5 critical observations from Carolina Panthers 2022 schedule release

Carolina Panthers must make home advantage count early

It will be difficult.

There’s absolutely no getting away from that.

But the Carolina Panthers must take advantage of their early schedule to stand any chance of making a splash in 2022.

Four of the first five games scheduled are on home soil. Bank of America Stadium hasn’t exactly been the most intimidating of places for the opposition to visit in recent years, but that is sure to change if the Panthers can generate some early momentum to build upon.

Carolina was blessed with some winnable games last time around that saw Matt Rhule’s men at 3-0 before things trended on a downward curve pretty quickly. While the teams represent a much stiffer challenge during the upcoming campaign, playing in familiar surroundings should give them a lively chance of attaining some semblance of respectability.

Here is what the Panthers are up against over the first five weeks:

• Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns
• Week 2: at New York Giants
• Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints
• Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals
• Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Realistically speaking, if the Panthers can get out of these five games with a winning record, it’s a solid foundation from which to build. But with some formidable adversaries right out of the gate, it makes their preparation in training camp and the preseason even more important.