5 toughest matchups for Panthers QB Sam Darnold in 2021
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold vs. New England Patriots
- Week 9 (November 7).
This will be the most emotionally charged game of the 2021 season due to the return of former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to Bank of America Stadium. The 2015 NFL MVP will have a big score to settle against his old team, who cast him aside in favor of free-agent signing Teddy Bridgewater that didn’t exactly go according to plan.
However, what might get overlooked is the fact Sam Darnold will be coming up against a man who has devised game plans to significantly hamper his production in almost every game against the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick seems to have the signal-caller’s number judging by his previous clashes and it will be up to the No. 3 overall selection in 2018 to try and put things right now he is a member of the Panthers.
The Patriots will be much better on defense next season. They are getting plenty of senior figures back into the fold following their decisions to opt-out of the previous campaign, with the addition of Matt Judon in free agency another massive boost to a unit that went through some complications last time around.
Darnold cannot “see ghosts” when he faces Belichick and the Patriots this time. His production will be scrutinized heavily in this one with Newton on the opposing team and it’s important he keeps his composure to put Carolina in the best possible position to succeed.