6-0

Even the most optimistic Carolina Panthers fans couldn’t have seen this coming.

The best start in franchise history? After losing WR Kelvin Benjamin in the preseason, LB Luke Kuechly for one month and DE Charles Johnson for two? Winning in Seattle and against an Eagles’ offense capable of picking the Panthers apart? Nah, there’s no way. But as cheesy as it sounds, the Panthers have started a season with six straight wins for the first time because they’re playing as a team.

Sunday night against the Eagles, QB Cam Newton wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t MVP-worthy. His top target, TE Greg Olsen, had a modest three receptions.

The Panthers didn’t win thanks to one or two individual performances. They won because a handful of guys made a bunch of plays. Guys like WR Ted Ginn, who led the Panthers with five receptions and broke off a career-best 43-yard run. Or RB Jonathan Stewart, who had the best night for a rusher against the Eagles in more than a year.

Then there was the offensive line, which gave up eight fewer sacks than it did last year in Philadelphia, a defense that made Chip Kelly’s exciting offense look anything but and special teams units that made dangerous returner Darren Sproles a non-factor.

One of the reasons the Panthers haven’t gotten a lot of attention is because they have just two true stars nationally — Newton and LB Luke Kuechly. But as this season is reminding us, the NFL isn’t like the NBA. Stars don’t win football games in bunches. Teams do.

“[ESPN reporter] Sal Paolantonio said, ‘It’s in the bag,’ right? Well, he can take his bag and go barf in it,” cornerback Josh Norman said. “That’s how I really feel to be honest with it. I think it’s the flavor of the week.

“Everybody continues to doubt our team. As you see, it was a team win again tonight.”