Carolina's defense is one of the best in the NFL since Week 6 of last season.The winner of the Super Bowl XLVIII rematch between the Broncos and Seahawks on Sunday will likely determine the No. 1 spot in next week's ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings.

Lost in the shuffle though has been one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

Off to a 2-0 start and winners of 13 of their last 14 regular season games, the Carolina Panthers have jumped from 15th to sixth in the rankings, and it’s possible they are even better than last year.

Picking up where they left off

After starting the 2013 season 1-3, the Panthers came back from a bye week and started rattling off wins.

Panthers Ranks Since 2013 Week 6

Since Week 6 of last season, no team has been better protecting the ball. The Panthers committed 10 turnovers over their last 12 games last season and have yet to commit a turnover this season.

Meanwhile, the defense has forced a league-best 27 turnovers during that span and allowed the fewest points per game (14.6).

The Panthers had some big changes in the offseason, but those moves appear to be paying off.

Wide receivers

Much was made of the Panthers overhauled wide receiver corps this offseason, as no wide out on the 2014 roster had ever caught a pass from Cam Newton. But were the old receivers even that good?

The 35-year-old Steve Smith Sr. has gotten off to a hot start in Baltimore but Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr. have combined to catch two passes this season (both by Ginn).

In his 2014 debut, Newton completed 9 of 11 attempts to veteran additions Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery.

Newton went only 2-for-8 to first round pick Kelvin Benjamin, but Benjamin showed big play ability in Week 1 with six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Panthers wide receivers have caught 69.7 percent of their targets so far this season, tied for third best in the NFL. Last season Panthers wide receivers ranked 22nd in catch rate (57.6 percent).

The secondary

The Panthers brought in two new safeties (Thomas DeCoud and Roman Harper) after losing last year’s starters (Mike Mitchell and Quintin Mikell). These changes have led to an improved pass defense so far.

The Panthers allowed 66.6 percent of passes to be completed last season, third worst in the NFL. This season that number is down to 59.0 percent, good for ninth best through two weeks.

Panthers Comp Pct Allowed
15+ Yards Downfield - Last 3 Seasons

The Panthers biggest weakness in the secondary was defending deeper passes, and this year they’ve shown improvement in that area as well.

In Week 2 the Panthers limited Matthew Stafford to 1-of-6 passing with an interception on passes thrown 15 or more yards downfield to Calvin Johnson.

In Week 1, the duo completed 5-of-8 with two touchdowns against the Giants.

Big tests to come

The Panthers bye week doesn't come until Week 12 and they will be tested every step of the way until then. Of their next nine opponents, only one (Falcons) finished with a losing record last season.

During that stretch (and barring injury) the defense will have to face five of the last six Super Bowl winning quarterbacks (Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger) as well as Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, Jay Cutler and Andy Dalton.