LET'S TALK FOOTBALL - Carolina Panthers

After the second week of the 2024 season, the Carolina Panthers were being looked at as the biggest joke in the NFL. Quarterback Bryce Young had just gotten benched for Andy Dalton and it looked like his career was going to end after two seasons. But once he got a second chance to redeem himself, he took off with it and he blossomed by the end of the year. Sure, the Panthers finished that season 5-12, but hope was restored for that organization. This offseason, head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan did whatever they could to surround their quarterback with as much help as possible, and many are hoping that this is the season where they can make a surprising playoff run.

Since his return from being benched, Bryce Young totaled twenty touchdowns and just six interceptions. He showed the promise and potential he had when he was at Alabama because he finally got his confidence back. If he picks up where he left off, then this offense is going to be scary good not just because of Young, but because of the pieces around him. Chuba Hubbard became a huge focal point of the offense with close to 1200 rushing yards, which was the eighth most in the NFL. I think Rico Dowdle will be an awesome complement to have in the backfield, a running back who just finished with over a thousand with the Cowboys. In the passing game, Adam Thielen is not getting any younger, so that is why Carolina used their first round draft pick to select Tet McMillian. Many considered him to be the best receiver in the 2025 class, so there is no question that he will eventually become the number one option. However, it does send a message to Xavier Legette that he is going to need to have a better sophomore season if he wants to have a large role in this offense. The Panthers got Hunter Renfrow to come out of retirement, they drafted an underrated speedster in Jimmy Horn Jr., and they have an unheralded sophomore Jalen Coker that showed plenty of positive flashes. The only thing I ask is for the tight end production to improve because the Panthers do not have a surefire security blanket. However, besides Young’s steady development, the thing I was most impressed about with the offense was their offensive line. It only gave up thirty-six sacks last year compared to the sixty-five they allowed in 2023, which is a huge turnaround by their standards. This season, Carolina needs to prove that the way they played in the final nine games of last year was not accidental, and that a strong foundation is being built.

The one thing that I think will hold the Panthers back from making the playoffs is their defense. Ejiro Evero is a heck of a defensive coordinator, but his unit was a trainwreck last season. They ranked dead last in three major categories: total yards, rushing, and points. They tied with the Titans for the third fewest sacks while letting up the most touchdown passes and highest passer rating. Most of their acquisitions in free agency this season were on the defensive side of the ball. They signed Tershawn Wharton to a big three year contract to be the plug at defensive tackle and brought in Pat Jones II to see if he can emerge as a standout pass rusher, but the defensive line still does not have a lot of depth to work with right now. A’Shawn Robinson is probably the only guy that I believe will make a consistent impact because he led the team with five and a half sacks and also totaled eighty tackles. However, he is thirty years old, so let’s hope that he does not show any physical signs of decline in the final two years of his deal. It looks like the starting middle linebackers for Carolina will be Josey Jewell and Christian Rozeboom, both incredible playmakers that can do just about anything. If Trevin Wallace can develop into a solid depth option, then there is no question that this run defense should improve, especially with some added strength on the front four. However, if they cannot generate any pressure nor slow down the run, then their secondary is going to continue to remain an abysmal unit. This is what does not make sense to me. Jaycee Horn played fifteen games last year and got awarded the highest paid contract for a defensive back. Xavier Woods had close to 120 tackles and Mike Jackson had seventeen passes defended. Yet the Panthers pass defense was still a joke. I believe Tre’von Moehrig is a huge plus that makes plays all over the field, but Woods is gone and that is going to force Carolina to play some of their younger and more inexperienced guys.

This is truly a “make or break” year for the Carolina Panthers. Either they are going to pick up right where they left off last season and continue to thrive, or they revert back to the laughing stock they were for the past four years and fall apart. I am truly hoping for the former because they are too likable of a team to be one of the worst in the league again. Let’s see what Bryce Young can do this year, because if he does not show any signs of improvement or promise, then Carolina is not going to hesitate looking for his replacement. I am also putting some pressure on the head coach and general manager because we all know that David Tepper is not the most patient guy and who knows what he will do if things do not pan out the way he wants.

WEEK 1 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

I think it is pretty funny that we have two former offensive coordinators for the Buccaneers going head-to-head in an opening matchup, but this is also one to watch because we need to see how the Panthers and Jaguars are going to perform this year. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars look with Liam Coen as the new head coach, because if Trevor Lawrence continues to look mediocre at best and pathetic at worst, then that contract extension is only going to appear worse as the days roll by. Coen has a lot of work to do with not just getting Lawrence back on track, but with the rest of the offense as well. They have two capable starting running backs in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as the focal point of the passing game, but the offense suffered a lot of turnover at the same time. Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram were all released. Jacksonville replaced them by promoting Brenton Strange as the starting tight end, signing Dyami Brown in free agency, and then trading up with the Browns to draft Travis Hunter with the second overall pick! Not only is Hunter supposed to help out a ton in the passing game, but that secondary has desperately needed a standout cornerback for years, and the Jaguars got a guy that can do both! One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was that their offensive line actually did pretty well, despite only winning four games. It only let up thirty-two sacks, the ninth fewest in the league, and I think it got stronger with the signing of Patrick Mekari in free agency. Anton Harrison showed improvement, Ezra Cleveland thrived at left guard, and the unit did pretty well for itself without Cam Robinson at left tackle. Lawrence is going to be the biggest X factor for this team’s success, or else Jacksonville’s new regime will not be afraid of moving on from him in the upcoming offseason.

As for the Jaguars defense, I have been consistent in saying that it has been the team’s Achilles heel for the last five years. The only two guys that kept it somewhat afloat were Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, so even with the addition of Travis Hunter, this group has a lot of making up to do this year. Arik Armstead has been a disappointment, Devin Lloyd showed a lot of consistency issues, and I did not like that Jourdan Lewis was the only addition they made to the secondary in free agency. Maybe Hunter and Tyson Campbell can form into a solid duo, but for this team to truly turn things around, everything has to be absolutely perfect in all aspects of play.

I can see a high-scoring affair between these two teams because I truly do not trust either defense right now, but I think that Carolina has a better chance of winning. This may be a road game for the Panthers, yet I feel that Bryce Young has more weapons around him to succeed, and I just do not trust Trevor Lawrence to put the team on his back.

WEEK 2 @ ARIZONA CARDINALS

Throughout NFL history, the Panthers have had their way with the Cardinals many times. Just last year, Carolina eliminated Arizona from playoff contention with a thrilling 36-30 victory in overtime, so they are not going to be intimidated or afraid of the challenge that will be ahead of them. Kyler Murray did not have a hard time bouncing back from his torn ACL and showed that this is still his team for the foreseeable future, James Conner is still a workhorse at running back, and Marvin Harrison Jr. established himself as the focal point of the passing game. Trey McBride rightfully earned a contract extension to make him the highest paid tight end in the NFL, but I am curious to see how Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are going to perform in what should be make-or-break seasons for both receivers in the league. The fact that Arizona has one of the best offensive lines in football after being such a garbage heap a few seasons ago should indicate that this unit will be very efficient. The question is can they be consistent, because that has been the biggest con of Kyler Murray’s tenure in the NFL.

What I was really more impressed with was their defense with Jonathan Gannon leading the charge. I still feel their pass rush can get a lot better, but totaling forty-one sacks last year showed promising signs of improvement. It is why they drafted Walter Nolen with their first round pick and signed Josh Sweat to a long-term deal, giving players like Darius Robinson and Baron Browning chances to have improved in the 2025 campaigns. I am also expecting the run defense to get better because even though they have Zaven Collins, there is a reason why Arizona signed a proven veteran in Dalvin Tomlinson. The secondary is also an above average unit that at least made the effort of adding a potential number one corner by drafting Will Johnson in the second round, so that should take a lot of pressure off of Budda Baker’s shoulders. It is still a very young group, so I am anxious to see which guys are going to step up, especially as we approach the second half of the season.

I definitely see this game going either way because we truly do not know if the Panthers will be an improved football team this season, but I do see this as a winnable game. They have not lost in Arizona since 2013, and they won seven of their last eight matchups against the team itself, so this has not exactly been an even fight.

WEEK 3 vs. ATLANTA FALCONS

I am looking forward to watching this divisional series because similarly to Carolina’s opening matchup against the Jaguars, I think the Falcons are another team that has a lot to prove this year, especially with a new quarterback under center. Now that Michael Penix has the full keys to the Atlanta offense, one of two things is going to happen. Either he surges like Lamar Jackson did in his sophomore year and carries the team to relevance, or the flaws keep rearing their ugly heads as they walk into another mediocre season. As I said, this is a team that has plenty of talent to get over the hump. Bijan Robinson is easily one of the top five running backs in all of football and Drake London broke through in his third year with over 1200 receiving yards. However, for this offense to truly rise up the charts, they need Kyle Pitts to get back on the map. After his rookie season, he was expected to be a huge focal point of the offense. Then all of a sudden, his play diminished and he has been in a lot of trade rumors. At some point in time, the quarterback cannot be the scapegoat for this anymore, so it will be really interesting to see how Pitts performs in 2025. Let’s not forget that Darnell Mooney fell eight yards short of a thousand last season and Ray-Ray McCloud set career highs in targets, catches, and yards! I don’t have a lot of concerns for the offensive line, even with the loss of Chris Dalman, because it is a group with proven starters. The Falcons only gave up thirty-two sacks the year before and was considered one of the best run blocking lines in football, so it really comes down to the receivers getting open and Penix being smart with his decision making.

As for the defense, it was really the most disappointing in the league. There is a reason why they did not decide to bring Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons back after signing them to prove-it deals for one year. They also knew that they could not keep Grady Jarrett around much longer because after the extension he received in 2019, he never totaled more than six sacks in a season. The good news was that Atlanta had two first round picks and decided to boost the edge with those selections. They finally made a smart decision and took Jalon Walker with their first pick, but then stunned all of us by trading a future first for James Pearce Jr. That means that head coach Raheem Morris sees them as immediate impactful players to complement Arnold Ebiketie. The rest of their defensive line has proven veterans like Leonard Floyd and David Onyemata, but they are also not getting any younger, so a lot more weight is going to be given to the young guys. They finished with the second fewest sacks in the NFL, so even though that number will get higher this season, I do not see a drastic improvement. I never had an issue with the linebacking room. Kaden Elliss is an extremely versatile linebacker and I have hopes for JD Bertrand, so I think the signing of Divine Deablo can help this group instead of hurt them. But the one position group that I have never been fond of is the secondary. AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates might be All-Pro caliber players, but who do they have to help out? I like Dee Alford, but he had an up-and-down season as he struggled with coverage. Jordan Fuller is a guy that I liked when he was on the Rams, but he tailed off in Carolina and got cut after one year for a reason. Mike Hughes did not do too bad and Atlanta brought him back on a new contract, yet I am worried that last year might have been a blimp in the radar.

I think we are going to get another split and my guess is that we will receive the same script as we did last year, which is that the road team pulls off the upset. If we do get a sweep, then Atlanta will more than likely be getting the two victories, but Carolina showed in the regular season finale that they can keep up with that team for longer than sixty minutes.

WEEK 4 @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

This is another matchup that feels like it is winnable for the Panthers, but the New England Patriots are another football team that is hoping to storm their way back into the playoffs now that Mike Vrabel is the new head coach. The Jerod Mayo experiment failed, so a more proven and successful man will do his best to develop Drake Maye into the stud that he is supposed to transform into, and the cast around him is ten times better than whatever the heck he had last year. Rhamondre Stevenson had a rough season with fumble issues, which is why New England drafted Trayveon Henderson in the second round, but he is still a flexible back that can fight for yards after contact and bruise defenders with his physicality. They signed Stefon Diggs to be their new number one option, but I have been skeptical about the wide receiver room for the last five years now. It’s not only about the supporting role players, but the fact that Diggs is coming off a torn ACL and is not getting any younger. Fortunately, Hunter Henry is still around and has always been a reliable security blanket, but my biggest area of focus is the offensive line. New England did everything they could to overhaul that unit and managed to do that within a few months. They drafted left Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick, replaced the recently retired David Andrews with Garrett Bradbury, and signed Morgan Moses in free agency to be their right tackle. The only returning starters will be Cole Strange and Michael Onwenu, so their biggest priority is making sure Drake Maye does not get crushed on a weekly basis, or else this season is going to be a disaster.

Just like Bill Belichick did in 2021, Mike Vrabel retooled this defense into a respected juggernaut. They gave Milton Williams a huge contract to be their spearhead on the defensive line, brought in Harold Landry to fly off the edge, added Robert Spillane to be the new starting middle linebacker, and even signed Carlton Davis to complement a rising superstar in Christian Gonzalez. New England had to let go of a few remaining veterans to make these signings possible, but there is no doubt they will have one of the best defenses in football at the end. These signings are going to take the pressure off of guys like Keion White, Christian Barmore, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, and Kyle Dugger to do their best to keep a faded empire alive the year before.

I think Carolina would have more of an edge to win if they were at home, but pulling off an upset at Gillette Stadium is going to require either an outstanding performance from Bryce Young or a hellacious defensive effort to carry them to victory. This is another game where the NFL world will keep their eyes on these two teams, so whomever is more disciplined and composed will get the win.

WEEK 5 vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS

I know this will not be the last time I say this but I was conflicted picking the winner of this game as well. This does not really have anything to do with the Panthers, but the team they are playing.The Dolphins should be a championship contender on paper, but their self-inflicted failures over the past few years make them look nothing more than a mediocre pretender. Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback, but his health has always been the biggest X factor for this football team, and the team plummets when he is not on the field. It should not be the case because this offense has a boatload of speed and talent. De’Von Achane has emerged as the starting running back and Jaylen Wright is hoping to break out in his sophomore season. The top two receiving options are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they just signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to give this offense more verticality, and Jonnu Smith surprised a lot of people with a productive 2024 season. The only real liability that this group has is their offensive line. Terron Armstead retired, the interior is a mess, and Austin Jackson is the only consistent veteran they have. Hopefully, their second round pick Jonah Savaiinaea turns into a solid player, but center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Larry Borom should not be full time starters at the most important positions on the front five.

The Dolphins better hope that they do not suffer any injuries with their offense, or else that defense is going to get eaten alive, especially since Jalen Ramsey might be traded before the season begins. It is a unit that has a likable coordinator in Anthony Weaver Jr. and promising young pieces like Chop Robinson, Tyrel Dodson, and rookie Kenneth Grant. Yet, I don’t see any depth whatsoever. Jevon Holland left in free agency, Kendall Fuller and Nik Needham were released, Jordan Poyer was not brought back, and Calais Campbell left to go back to Arizona for what might be his last season. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips cannot stay healthy, Zach Sieler is nearing thirty years old at an extremely physical position, and Miami has nobody else in their secondary that has been a proven shutdown defender. Kader Kohou is probably the closest one, but he is mainly a nickel corner, so there is nobody on the outside I can think of that can step up in a big way.

I have a strong feeling that this is going to come down to the wire because both defenses do not look promising this year, but I will bank on Miami’s experience and continuity to get them over the hump. Carolina has promising pieces, but the Dolphins have the fastest offense in the league, and I think that will be the one deciding factor to get them over the hump.

WEEK 6 vs. DALLAS COWBOYS

As much as I would like an upset here, I do not see it happening. Yet it is not like the Cowboys are Super Bowl contenders at the same time. So many of their fans think that they will be a lot better than advertised, but I seriously cannot see how. Dak Prescott is coming back, that is always a great sign. CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, that definitely helps. Micah Parsons, given that he gets his contract extension, is absolutely one of the more unstoppable defensive players in the league. But what do these three have around them? Rico Dowdle left in free agency, which means the only running backs are Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. One of them has not been the same since a season ending injury he suffered a few years ago and another was proved to be nothing more than a system back for the Eagles. The passing game was already reliable with Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert, but acquiring George Pickens was definitely a high-risk and high-reward move. He is extremely talented, but the biggest red flag is that he had character and maturity issues in Pittsburgh, so I really do not know if this was the best change of scenery. The potential is there and I think he and CeeDee form a strong duo on paper, but I need to see how they gel together before I can come to a final conclusion. Fortunately, the offensive line is never an aspect I have to worry about. They drafted Tyler Booker in the first round to replace the recently retired Zach Martin and complement Tyler Smith, their tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are hoping to improve in 2025, and Cooper Beebe had a strong rookie season at center. With Dak under center, I doubt they will be a top ten offense, but they should be a productive unit against certain opponents. But when it comes to top tier teams, they do not always show up, so that needs to change if they truly want this year to be different.

With Matt Eberflus as the new defensive coordinator, I already know what I am going to get. There will be some games where they make tremendous strides, but then others where they are on their heels way too often. Yes they have Micah and Osa Odighizuwa on the defensive line, they brought back Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland is on the rise, and Sam Williams is returning from injury to step in for DeMarvion Overshown. Yet, I am not exactly confident that Kenneth Murray or Jack Sanborn are going to fix a run defense that was below average last year. Trevon Diggs struggled to return from injury and DaRon Bland is essentially the same type of player, so I don’t have the highest faith in those two as the starting corners despite the fact that they have exceptional hands. I don’t need to worry about the safety room because it already has a ton of depth, but when Dallas cannot generate any pressure, then they better make a ton of plays.

Having said this, I saw Bryce Young play the Cowboys at home twice in his career and got blown out both times, so the only way I can believe he will win is if I actually see it myself. I do not think this will be a lopsided game, but I trust Dallas’ defense to take over from start to finish, and for their offense to have a few successful drives that will give them all of the momentum needed to win.

WEEK 7 @ NEW YORK JETS

I really don’t hope that the Panthers do what the Saints did and go on a long losing skid after a 2-0 start, but this road game against the Jets is not going to be an easy one to win. With Aaron Glenn as head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager, New York is hoping that this tandem will finally be the one that will get this franchise back on the map. It might not be immediate, but if things continue to improve, then there is no doubt that the future is bright for this football team. The biggest X factor is their quarterback Justin Fields. It is nice to see the Jets not reach for a veteran or desperately draft somebody in the first round because a minimum deal for a fringe starter is not a bad option. We know what we are getting from Fields week to week: he will not completely embarrass himself, he will show you tremendous flashes with his legs and his arm, but he will not be a guy that will take you to a Super Bowl. Maybe new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will unlock something that Fields’ previous coaches could not, but the biggest knock on the quarterback’s career is that he has never been able to maximize his potential. Fortunately, there are more than a few promising pieces around him that could scratch the surface. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a legitimate running back tandem that bring acceleration and power, Garrett Wilson is poised for a breakout year with a former Buckeye throwing him the ball, but the big question is figuring out who will step next in line. It could be Allen Lazard, it might be Malachi Corley. Heck, maybe rookies Arian Smith and Mason Taylor could leapfrog their way onto the depth chart. Their offensive line had an okay season last year, but maybe with Fields under center, they can improve their production. The Jets used their first round pick in the draft to select the best right tackle prospect Armond Membou to complement Olu Fashanu. They are banking on Joe Tippmann to solidify himself as the starting center, with John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker to his left and right.

With Glenn taking over as the head coach, the hope is that the defense can have a better season than the up-and-down roller coaster they were on last season. That is what happens when Robert Saleh gets scapegoated in the middle of the season. Fortunately for Glenn, he has a hell of a group to work with. On the defensive line, Quinnen Williams has still proven to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league and they have an absolute stud in edge rusher Will McDonald that is coming off of a breakout season. With Jermaine Johnson coming back from a season ending injury, the hope is that this defensive line can regain the grit and tenacity that they lacked in the second half of the season. Their run defense was the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, but Glenn is hoping to fix that with Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. However, the group that was really disappointing last season was their secondary. Sauce Gardner is coming off an up-and-down year, Michael Carter II had injuries hold him back, and the team just lost DJ Reed and Ashtyn Davis in free agency. I do not like the signing of Brandon Stephens since he was considered the weak link in Baltimore, so it looks like some of their younger prospects will have to step up quickly. At least their safety group looks solidified with rookie Malachi Moore and rising stud Tony Adams. If Andre Cisco can bounce back from last year, it will be even better.

Knowing the Jets, I would not be surprised if they find a way to lose this game, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt just for the simple fact that they are home. As I said before, Carolina needs to prove that Bryce Young’s career revival was not accidental, so getting a win at MetLife is going to require perfection in all three phases.

WEEK 8 vs. BUFFALO BILLS

Unfortunately, this is not a game that I see the Panthers winning, even if they truly turn things around this year. If it were not for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Josh Allen might actually have at least one Super Bowl ring to wear, but that has been the only knock on his tenure with the Bills. The supporting cast around him is pretty good, but it is the quarterback that has lifted them to a higher tier. The only true star that they have is running back James Cook, but he is currently unhappy with his current contract, and there is a strong chance that he could hold out for a new one. On the other hand, I have faith that Ray Davis could elevate his game and Ty Johnson has served as a quality third down back. Their receiving room is not as average as it was last year. Keon Coleman has the potential to be a promising number one receiver, but we need to see more from him to truly believe it will happen. I have always liked Khalil Shakir in the slot, and I think both Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore could put up decent numbers as depth pieces. On paper, the Bills have a formidable tight end duo of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, but their numbers from last year do not indicate that. What masks this flaw is their offensive line, which gave up the fewest sacks in the league. As long as they have Josh Allen fully healthy, then this team is going to be favored to win the division and be a perennial championship contender.

Unfortunately, Sean McDermott’s defenses have not held his end of the bargain of trying to deliver a championship to the city of Buffalo. Their defensive line has household names like Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but they were just okay last season. I don’t really know if bringing in Michael Hoecht or Joey Bosa is going to make them a whole lot better, but my guess is that Buffalo is banking on AJ Epenesa and Javon Solomon to take big leaps. I think one of the biggest reasons why the Bills defense has not been as feared over the last couple of seasons is because both Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard had to deal with long-term injuries, thus affecting their run defense and the strength of the entire unit as a whole. It is no wonder why this secondary is on its heels every day, but even they have their limits. It looks like Christian Benford will be their number one corner after receiving a long-term extension, but I need to see more from him to truly believe he has what it takes. They brought back Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson, yet they are not the same players that they were in 2021. If you had to ask me who would start alongside Benford, it would be Cam Lewis and Taron Johnson, with Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp manning the safety positions. That will allow rookie Maxwell Hairston to sit back and learn, rather than be thrusted into the fire and rush his developmental process.

To beat the reigning MVP in a sixty minute football game is going to require all hands on deck. One slip-up from either side and Buffalo will take all of the momentum, but the Panthers do not have the personnel yet to make sure that they succeed, especially on the defensive side.

WEEK 9 @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

Bryce Young’s first big performance as an NFL quarterback was against the Carolina Panthers. In a game that was decided by a last-minute field goal, Young threw for 312 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, but unfortunately lost 33-30. I really hope that the Panthers can pull off this upset, yet there is a catch. This game is being played at Lambeau Field, a stadium that this team has won just twice in their history. Jordan Love is still their face of the Packers franchise and proved that he is capable of leading this team to glory, but the supporting cast around him might indicate a bit of a down year. The good news is that the Packers still have Josh Jacobs, who ran for over 1300 rushing yards. The bad is that their depth at receiver is still lackluster. At least they drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, somebody that can complement the speedster Jayden Reed. Unfortunately, Christian Watson is expected to miss extended time with a knee injury and Romeo Doubs is a really inconsistent receiver. Dontayvion Wicks has also been really disappointing, and if he cannot have a big training camp, he might be a stunning roster cut. Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft cannot be the only security blankets Love will have to lean on, but thank goodness that their offensive line gave up the second fewest sacks in the league, so there should be more time for the receivers to get open.

The Packers defense is always a confusing one for me to analyze. Some days, they are above average. Other times, they get exhausted if they are on the field for too long. On paper, they should be decent. Rashan Gary is still an exceptional pass rusher, the rest of the defensive line has plenty of starpower such as Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness is slowly improving, and there are a few rotational guys that have stepped up as well. The linebacking room lost Eric Wilson in free agency, but they at least still have Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper. However, the secondary is one that I want to keep a close eye on this season now that Jaire Alexander is officially released. Xavier McKinney emerged as one of the top safeties in the league with eight interceptions and Carrington Valentine had his best season yet last year. They shouldn’t be horrible! The problem is that they are too inconsistent.

I would definitely pick Carolina to win if this was being played at Bank of America Stadium, but I am not going to count on them pulling off the upset in Lambeau just yet. Ask me again a week before we get to this game and maybe I will have a second opinion.

WEEK 10 vs. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

If the Panthers really do go on a long losing streak, then I believe that this home game against the Saints will end that slump. I feel bad that this is the first head coaching job for Kellen Moore because on a team with no cap flexibility, an aging roster, and no plan at quarterback, this is the worst situation he could have asked for. Everything was put on halt when Derek Carr retired, so now there are three guys competing for the starting job: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough. I wish I could say that at least there are the Pelicans, but that team is on the verge of blowing it up. The only silver lining I have is that at least the Saints offense will be healthy. Alvin Kamara had a bounce back season with close to 1500 total yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will more than likely be the two biggest targets for whichever quarterback throws them the ball, along with tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill. Brandin Cooks is even coming back, so there is some nostalgia there. The offensive line is not completely horrible either and it got better with Kelvin Banks Jr. replacing Ryan Ramczyck at right tackle. The only issue is that once everybody got hurt, the entire offense plummeted, and it is one of the biggest reasons why the Saints had a dismal five win season.

As for the defense, how do I put this? They have zero depth and they are incredibly old. When you do look at the younger guys in this group, they are either inconsistent or inexperienced. They already lost their top two corners in Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, their only two good pass rushers are Bryan Bresee and Carl Granderson, we don’t know what to expect from Chase Young, and Demario Davis can only do so much at thirty-six years old. At least they signed Justin Reid to reunite with his former Texans teammate Tyrann Mathieu, but with Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator, my hopes are not that high for this group.

The Panthers have beaten the Saints at home three times in the last four years since Drew Brees has retired, and when I look at the state of both teams right now, I can see Carolina notching another win on their belt. However, I fear that we might get a different script in the Superdome.

WEEK 11 @ ATLANTA FALCONS

I already said that the series between the Panthers and Falcons will split this year, so why not have the one Carolina victory take place in the same stadium that they won in last year, when they crushed Atlanta’s hearts in a 44-38 overtime win? Hopefully, we get a similar story because I expect a lot of intrigue and suspense between these two teams this year.

WEEK 12 @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

This is unfortunately where I think the fun is going to end for Carolina because not only do they have to travel across the country to take on the 49ers, but it is on Monday Night Football. Even though San Francisco missed the playoffs last year, they dealt with a ton of injuries and emotional exhaustion, so they are going to prove that it never even happened in the first place. There will be no more offseason drama now that Brock Purdy got his contract extension, so now that the offense is healthy, it is time to see what he can do. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams will be returning. Unfortunately, Deebo Samuel and Jaylon Moore will not. However, the 49ers still have an incredible amount of depth at wide receiver and the offensive line has been a stable unit for the most part. Deebo might be gone, but if Aiyuk cannot fully recover from the injury, then there is another trio that could pick up the slack: Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall. It might not sound totally inspiring, but with Shanahan as the play-caller, they will be effective and efficient.

At the start of the offseason, the 49ers saw many of their stars depart elsewhere. Javon Hargrave, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarius Ward were the most notable names to leave. The good news is that they still have two of their key cornerstones in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Not only that, but Robert Saleh is coming back as the defensive coordinator, so a familiar face will be more than welcomed back in the building. The 49ers made sure to give Bosa some extra help by drafting Mykel Williams in the first round, but I truly do not know if this team is going to be truly better than they were last year. With Greenlaw gone, you don’t know who is going to pair up with Warner on the second level. Deommodore Lenoir got himself a nice contract extension, but who is his right hand man? On the other hand, Hufanga’s void will be filled with the likes of Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, along with veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant hoping to adapt to their new change of scenery.

I do not think that we are going to get a blowout, but I do believe that the 49ers will tire this Panthers team out in the fourth quarter and make enough plays to go ahead by double digits. The only way I can see the opposite is for San Francisco to experience deja vu from last year and stumble into another frustrating season.

WEEK 13 vs. LOS ANGELES RAMS

I think the same can be said for this upcoming home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams because they are the team that is trying to repeat as the champions of the NFC West, hoping that the 49ers will not take back the throne. The Rams have always been a consistent playoff contender under Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Their offense has always been their bread and butter, regardless of the different pieces they had over the years. Kyren Williams is a touchdown machine just like a certain man named Todd Gurley. The Rams have one of the best young receivers in the league in Puka Nacua, and while the Cooper Kupp era unfortunately had to come to an end, it is not terrible getting Davante Adams as a consolation prize. I personally thought it was a bummer that Demarcus Robinson departed in free agency, but knowing Sean McVay, there are going to be at least a couple guys that will carve out bigger roles. My guesses are Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell. Unfortunately, Tyler Higbee is not the same tight end that he once was, but I think both Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have a strong chance of stealing the starting spot at some point in the season. Their offensive line gave up the sixth fewest sacks in the league, so if you are a team that does not have a scary pass rush, then it might take a while before you actually get to the quarterback.

Their defense has a boatload of playmakers, but I still feel like there is a lot of room for improvement. Braden Fiske and Jared Verse made instant impacts in their rookie seasons, while Kobie Turner and Byron Young showed the young guys how it was done. Their biggest loss was letting Christian Rozeboom walk away in free agency because they do not really have anybody else that could replace him. Hopefully, the secondary could ease things for the time being. Derion Kendrick is coming back from injury and Darious Williams is back, but this group proved that there were plenty of guys that successfully adopted the “next man up” mentality. Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough thrived in the safety positions, while Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant might have found a new home. It is not the most explosive defense, but they are hungry for blood, a group that is not afraid to get nasty when things get difficult.

Although the Panthers are at home, I just feel that the Rams have a little more firepower on both sides of the ball, which includes a more experienced quarterback and head coach. Like many other matchups, a stunning upset is going to require a mistake-free performance from everybody, and I just do not know if Carolina can avoid falling into that trap.

WEEK 14: BYE WEEK

WEEK 15 @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Any time I think about the last time the Panthers won in the Superdome, I am still trying to scratch my head figuring out how the Saints lost. Sam Darnold was the starting quarterback for Carolina at the time, in which he went five of fifteen for forty-three yards with two interceptions, not scoring a single offensive touchdown. Yet the Panthers won 10-7 because of an outstanding day by their defense and a walkoff kick from Eddy Pineiro. If the Panthers beat New Orleans at home this year, then I think the Saints will be marching into the Superdome to get a more convincing victory under their belt.

WEEK 16 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Dave Canales is set to play his former team in two of the final three weeks of the season. Even though it is likely that Tampa will win the division, I can definitely see Carolina pulling off a few surprises in the first meeting at Bank of America Stadium. However, just like last year, I think we have an overtime game on our hands because the Bucs are a really competitive opponent. It began with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has done more than his job to make them a respected foe. He might have his third different offensive coordinator in his three years with the team, but I think that as long as the pieces are still there and the system does not change, then it should not be too big of an issue. Bucky Irving emerged as one of the more promising rookie running backs in the league, so any time the passing game does get held in check, then he and Rachaad White can pick up the slack. Say it is the other way around, then you have Mike Evans to worry about, somebody that is essentially guaranteed to total a thousand yards in a season. Chris Godwin is coming back, Jalen McMillan showed tremendous promise as a rookie, and Tampa drafted Emeka Egbuka to round out the receiving room. Their offensive line is also a well-rounded unit that showed improvement towards the second half of the season, but based on Mayfield’s style of play, it is a unit that might give up more sacks than you would like.

My only real concern with the Buccaneers is their defense, which should not be the case with Todd Bowles as the head coach. If you ask me, it is an average unit with a few key stars, but not much else. They have a beast in Vita Vea anchoring the pass rush, Lavonte David still playing at a high level at middle linebacker, and one of the best safeties in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, they allowed the fourth most passing yards out of any other team and their secondary only totaled seven interceptions. I understand that Tampa drafted two corners with their mid-round picks and signed Haason Reddick in free agency, but I don’t believe that those additions moved the needle with this group. Although they have guys they can show up in spurts, Tampa does not have a lot of players that are difference makers, and that is critical if they want to make a deep playoff run.

When these two teams played each other last year, the Panthers nearly beat the Buccaneers at home in extra regulation, but a fumble from Chuba Hubbard cost them the opportunity. This time, I think Carolina will rectify that loss and prove to the NFL that this is a team that is not going to give up.

WEEK 17 vs. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

This is one more winnable matchup that I see for the Panthers because the Seahawks are entering this season with a new starting quarterback. Many are hoping that 2024 for Sam Darnold was not just a “one year wonder” and that he does not revert back to his Jets form. Myself included. When I look at the supporting cast around him, it is not as great as it was when he was with the Vikings, but it is still manageable. The Seahawks have an underrated running back tandem of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, two guys that can punish defenders with physicality and acceleration on yards after contact. No more Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as a number one option and he will have a promising right-hand man in Cooper Kupp. Hopefully, the former Super Bowl MVP can stay healthy because he has proven he can still play. You just need him on the field. Seattle also has an emerging tight end in AJ Barner, and there are a couple of depth guys in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo that are hoping to have some role in this offense. However, the state of the offensive line always worries me, from the days of Russell Wilson. One red flag about Darnold’s play is that he tends to hold onto the ball too long, and you cannot have that in Seattle, because he is not going to have a clean pocket most days. They might have drafted Grey Zabel in the first round, but if Charles Cross is the only good lineman they have again, then this team is going to be extremely disappointing to watch.

The main strength of the Seattle Seahawks last year was their defense, despite the fact they missed the playoffs with a ten-win season. They have an incredible amount of playmakers on all three levels and Mike MacDonald did a great job of making sure that this unit cleaned up any issues that they might have had in the past. Leonard Williams is still an absolute beast of a pass rusher and there were plenty more guys that stepped up as well. Boye Mafe and Derick Hall had breakout seasons last year, and now that Demarcus Lawrence is coming on board, this is a defensive line that will have depth. In the linebacking corps, Ernest Jones will hopefully have a full season under his belt with the team, because he is an incredibly versatile player that any team would love to have. The safety has a plethora of name talent like Riq Woolen, Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, and Coby Bryant. The hope is that if the offense finds some consistency, the defense will not suffer any setbacks. MacDonald is a hell of a coach, so I am truly hoping for the best.

If Sam Darnold pans out the way Seattle hopes and their defense continues to play at a high level, then I do not think the Panthers have the best chances of winning. However, if this team takes a step back, then Bryce Young is in for a good afternoon.

WEEK 18 @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Hopefully, the Buccaneers clinch the NFC South by the time this game arrives, but I do not see a scenario where the Panthers win this series twice. Maybe if Tampa plays their backups, but that cannot be guaranteed just yet.

FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 6-11