7-0 is nice. It’s two more wins than the Carolina Panthers have ever had to start a season. But it pales in comparison to what Ron Rivera experienced as a player in 1985. Sure, those Chicago Bears are considered by many as one of the best teams in NFL history, but remembering back to that 12-0 start can help Rivera in a time like this.

“A couple times I've quoted coach Ditka about trying to keep these guys focused, about rallying around each other, about being careful about being put on a pedestal,” Rivera said Tuesday. "Back then it was wise and I think it's wise."

It’s not like the Panthers are hogging the spotlight. The Patriots, Bengals and Broncos are also unbeaten. Four 7-0 teams is the most in NFL history, doubling the previous high of two, which last occurred in 2009. But the Panthers are the lone remaining unbeaten in the NFC, and an 8-0 start could mean something important come January.

If Carolina beats Green Bay in Charlotte on Sunday, the Panthers will take a two-game lead in the loss column at the top of the conference. That wouldn't guarantee much with half the season left, but it would be a nice head start in a potential race for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Considering the Panthers let the Colts come back from the dead Monday night, it’s probably a bit early to be thinking about No. 1 seeds. Mostly, blowing that 17-point lead was a good reminder of how much work remains.

"I think the timing of it is perfect for us,” Rivera said. "We have an opportunity to play better and we need to.

"I think a team like Green Bay coming in is just going to heighten what the sense of improvement is. Our guys, they work hard, they do a lot of good things. We still make mistakes, but we found ways to win. That's the thing that I think is a huge plus and that's something that a couple years we may not have had that kind of ability. Now I think we do and I think a lot of it has to do with the players in that locker room and the leadership in that locker room."