The Carolina Panthers started 2018 so strong with a 6-2 record and then, they got their asses whooped by the Pittsburgh Steelers and they were not the same after that, only winning one of their next 8 games and just falling apart at the seams.
It’s hard to tell what happened here because at least when the Steelers collapsed last year, you could tell what went wrong, Chris Boswell missing field goals and extra points, constant fumbles and interceptions in the last seconds of games, and the defense failing to keep the opposing team out of the end zone.
With the Panthers, after that blowout to the Steelers, they just weren’t the same team they were before. The win in the final game of the season against the Saints lifted the spirits up a bit going into this season but there’s not really a whole lot to be excited for here with the Panthers.
The NFC South this year is basically a two team race with the New Orleans Saints still at the top of the heap and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Bruce Arians now the head coach being possibly a big X factor, right now, the Panthers are kind of stuck in the basement with the Falcons as well.
Can the Panthers defy the expectations and pull off another spectacular season? Let’s take a look and find out:
WEEK 1: LOS ANGELES RAMS (0-1)
Welcoming in the defending NFC Champions to their stadium, Carolina may be unevenly matched up in this one and the Rams should be able to easily come into this game and pull off the win here.
WEEK 2: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-1)
The Buccaneers are on the cusp of massive improvements this season with Arians as the head coach and if he can turn Jameis Winston into a stud QB like he did with Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, and Carson Palmer then watch out. But in this one, the Panthers get the jump on the Buccaneers with the home field advantage and pull off the win in this game.
WEEK 3: AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-2)
As much as I really don’t like how the Arizona Cardinals came to be this season, I really do believe that for them in order to make a statement and a case for themselves to the NFL, they go into this game and pull an upset over Cam Newton and the Panthers to show the NFL that they are a viable threat.
WEEK 4: AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1-3)
Going up against the Texans in Houston, the Panthers are really going to be no match for the Texans, Houston should easily get the win in this one.
WEEK 5: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-4)
The Carolina Panthers were not that good in 2018 and it seems like they regressed a lot especially in the second half of the season and while the team can easily come back next season, I think that the Jaguars can pull out the win in this one.
WEEK 6: AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (in London) (1-5)
In London, Tampa Bay should have no trouble getting revenge on the Panthers for the week 2 loss and get the big win over Carolina.
WEEK 7: BYE WEEK
WEEK 8: AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-6)
The 49ers should be in a much improved situation with Jimmy Garropolo back under center and a much improved offense and defense that they should be no match for the Carolina Panthers.
WEEK 9: TENNESSEE TITANS (1-7)
While the Panthers will have some improvements going into 2019, this is setting itself up for another potential upset win for the Titans with the momentum that they are carrying into this game.
WEEK 10: AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-8)
Cam Newton has gotten the best of the Packers the past few years but that was in Carolina, the Panthers now have to go up to Green Bay to take on the Packers and this time, the Pack should have the advantage in this matchup.
WEEK 11: ATLANTA FALCONS (1-9)
This may be a must win game for both teams as not only are the Falcons on the cusp of being towards playoff elimination but I’m not too sure about the Carolina Panthers either. In this game, I think the Falcons pull off an upset win against Cam Newton and the Panthers to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
WEEK 12: AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-10)
The New Orleans Saints should still be a formidable threat in this division with many of the same people back from last year and should still be in the top contention for the Super Bowl….which is nothing but more bad news for the Carolina Panthers.
WEEK 13: WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-10)
Like the Redskins did in the second half of last season, the Panthers struggled to hang on in the second half after a strong start, but the Panthers should have a strong enough roster to pull off a win in this one.
WEEK 14: AT ATLANTA FALCONS (3-10)
Carolina’s looking to get revenge for the Week 11 loss and should be able to do so in this one to essentially knock the Falcons likely out of playoff contention.
WEEK 15: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-10)
The Panthers should benefit from home field advantage in this one and should have no trouble beating the Seattle Seahawks in this one.
WEEK 16: AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-11)
The Panthers showed a ton of flaws last year that they should be able to fix easily but I still think the Colts manage to eek out a win in this one in what should be another close matchup.
WEEK 17: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-11)
The Panthers beat the Saints in the final game of the season last year and similar circumstances should allow that to happen again. The Saints should not have to play their starters at this point in preparation for the playoffs so the Panthers should have trouble winning this one and make their record a little better.
FINAL PREDICTION: 5-11
Despite winning four of their last 5 games in December, the Panthers really do not have a whole lot to work with here this season, the Panthers have the playmakers but they’re stuck in a very competitive and tough division and I think that comes back and bites them big time here. I really don’t see the Panthers getting past the Buccaneers and especially not the Saints.
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