Welp. The only real positive going forward is knowing that in the 2014-2015 season, LOTS of changes were made on defense (many departures, and additions of Revis, Browner, ETC.), and they lost season opener, then lost 4th game of season and started 2-2, BEFORE going on to WINNING the Super Bowl. (They gelled together and communicated better since)
But man.. this defense just looks WAY WORSE than that 2014-2015 team though.
Stephon Gilmore occasionally makes good plays, but then gets burned and has penalties like that. YEESH.
But as bad as the secondary was, lets be real.. they are forced to cover receivers for almost 10 seconds every single play just b/c our pass rush is TRASH. I mean, notice how once the Pats FINALLY got pressure on Cam.. the Panthers drives stalled quickly (and almost stalled again before that BS Gilmore penalty).
Unfortunately that pressure from pass rush only seems to come in spurts and the remaining 3.5 quarters are spent seeing a QB take 10 seconds to burn our defense.