How could the Carolina Panthers fare during the 2022 season now that their official schedule has finally been released?
The Carolina Panthers now know the structure of their 2022 season slate after the NFL officially published the schedule for each NFL team on Thursday. An exciting time for fans as preparations gather pace for trips and which contests they’ll attend, but it remains a precarious situation for the organization despite some eye-catching arrivals during free agency and the draft.
It’s a true make-or-break campaign for the Panthers next time around. One that will likely determine what sort of future head coach Matt Rhule has with the franchise moving forward.
The former Baylor man has found life difficult so far, accumulating 10 wins from his first two seasons. Many thought team owner David Tepper would pull the plug on his expensive experiment after Carolina lost 12 of its final 14 games, but the billionaire is clearly still confident he found the right man to lead the Panthers back to prominence.
Rhule’s college program building made substantial strides in Year 3. Something that the Panthers hope will come true at the next level.
Any further complications or underachievement will not sit well with the team’s loyal fanbase, who are growing tired of failure while others around them flourish.
The stakes are immensely high for Carolina when competitive action begins again. We took a look at how they might fare in an extremely early game-by-game record prediction.
Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns
As fate would have it, the Carolina Panthers could be coming up against a quarterback they coveted for more than a year in Week 1 when the Cleveland Browns come to Bank of America Stadium.
Providing Deshaun Watson does not get a suspension from the league regarding 22 pending civil suits regarding sexual misconduct allegations, the former Clemson man will be making his Browns debut after choosing them as his preferred destination thanks in no small part to the fully guaranteed $230 million he received from the organization.
This is a game that has many storylines attached. Considering the Panthers have not entirely shut the door on trading for Baker Mayfield, it could also be an early revenge game for the former Oklahoma standout if a move to Carolina becomes a reality.
Week 1 will also be a baptism of fire for No. 6 overall selection Ikem Ekwonu, who will pit his exceptional talent against defensive end Myles Garrett, who has long been regarded as one of the league’s most feared pass-rushers.
Week 1 Prediction: Loss (0-1)
Much will obviously depend on who is starting under center and how things come together during the offseason. But this will be a difficult opening contest and one that Carolina might have a tough time getting something out of.
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
This was one of the more winnable games for the Carolina Panthers on their 2021 schedule. As it turned out, their trip to the New York Giants was arguably the team’s most disastrous loss and a testament to how things were crumbling all around Matt Rhule.
It’s a big upcoming campaign for the Giants, who have a new general manager and head coach calling the shots. Brian Daboll is a hugely respected figure who worked wonders with the Buffalo Bills as their offensive coordinator, so the chances of this franchise turning around quickly are relatively high despite their salary-cap constraints.
Drafting Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux will help enormously. Two difference-makers on either side of the football that should make an instant impact at the next level.
This is an absolute must-win contest for the Panthers. One that will tell us how far this team has come from last season’s debacle at MetLife Stadium.
Week 2 Prediction: Win (1-1)
Again, this will be a game where Carolina will feel confident about securing success. It will also see Ben McAdoo return to the Giants for the first time in a prominent play-calling position since he was fired as their head coach.
Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
The first divisional matchup for the Carolina Panthers comes in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. A team that has undergone some significant changes from head coach to playing personnel this offseason.
Considering how bleak things looked from a salary-cap standpoint, the Saints worked miracles and even managed to sign some top talent along the way. They did lose premium left tackle Terron Armstead, but this was a necessary sacrifice and the coaching staff will now be hoping first-round selection Trevor Penning puts it all together rapidly.
There is also a concern about Sean Payton no longer being around and just how well Jameis Winston is going to come back from a serious knee injury. Although the Panthers possess some grave concerns of their own, picking up a victory on home soil in the face of NFC South opposition will be a significant confidence boost for a young roster that needs to hit the ground running in no uncertain terms.
It will not be easy. But beating the Saints is not the formidable task it once was and it’s also something Carolina managed to accomplish early in 2021.
Week 3 Prediction: Win (2-1)
A lot has to go right for the Panthers in this one, but the added incentive should make all the difference. Or at least it should.
Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals
This is the best possible time to be playing the Arizona Cardinals.
Make absolutely no mistake about that.
The Carolina Panthers will not have to deal with DeAndre Hopkins in Week 4 after the prolific wide receiver was given a six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. A ruling that the All-Pro was initially going to challenge before accepting his fate.
Arizona looked like a completely different team without Hopkins last season. His absence led to quarterback Kyler Murray regressing considerably and although they made the playoffs, it was a swift exit and one that ended up being a major disappointment given how well Kliff Kingsbury’s men began the campaign.
Again, this will be dependent on whether the Panthers have their own house in order. And the Cardinals did trade for Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, who was a favorite target of Murray’s in college.
Week 4 Prediction: Win (3-1)
If the Panthers can generate pressure on Murray and force him into throwing the football rather than running out of the backfield, they might just have a chance. And a 3-1 start to open the campaign would be a major boost to everyone associated with the franchise.
Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers
There are some moving parts to the San Francisco 49ers and their chances in 2022. The status of Deebo Samuel remains uncertain despite the team holding firm regarding his trade request prior to the draft, with the questions surrounding just who is going to start under center something else hanging over them throughout the preparation period.
Jimmy Garoppolo is still under contract and this situation also depends on how the coaching staff views the development of Trey Lance after the No. 3 overall selection was used sparingly as a rookie.
Although this will be a stern test of credentials, the Carolina Panthers have a good chance of building on their good run of form if they can somehow do enough to thwart the Niners’ substantial running attack.
This is likely to be a game of fine margins. The battle between Nick Bosa and Ikem Ekwonu is another that will go a long way to determining the overall outcome.
Week 5 Prediction: Loss (3-2)
Kyle Shanahan has a solid roster that looks capable of competing in a tough division next season. Carolina’s ambitions are less lofty and even though winning this one is well within their capabilities, coming through in the clutch has been a tough task for the team under Matt Rhule and might end up being the same again.
Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Rams
This will be the toughest challenge of the season. A trip to the defending Super Bowl champions after the Los Angeles Rams went on the most memorable postseason run imaginable to get their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2021.
Sean McVay has a stacked roster at his disposal in pursuit of back-to-back titles. And the NFC is not exactly loaded with elite teams that could prevent them from reaching the big occasion once again.
As for the Carolina Panthers, there will be no pressure on them in this one. So approaching the contest with a relaxed demeanor might actually work in their favor despite being heavy underdogs.
Stopping the Rams’ offense is a difficult proposition at the best of times. They did trade Robert Woods and lose Odell Beckham Jr., but acquiring Allen Robinson to put alongside triple crown winner Cooper Kupp is a dynamic duo that will strike fear into anybody they come up against.
Week 6 Prediction: Loss (3-3)
Expecting the worst and hoping for the best would be prudent here for fans. If the Panthers do lose, then it’s not the end of the world by any stretch.
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Things looked promising for the Carolina Panthers and others within the NFC South at one stage during the offseason when Tom Brady announced his retirement after a phenomenal career. This was expected to come with a period of transition for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also had a wealth of veteran free agents to further complicate matters.
As it turned out, Brady decided that sitting at home just wasn’t for him. The signal-caller unretired after just 40 days, something that completely changes the Panthers’ landscape and perhaps the NFC’s overall.
If the Panthers were hoping for the Bucs to regress considerably, they are now out of luck. There is also the intriguing element of Todd Bowles as head coach after Bruce Arians stepped away into a front-office role.
Brady coming back also convinced some established figures within the locker room to sign new deals. This only complicates matters for Carolina against a team they’ve had a hard time beating ever since the future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback joined the ranks.
Week 7 Prediction: Loss (3-4)
Realistically speaking, the Panthers are not on the Bucs’ level right now. Even if there is a slight chance Brady falls off a cliff at 44 years old.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
As stated previously, the challenge awaiting the NFC South remains difficult after Tom Brady decided to come back in pursuit of one more Super Bowl ring. This means it’s essential for the Carolina Panthers to gain success against their other divisional foes and traveling to the Atlanta Falcons represents a good opportunity to get a valuable road win heading to the midway stage.
The Falcons went after Deshaun Watson and it looked like they were favorites once upon a time. However, this didn’t pan out and it also resulted in the team trading away Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in the immediate aftermath.
This changing of the guard sees Marcus Mariota tasked with starting responsibilities. Desmond Ridder will be waiting in the wings in case things trend downward quickly, but the absence of Calvin Ridley due to a year-long suspension will be sorely felt despite Drake London becoming their first-round pick.
Turning winnable games into actual victories was something the Panthers couldn’t do more often than not in 2021. This game will tell us just how many improvements have been made.
Week 8 Prediction: Loss (3-5)
This one could go either way, in all honesty. A game that’s extremely hard to predict this early into the preparation period.
Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals
Another tricky road trip for the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. The Cincinnati Bengals went from playoff also-rans to AFC champions in 2021 after an extraordinary run to the Super Bowl, where they were narrowly beaten by the Los Angeles Rams to prevent their fairytale from having a happy ending.
The Bengals have been incredibly active during the offseason. They have a revamped offensive line that will do a much better job of protecting quarterback Joe Burrow and provide the likes of Joe Mixon with more space to do damage in the running game.
Couple this with some dynamic wide receivers led by Ja’Mar Chase and an ever-improving defense, there is a lot to like about Cincinnati’s chances of mounting a bold bid next time around despite the increased standard across the conference.
This will be a good mid-season measuring stick for the Panthers. Although just who will be starting at quarterback by this point is anybody’s guess.
Week 9 Prediction: Loss (3-6)
Carolina could cause a major upset and Matt Rhule is overdue for a signature win. But it’s hard to look at how strong the Bengals are right now and think it will come here, leaving the Panthers at 3-6 in this scenario and with far more questions than answers.
Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Carolina Panthers get a quick turnaround before their next game against the Atlanta Falcons. This also happens to be their one and only primetime game of the season unless something gets flexed later on in the campaign.
There doesn’t appear much between the Panthers and Atlanta Falcons on paper. One could even make a strong argument for Carolina’s roster being deeper and stronger overall.
However, football games are not played on paper.
And unless Matt Rhule figures out how to adjust better during contests, the same complications are likely to emerge for the franchise next season.
This will be a chance for the Panthers to prove to the NFL world that they are a team on the up. Players normally respond well to the bright lights of national exposure, which could make a significant difference in this outcome.
Week 10 Prediction: Win (4-6)
Splitting the season series with Atlanta might be seen as a disappointment. But if the Panthers cannot win this one at Bank of America Stadium, there will be some big-time doubts about the team’s future.
Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens
As if things haven’t been testing enough so far, a visit to the Baltimore Ravens is probably the last thing the Carolina Panthers need at this stage of the season with their Week 13 bye upcoming.
With that being said, it’s another chance for the team to pit their skills against a potential playoff contender and make one big push towards respectability heading into the bye week.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson might not have many weapons outside of tight end Mark Andrews and second-year-pro Rashod Bateman. But the Ravens possess an exceptional running game that warrants serious attention.
Carolina’s run defense was suspect down the stretch in 2021. So it remains to be seen how much improvements can be made with Haason Reddick and DaQuan Jones no longer on the front seven.
Jackson is looking to play his way into a megabucks deal sooner rather than later. Although one could make a strong argument that his production has already justified such a huge financial commitment.
Week 11 Prediction: Loss (4-7)
This will be a physical game that the Panthers must be ready for. Anything less than excellence from start to finish will likely end with another loss.
Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos
There is a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the Denver Broncos after their bombshell trade for Russell Wilson. The Super Bowl winner was undoubtedly looking for a change of scenery and although the Carolina Panthers made an inquiry, the player was not willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the organization, with good reason.
Denver has some exciting young talent that can all benefit from Wilson’s arrival on offense. They also have a new progressive head coach and a defense that is going to be fun to watch in 2022.
Although this game is at Bank of America Stadium, the chances of Carolina being fresh and free from injury by this point are highly unlikely. Players and staff will get a good period of rest in Week 13, but it’s going to take an incredible amount of character to head into the bye on a high.
A team that has Denver’s balance in all phases of play is something the Panthers are striving for. It would also be a shock if the Broncos were not looking for a playoff spot despite finding themselves within a very challenging division.
Week 12 Prediction: Loss (4-8)
In truth, it does feel like the Broncos will have a little too much for Carolina based on personnel and coaching. If the Panthers were at 4-8 heading into their bye week, it would be the worst-case scenario for Matt Rhule.
Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks
The bye week is normally a chance to rest up and make adjustments to the game plan. If the Carolina Panthers are sitting at 4-8 by this point, the speculation regarding key figures within the organization will be unparalleled and, in all honesty, could be past the point of no return.
Matt Rhule will be a man under severe pressure. And no matter what transpires down the stretch, the writing could be on the wall if things transpire in this manner.
That won’t concern the players, who will all know more is needed. Going to the Seattle Seahawks after some much-needed time away from the gridiron represents a good chance to get their failing campaign back on track given all the upheaval within the ranks during the offseason so far.
Pete Carroll appears willing to give Drew Lock a shot at the quarterback position after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson. Whether the young signal-caller can finally start realizing his pre-draft potential is the big question that nobody really knows the answer to right now.
Week 14 Prediction: Win (5-8)
This would be a massive morale boost for the Panthers. One that could result in bigger and better things to come over the remaining schedule.
Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
A new era daws for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who no longer have Ben Roethlisberger under center after the quarterback confirmed his retirement after the 2021 campaign. Mitchell Trubisky was signed in free agency and the team also secured the services of Kenny Pickett via the draft to further boost their options.
Rebuilding is not something that Mike Tomlin has ever discussed this offseason. He demands nothing but the best from his players and it’s not like Roethlisberger was performing to a particularly stellar level with his powers regressing as a punishing career finally took its toll.
Pickett was obviously coveted highly by the Carolina Panthers during the evaluation process before they decided against taking the plunge. If everything goes well for the rookie, then he could be in a position to make those in power regret this choice on a field where he starred in the 2021 ACC Championship game.
This is a winnable game for the Panthers. But they have to match the Steelers’ physicality and make key moments count with the pressure well and truly on.
Week 15 Prediction: Loss (6-9)
The outcome of this one might come down to coaching. If this is the case, then Tomlin has a clear advantage over Matt Rhule.
Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions
The festive season means the Carolina Panthers are now playing on Christmas Eve in their final home game against the Detroit Lions. A team that achieved little last season but still left a positive impression with the fight displayed under new head coach Dan Campbell.
The Lions have made some nice moves throughout the offseason. Something that has many suggesting real improvements from the organization in 2022 and possibly beyond is more than attainable.
If the season goes down in this manner, then there will be little to cheer once again for the loyal Panthers’ fanbase. It’s therefore essential that they are sent home with smiles on their faces to enjoy Christmas Day.
Detroit is seen as a work in progress. Much will also depend on how things unfold for the relatively unproven group to this point and how the Panthers can counteract some eye-catching threats on offense that were bolstered by the acquisition of wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Week 16 Prediction: Win (6-9)
Regardless of Carolina’s record by this point, there is absolutely no excuse for a roster this talented not to win this game. Just how much they have left in the tank will be the deciding element to proceedings, one suspects.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A road game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is less than ideal at this stage. It’s highly likely that their NFC South rivals will have playoff seeding on their minds and will be doing everything in their power to put one final nail in the Carolina Panthers’ coffin to further boost morale.
Again, this is a contest that can bring a sense of relaxation within the locker room with nothing much expected. However, the added pressure of players and coaches fighting for their jobs beyond the campaign will likely be on the minds of everyone concerned.
Tom Brady won’t want the Bucs to end the season with a whimper. This is only going to bring about complications when the knockout games begin, so keeping everyone focused and momentum trending in the right direction gives Tampa Bay the best possible chance of regaining their crown.
Things have been a complete disaster against the Bucs since Matt Rhule took charge and Brady completely transformed the franchise. Something that’s unlikely to change unless everything comes together.
Week 17 Prediction: Loss (6-10)
Had Brady rode off into the sunset, things might have been different. Unfortunately for the Panthers, that was not the case and he definitely has their number until proven otherwise.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
The season finale comes at the New Orleans Saints, which is another hunting ground that hasn’t been the most profitable in recent years. Sean Payton may not be around, but the continuity should remain with Dennis Allen as head coach and many top stars sticking around after restructuring their respective deals.
Nobody wants to come out on the wrong end of divisional matchups. The Carolina Panthers split the series with New Orleans in 2022 and they might be forced to settle for something similar this time around.
Week 18 Prediction: Loss (6-11)
Carolina Panthers 2022 season prediction verdict
- Final record – 6-11
This is probably not the progression team owner David Tepper had in mind when he gave Matt Rhule another season as head coach. But whether it’s enough for the billionaire to finally pull the trigger and go in a different direction is another matter.
It would also give Carolina a conundrum during the offseason. A six-win campaign is likely to put them in a good position to select a signal-caller from a much deeper draft class in 2023, which will depend on just how much promise Matt Corral displays during practice and if he eventually gets onto the field.
If Rhule was hanging by a thread before the 2022 campaign, this sort of record would likely spell the end. Something that a large majority of fans feel should have been done a lot sooner.