Lea: Why the Carolina Panthers will go 9-8 this season
Posted July 27, 2022 7:16 p.m. EDT
Updated July 28, 2022 8:56 a.m. EDT
Spartanburg, S.C. — The Panthers will finish the season 9-8.
I've been mulling over this since the 2022 schedule was released and now after being at Training Camp in Spartanburg, I'm comfortable standing on this prediction.
There are a lot of variables that go into this prediction, variables that may not swing in a positive direction for the Panthers, or they could.
For starters, there's no way the team can only win five games for the third straight year, right? This offseason was one of constant movement and upgrades for the Panthers. Matt Rhule upgraded his coaching staff with more NFL head coaching experience. Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks (who used to coach with the Panthers before) and former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo are now on the staff. Neither were terribly successful as head coaches, but they can be there council Rhule on what pitfalls to avoid if he wants to keep his job another year. After all, they would know.
Then there's Christian McCaffrey. No way he misses most of the season due to injury for the third straight year, right? The Panthers and McCaffrey himself have talked about taking a different approach with his health during the regular season. Plus, the Panthers front office made an intelligent decision by signing D'Onte Foreman - a running back who masterfully filled in for Derrick Henry in Tennessee last season when Henry went down with an injury. Add in second year player Chuba Hubbard and the Panthers should have a deep running back room - pending health.
Then there's the offensive line. Signing Austin Corbett, Bradley Bozeman and drafting Ikem Ekwonu and Cade Mays, plus Brady Christensen going into his second year has vastly upgraded that room and added much needed depth. That means players who started on the offensive line last year may not even make the final 53 man roster this year.
And I haven't even spoken about the defense or the quarterback competition between Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield (*Matt Corral has entered the chat*). More competition in that room could mean a higher level of play. It won't rival quarterback play in TOMpa Bay or Green Bay, but it should be much improved, in theory.
So here's how I believe the seaosn will shake out.
Week 1 at home vs the Browns: Win. Baker Mayfield's revenge game. 'Nuff said (*Enough said for the grammar police who will show up in my inbox). 1-0.
Week 2 at the Giants: Win. The Panthers get revenge over a bad loss to a bad Giants team from last year. Plus an upgraded offense should prove to score more points. 2-0.
Week 3 at home vs the Saints: Loss. Last season the Panthers spanked the Saints at home in week three while the Saints were missing several coaches due to COVID-19. Sean Payton is no longer the head coach, but his culture is still there under Dennis Allen, who will be wanting to avenge last year's embarrassment in Charlotte. 2-1
Week 4 at home vs the Cardinals: Win. If Matt Rhule can claim anything in the NFL, it's that he has the Cardinals number. The Panthers beat Arizona 31-21 in 2020 and 34-10 in 2021. Yes, the Cardinals will probably be a playoff team coming out of the NFC West, but for some reason they shrink against the Cardiac Cats. Third time will not be the charm for Kyler Murray (even with four hours of independent film study on Brian Burns). 3-1
Week 5 at home vs the 49ers: Win. If Trey Lance is the starting QB for San Francisco as planned, an east coast trip playing a 3-1 Panthers team could be a sneaky 'L' for a team that made it to the NFC Championship game in 2021. 4-1
Week 6 at the Rams: Loss. Super Bowl Champs. On the road. In LA. Yep, loss. 4-2
Week 7 at home vs the Bucs: Loss. Tom Brady versus the Panthers in a Patriots uniform (excluding the Super Bowl), is 'meh'. Tom Brady versus the Panthers in a Buccaneers uniform: undefeated. 4-3
Week 8 at the Falcons: Win. After two straight losses, what's the best way to make yourself feel better? Beating your rival on the road who'll be in a rebuilding year with a new quarterback. 5-3
Week 9 at the Bengals: Loss. I mean, it's Joe Burrow. 5-4
Week 10 at home versus the Falcons: Win. Are you going to lose a Thursday night game at home against your rivals in those sweet new black helmets? Nope. 6-4
Week 11 at the Ravens: Loss. Lamar Jackson will have something to prove and will be the best quarterback on the field this week. 6-5
Week 12 at home vs the Broncos: Loss. Russell Wilson, man. Russell Wilson. 6-6
Week 13: Bye. Perfect timing.
Week 14 at the Seahawks: Win. The Seahawks will be more competitive than people may think. But they're rebuilding and the Panthers will be desperate for a win coming off of a bye with two consecutive losses. 7-6
Week 15 at home vs the Steelers: Win. Even with their great defense, the Panthers come to play just for owner David Tepper, a former minority owner of the Steelers, in a close win. Probably because of Baker channeling his AFC North powers. 8-6
Week 16 at home vs the Lions: Win. The Panthers defense will be too fast to ket anyone bite their ankles. 9-6
Week 17 at the Bucs: Loss. Tom, again. 9-7
Week 18 at the Saints: Loss. Both teams will probably be playing for a Wild Card spot in this one. So naturally the season ends in disappointment for the Panthers, right? 9-8
Let me know what you think! clea@wral.com
