CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Here’s a look at the first half of the season for the Carolina Panthers (3-5) and a preview of what to expect in the second half:

Grade: D+. The plus is for winning two straight after a 1-5 start. But you can't take away the 1-5 start. The biggest difference in this roster and the one that went an NFL-best 15-1 last season is the departure of Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman. The Panthers gambled when they rescinded Norman’s franchise tag, and they lost. In the first six games, the young, rebuilt secondary gave up nine touchdown passes of 20-plus yards after giving up only eight all of last season. The inability to stop the big plays played a major role in the 1-5 start on many levels, even making the league’s best front seven seem average. This one falls on general manager Dave Gettleman, who could have kept Norman this season with the tag, even if there wasn’t hope of finalizing a long-term deal.

Midseason MVP: My initial thought was to give it to punter Andy Lee, which would say a lot about how the first half of the season has gone. He has been one of the best in the league, averaging 49.8 yards a kick, after being acquired in a trade with Cleveland. But I’m going with tight end Greg Olsen, who is on pace to set career highs in catches and receiving. He has been the most consistent part of an offense that has played well enough for Carolina to win all but two games.

Best moment: Ironically, this is a moment the NFL said never should have happened. On the first series of the seventh game against Arizona, defensive tackle Star Lotulelei strip-sacked Carson Palmer and 33-year-old outside linebacker Thomas Davis returned the fumble 46 yards for the first touchdown of his stellar career. A day later, the NFL said the fumble should have been ruled an incomplete pass. Still, this was a defining moment in what could have turned around the season, particularly for a defense that was struggling with the pass rush and forcing turnovers.

Worst moment: There are many to choose from: Graham Gano's missed 50-yard field goal that would have won the opener at Denver, Cam Newton getting knocked out of the Week 4 game against Atlanta with a concussion, giving up 300 yards receiving to Falcons receiver Julio Jones, and backup QB Derek Anderson throwing an interception on first-and-goal from the 1 in a 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay. The loss to the Bucs is one that could haunt Carolina down the road, but I’ll go with Gano’s missed field goal in the opener as the worst moment. It set the tone for the 1-5 start.

Player to watch: Newton. He went on a tear in the second half of last season en route to winning the league MVP award by a landslide over Tom Brady and Carson Palmer. Newton threw 21 of his career-best 35 touchdowns in the final eight games and had only one interception. He also rushed for five touchdowns during that span. If he can repeat that success in the second half this season, the Panthers will be a team few will want to play down the stretch.

Second-half outlook: The Panthers have been a second-half team since Ron Rivera became the coach in 2011, and they begin the second half this season with momentum after beating Arizona and Los Angeles the past two weeks. If the secondary continues to mature with rookies Daryl Worley and James Bradberry, Carolina has a chance to make a push for a playoff spot. Defense has been the difference between the Panthers and the rest of the NFC South in winning the division the past three seasons. Atlanta, Tampa Bay and New Orleans have shown no signs they can stop anybody.