2. NFC heavyweights continue to struggle
The Panthers and Cardinals met in the NFC championship game last season. Now, after falling to then Falcons and Rams respectively, they have two wins between them. Even worse, quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Cam Newton had to exit early with a concussions.
The NFL most valuable player in 2015 was hit hard enough to suffer the first documented concussion of his pro career for the Carolina Panthers.