A few weeks ago, the Carolina Panthers not only looked like an easy favorite to repeat as NFC South champions, but it seemed like they might even present a dark-horse challenge to true contenders in the playoff field. A lot can happen over a short time in this league, though—and right now, Carolina is punch-drunk and looking for answers.

Weeks 7 and 8 served up a pair of embarrassing defeats—one to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were unstoppable on the ground, and the other to the Green Bay Packers on the prime-time stage.

Well, despite their latest loss, the Panthers are in pretty much the same spot as last week's power rankings around the web.

Here's where they stand going into Week 9 . . .

USA Today Sports

Rank: 22 (-3)

Take: What to do when the offense is averaging 16 points and 262 yards during a discouraging two-game tailspin? Fire the defensive coordinator. Naturally.

NFL Media

Rank: 21 (-1)

Take: Carolina has experienced a rough couple of weeks, falling victim to the red-hot Buccaneers defense before going to Green Bay and surrendering an early lead in a Thursday night loss. The most recent result cost defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero his job, but I’m not entirely sure he was the problem. Regardless, the Panthers will move forward at 3-4 with plenty of opportunity to still win the NFC South, but less reason to believe they’ll do so.

ESPN

Rank: 17 (+1)

Take: Best in-season trade acquisition ever - DE Jared Allen in 2015

The Panthers have traded some notable names in recent years, but in-season trades to acquire top talent have been few and far between. Though Stephon Gilmore earned a Pro Bowl bid for his eight games with Carolina in 2021, Allen became a starter for the final 12 games (two sacks and 13 QB hits) of a franchise-best 15-1 regular season. The Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end closed out his career by helping the Panthers get to Super Bowl 50. He was acquired for a sixth-round pick from the Bears and ended up playing 14 games (including the playoffs).

CBS Sports

Rank: 18 (-)

Take: Their optimism from three weeks ago has faded with two losses and the firing of defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. But in a bad division, they are still in it.

Sports Illustrated

Rank: 20 (-)

Take: The Panthers came into Lambeau Field on Thursday down significant pieces on the offensive line (and lost more help during the game) and the secondary. That’s a bad mixture against a Packers team that is rushing the passer extremely well right now and throwing deep better than most.

The Athletic

Rank: 20 (-)

Take: Yes, that was a thing a week ago. Young came into the game second in the league in passing yards per game (285.3), but Thursday was a reminder of his flaws as he was overwhelmed by the Packers’ pass rush (while nursing a bum knee?) on the way to six sacks and a passer rating of 68. The Panthers are probably going to offer Young a new contract, but the cost is going to be fascinating.

Bleacher Report

Rank: 18 (-)

Take: After pacing the NFL in passing yards over the season's first month, he has struggled the last couple of times out. Thursday night in Green Bay, he averaged just 5.1 yards per attempt, threw a pick and was sacked half a dozen times . . . Carolina remains atop the NFC South, but its recent performances raise questions about its ability to sustain that lead.