Carolina Panthers: 3 matchups to circle on 2020 schedule

Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 2)

The Carolina Panthers get a division rivalry matchup early on in Week 2 of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams made a lot of changes to their rosters during the offseason. It will be the first time starting quarterbacks Tom Brady and Teddy Bridgewater face off against one another in the pivotal NFC South contest.

Last year the season series was split 1-1. The Bucs won by a score of 20-14 in Charlotte in the second week of 2019. The Panthers formed a late fourth-quarter comeback but the Bucs’ defense held up and stuffed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey at the goal line in the game’s final seconds.

Carolina came out on top in Week 6 winning by a final score of 37-26. McCaffrey got his revenge by scoring two touchdowns in the matchup that took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

This year the Buccaneers are expected to be the superior team because they upgraded the quarterback position adding the future Hall of Famer. This game will be a great test for Carolina and the first chance to see where they stack up against one of the best teams in the conference.

The Panthers enter 2020 with one of the league’s youngest defensive units in years. Going against Brady and the high-powered Tampa offense is exactly what this group needs to help prepare them for a future in the NFL.

This matchup will give us a preview of what to expect from both new-look teams.