An in-depth look at the non-divisional road game opponents of the Carolina Panthers for the 2018 season…
During the Carolina Panthers impressive 11-5 regular season they won five road games in route to a wild card berth in the playoffs. Historically, throughout the NFL home teams have held an advantage against their opponent as every team yearns to have an advantage over their visitors.
Next year, Carolina will travel to mostly familiar stadiums, avoiding any trips west of the Mississippi River for the first time since the 2014 season. While most trips will be familiar for the core group of Panthers inside the locker room next year, only a few veterans were with the team when they last visited one opponent.
Ryan Kalil, Jonathan Stewart, J.J. Jansen and Captain Munnerlyn were the only current players who made the last trip to Cleveland during the 2010 season. One team with close to the fewest number of games with Carolina, they have only met the Houston Texans less on the field.
These teams will be hosting the Panthers in the fall for five of their eight road games in the coming season.
Cleveland Browns
2017 RECORD: 0-16
OFFENSE: 24th 308.9 YPG • 32nd 14.6 PPG
DEFENSE: 14th 328.1 YPG • 31st 25.6 PPG
ALL-TIME RECORD: 4-1
LAST MEETING: 12/21/2014, WIN 17-13
Carolina hasn’t visited Cleveland in almost a decade but owns one of their best records against the AFC North team. However, the last trip resulted in the only loss for the Panthers against the Browns.
Following a season in which the team didn’t win a game there is literally no where to go but up for Cleveland next year.
Detroit Lions
2017 RECORD: 9-7
OFFENSE: 13th 337.8 YPG • 7th 25.6 PPG
DEFENSE: 27th 355.8 YPG • 21st 23.5 PPG
ALL-TIME RECORD: 6-2
LAST MEETING: 10/8/2017, WIN 27-24
Carolina just visited Ford Field last season winning impressively before a furious Matt Stafford attempt to pull his Lions back into the game late. The Panthers are 2-1 at Detroit, suffering their only loss during the 2011 regular season.
Philadelphia Eagles*
2017 RECORD: 13-3
OFFENSE: 7th 365.8 YPG • 3rd 28.6 PPG
DEFENSE: 4th 306.5 YPG • 4th 18.4 PPG
ALL-TIME RECORD: 4-7
LAST MEETING: 10/12/2017, LOSS 28-23
Another opponent the Panthers faced last season but next year Carolina travels to NFC number one seed Philadelphia. The fourth meeting between each team in the last five years, it will be the Panthers first trip to Lincoln Financial Field in four years.
*made playoffs
Pittsburgh Steelers*
2017 RECORD: 13-3
OFFENSE: 3rd 377.9 YPG • 8th 25.4 PPG
DEFENSE: 5th 306.9 YPG • 7th 19.3 PPG
ALL-TIME RECORD: 1-5
LAST MEETING: 09/21/2014, LOSS 37-19
The Panthers and Steelers have only played six times during the regular season but hold a long standing preseason history. Last year was the fifteenth consecutive meeting between the two franchises in the preseason, including four prior meetings.
In those games Carolina is 9-10 but fare much worse in regular season play. Not counting the preseason, the Panthers haven’t visited Pittsburgh since 2010 but did travel there prior to the 2015 season.
*made playoffs
Washington Redskins
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2017 RECORD: 7-9
OFFENSE: 16th 324.9 YPG • 16th 21.4 PPG
DEFENSE: 21st 347.9 YPG • 27th 24.3 PPG
ALL-TIME RECORD: 6-7
LAST MEETING: 12/19/2016, WIN 26-15
Washington hosted Carolina last on a Monday night in 2016, an impressive 26-15 victory for the Panthers in a down season. Failing to have recorded back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history, next year provides another opportunity to accomplish that feat after winning 11 games this season.
Next: 2018 Home Opponents Preview
While none of the Panthers home opponents (non-divisional) made the playoffs, two of their road games will be against playoff bound teams from this year.