2.) Turnover Troubles

The Panthers have done a pretty good job avoiding giveaways under Rivera, finishing in the bottom half of the most turnover-prone teams in each of his first five seasons. But through Week 5, Carolina’s 14 turnovers are the most in the league.

Last season, the Panthers led the NFL with a +20 turnover margin. Now? Only the Jets, at -9, have a worse turnover margin than Carolina’s -7.

“Sometimes it happens that way,” Rivera said. “You make your own luck. Their quarterback fumbles the ball; it rolls back to him and ours, it rolls away. It’s just uncanny sometimes.”