Panthers schedule rumor: Carolina to host Las Vegas Raiders in week 1

A Carolina Panthers schedule rumor could see the franchise opening the 2020 season on home soil against AFC playoff hopefuls, the Las Vegas Raiders.

The new NFL season is proceeding as planned despite the ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. A Carolina Panthers schedule rumor has the team starting the season at Bank of America Stadium against a foe from the AFC.

Joe Person of The Athletic stated the Panthers schedule will see them welcome the Las Vegas Raiders on opening day at home, providing the 2020 season starts on time. This represents a tough opening test for new head coach Matt Rhule in his first competitive game in charge against a team that harbors strong ambitions with a young and talented roster.

It promises to be a season full of ups and downs for the Panthers, which is to be expected during the first year of an expected rebuild. Many experts and oddsmakers have already written off their chances of mounting anything like a challenge in 2020. But there are plenty of reasons to be encouraged given the young talent on their roster.

While this might not come with immediate success. Laying the foundations for a successful future can be the catalyst behind the Panthers becoming contenders in the coming years.

If the Panthers schedule does see them come up against the Raiders in week one. Then it is going to be a crash course for those rookies on the roster making their debuts. Head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock have put together a roster littered with individual talent. But whether they can all come together in the pursuit of one goal remains to be seen.

It should be a good yardstick for the Panthers in terms of what they can achieve next season. The Raiders are expected to improve on their 7-9 record in 2020, albeit in a tough-looking AFC West that consists of the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers schedule looks daunting given the teams they are set to clash with next term. How this young roster goes about their business will go a long way to determining the length of their transition.