure that all of you remember that I concluded by saying that the Panthers would win the Super Bowl.  Well, it’s more than halfway throug the regular season and who would have thought that it’s actually possible?

The Carolina Panthers have a record of 7-2 and are the third best team in the NFL, and things are looking to get better!  Their last seven opponents include the winless Detroit Lions, the abysmal New Orleans Saints, and the mediocre Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers.  However, they must also face the defending champion New York Giants, and division rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.

If the Panthers can win three of their four “easy” games, and play well enough to win two of their more challenging games, then a record of 12-4 is very possible.  Not to mention that they would also win their division, resulting in a bye week for the first week of the playoffs, something they haven’t accomplished since their run to the Super Bowl in 2003.  Coincidence?  I think not!

At the beginning of the season, Sports Illustrated predicted the Panthers wouldn’t even make the playoffs.  They discussed how the preseason antics of Steve Smith (Smith punched a teammate resulting in a two-game suspension) would divide the team and how they would be unable to recover from such a devastating event.  Now all the Panthers need is three more victories to lock in a wild-card spot.

It’s funny how in only two months a team can go from complete oblivion to being the focus of attention for much of the league.  Football isn’t the only area that this holds true for.  In business, a company can have no publicity or only negative publicity, but as soon as their number rise, or they start performing well in the community or in the business realm, it becomes hard not to hear good news about them.

Or maybe it’s not the media, but it’s just a rocky start to the year, or conflicts within your organization.  Maybe different departments or sectors aren’t communicating well on a project.  Every company goes through times like this, but the important thing to worry about is how you handle the tough times and ensure that your company comes out unscathed.

The Panthers did just that.  They ignored the negative press, handled the problem internally, and got back to business.  And now here they are; a team on the rise and a team that the rest of the league is starting to worry about.

Does your organization need a PR firm?  MMI Associates is a full-service public relations firm located in Raleigh, NC.  Please visit the MMI Associates website for more information.  Any questions? Give us a call at (919) 233-6600.