Heading into a new season with a revamped roster, no one really knows what to expect of the Carolina Panthers. The NFC South is up for grabs, but this group of fresh faces will have to gel quickly in order to claim it. Their schedule is full of interesting storylines, but what are the Panthers’ most crucial matchups of 2023?
The Falcons’ roster has also seen quite the overhaul this offseason. They were active in free agency, and even made a trade for former third overall pick, Jeff Okudah. Later on, they shocked the rest of the NFL by selecting running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in the draft.
Safe to say, they’re also gunning for the NFC South crown this year. These two showdowns, headlined by young quarterbacks and rebuilt rosters, will be all-important if they hope to make the postseason.
Additionally, the first of their two games takes place in week one. This means both teams will have an early opportunity to set the tone, and jump out to a lead in the division.
Like the Panthers, the Saints also enter the 2023-24 season surrounded by question marks. Between Alvin Kamara’s legal troubles and Michael Thomas’ injuries, no one knows exactly what to expect on the offensive side of the ball.
One thing they can expect is a new man at the forefront of the team. Derek Carr signed with the Saints in free agency after a nine year tenure as the Raiders quarterback. Aside from this, the majority of the Saints roster will look similar to how it did last year.
They hope a proven quarterback and developed roster can lead them back to the playoffs. The Panthers would love to shut that down and make a statement with a week two victory.
A week six trip to Miami will be a great test for a young Panthers roster. Bryce Young will have to carefully navigate around both Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard in order to find his targets. On the other side of the ball, Jaycee Horn and company will be tasked with slowing down Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
With a roster full of big names and dynamic playmakers, it’s safe to assume the Panthers will be burned at some point. The question is whether they’ll be able to bounce back and keep pace in order to secure an upset on the road.
All eyes will be on the Panthers in week 10 as they head to Chicago to face the Bears. This is easily Carolina’s most important non-divisional game of the year, simply based on storylines.
The Bears picked up multiple former Panthers in the offseason, including star wide receiver DJ Moore. In the trade for Moore, the Bears acquired the Panthers 2024 first round pick. This means a win for Chicago would not only boost them up the standings, but would also elevate their draft position.
The matchup gives Bryce Young, who the Panthers acquired in the aforementioned trade, the opportunity to face off against another young phenom in Justin Fields. And to top it all off, both teams will likely be in the hunt for the three NFC wildcard spots. A victory of this caliber 10 weeks in will be massive for either team.
As one of the most notable franchises in all of sports, the Cowboys are always in the media spotlight. The Panthers will have the chance to steal some of that spotlight in a week 11 showdown in Carolina.
The game will be a big opportunity for the offensive line to prove themselves, as they try to stop Micah Parsons. Parsons has quickly cemented himself as a dominant force, and one of the league’s best defensive players.
The Cowboys are currently projected for a wildcard spot due to the recent success of their divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. Between national recognition and wildcard implications, there’s a lot at stake here for the Panthers.
The Buccaneers are expected to be at the bottom of the NFC South this season, but that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked. With the extra pressure of a divisional matchup, the Panthers need to perform well and take care of business in both games. If this young group gets ahead of themselves and underestimates their opponent, they could be in for a rude awakening.
They’ll also have to watch out for a highly motivated opposing quarterback. After being traded away by the Panthers midseason, Baker Mayfield found his way to Tampa Bay in free agency. Knowing his fiery personality, it’s safe to assume he’d love nothing more than to bounce back and beat the Panthers. The Carolina coaching staff will have to manage their players and keep them levelheaded entering both of these games.
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Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers
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