Predicting the Carolina Panthers 2021 season game by game
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots
- Week 9 (Sunday, November 7)
- 1 pm
- CBS
This is the one that Carolina Panthers fans have been waiting for.
Cam Newton makes his triumphant return to Bank of America Stadium in Week 9 with the New England Patriots, which is a revenge game for the quarterback following his messy release from the organization last year. This is all the motivation needed for the 2015 NFL MVP and he will be eager to get one over on the team that gave up on him in favor of Teddy Bridgewater.
It’s going to be an emotionally charged occasion, to put it mildly. Bill Belichick knows how to make Sam Darnold extremely uncomfortable from their previous clashes and if the same happens again, it might be a long afternoon for Carolina.
Prediction: Loss
This defeat has nothing really to do with Newton, although he’ll need to perform well if he is still starting over Mac Jones by this point. However, the Patriots made some outstanding additions in free agency, got some exceptional talent via the draft, and will also be getting key personnel back on defense who opted out in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Oh, and that’s not forgetting Belichick’s increased sense of urgency after Tom Brady won another Super Bowl in his first season away from the franchise.