How will the Carolina Panthers fare on a game-by-game basis during their first campaign with Frank Reich and Bryce Young leading the charge in 2023?
After months of rebuilding and preparing, the Carolina Panthers finally get their 2023 season underway this weekend. It hasn't been the easiest week for the franchise given the ongoing distraction of Brian Burns' contract stalemate with the front office, but that hasn't stopped fans from wondering what this new regime might be capable of if everything clicks right away.
Not many are tipping the Panthers to do much. However, there are a few analysts who are highly positive about the team's chances of making their presence felt within an NFC South division that looks there for the taking.
With that in mind, we took an in-depth look at Caroina's chances in our final game-by-game predictions for the 2023 campaign.
Carolina Panthers at Falcons - Week 1
This is a winnable game for the Carolina Panthers to begin their season. But with injuries to the wide receiver room and Brian Burns' status also up in the air due to his contract dispute, it's not a clear-cut case.
The Falcons will be highly charged for this one in a hostile environment. They'll be eager to make life difficult for Bryce Young and the likes of Grady Jarrett will also be salivating at the prospect of going up against rookie fourth-round offensive lineman Chandler Zavala.
Prediction: Win (1-0)
It could go either way, in all honesty. Even though the Burns situation is evolving into an unnecessary distraction, we're confident it'll be alright on the night.
Carolina Panthers vs. Saints - Week 2
Monday Night Football returns to Bank of America Stadium as the Carolina Panthers celebrate the competitive home debut of Bryce Young. But make no mistake, this is another pivotal early season clash in pursuit of gaining supremacy within the NFC South.
The New Orleans Saints are favored to win the division by many. Keyshawn Johnson on FOX Sports even went as far as to pick them for this year's Super Bowl in one of the wildest takes I've seen heading into the season.
Prediction: Win (2-0)
Fans will provide an exceptional atmosphere that the Panthers can hopefully feed off. If they could get one over on the Saints and start 2-0, it represents the best possible foundation to build a successful campaign.
Carolina Panthers at Seahawks - Week 3
This is another tricky game to predict. The Seattle Seahawks became one of the league's biggest surprise packages last season thanks in no small part to the upturn in production from quarterback Geno Smith, who defied expectations to earn a Pro Bowl distinction and a bumper new contract.
Going to Seattle is notoriously difficult. But the Panthers might be able to take some heart from their win at the same venue last season, even though things look completely different in Carolina these days.
Prediction: Loss (2-1)
It's another game that could be decided by fine margins. The Panthers have a chance, but the Seahawks might have too much firepower when it's all said and done.
Carolina Panthers vs. Vikings - Week 4
It appears the Minnesota Vikings are a team in flux heading into the new campaign. They've gotten rid of some experienced veterans to indicate a rebuild of sorts, but keeping Danielle Hunter around shows those in power fancy their chances of retaining the NFC North if everyone stays clear of injuries.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins is productive and wide receiver Justin Jefferson is arguably the league's most dynamic threat. However, the inside information from Adam Thielen might be enough to tip the scales in the Carolina Panthers' favor on home soil.
Prediction: Win (3-1)
The Panthers have to make their home games count this season. Minnesota is a dangerous outfit, but Frank Reich's men are capable of producing a positive result.
Carolina Panthers at Lions - Week 5
The Detroit Lions made a huge statement to begin the regular season by winning at the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Dan Campbell's men feel like something special could be in the offing this season, which makes this a tough test for the Panthers all things considered.
Campbell won't want a repeat of the thumping dished out by Carolina last season on Christmas Eve. He'll be reminding his players of that exact fact before they step onto the field, which is only going to make life tougher.
Prediction: Loss (3-2)
The Lions have a lot of firepower and will be highly motivated to avenge their embarrassing loss to the Panthers in 2022. Therefore, it might not go according to plan for Reich in this one.
Carolina Panthers at Dolphins - Week 6
The Carolina Panthers' final game before their early bye week comes at the Miami Dolphins. Much will depend on the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but this is a dynamic outfit capable of leaving any team in the dust offensively when early momentum is generated.
Miami's offense is predicated on speed overwhelming opponents. Carolina has some issues to answer in the secondary, which means it might be difficult to contain the prolific wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Prediction: Loss (3-3)
Couple this with some outstanding weapons on defense, it's not hard to see why the Panthers might find life difficult going into their bye week on a positive note.
Carolina Panthers vs. Texans - Week 8
This is a good game for the Panthers coming off their bye. The Houston Texans have a young, inexperienced team in transition with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud under center, which makes this a winnable clash in front of the home crowd at Bank of America Stadium.
Stroud and Bryce Young will be linked closely - which is something they've experienced since high school. They were the first two signal-callers chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft, so the comparisons will be plentiful throughout their professional journeys.
Prediction: Win (4-3)
With the extra time to prepare and some additional rest, the Panthers should have enough to down the Texans in this one. Anything less could see complications emerge heading into the midway stage.
Carolina Panthers vs. Colts - Week 9
This will be the second straight week where the Carolina Panthers host a first-year quarterback from the 2023 NFL Draft class. Based on multiple reports it appears as if Anthony Richardson was No. 2 on their list behind Bryce Young, which isn't surprising when one considers the exceptional athletic upside at his disposal.
Richardson might be the closest thing to Cam Newton we've seen in terms of size, speed, and physicality. There is some refinement needed from a passing mechanics standpoint, but the Indianapolis Colts clearly feel confident enough in his abilities to throw him in at the deep end immediately.
Prediction: Win (5-3)
That said, being at home and having their own rookie standout, the Panthers can pick up their second-straight triumph after the bye week.
Carolina Panthers at Bears - Week 10
This is one of the most eagerly-anticipated games on the calendar. There is a weird rivalry brewing between Panthers fans and the Chicago Bears on social media, which stems from the bombshell trade between the two teams that landed Bryce Young at No. 1 overall in the draft.
The Bears got D.J. Moore and a ton of draft capital out of it, which they feel pretty happy about. This game also happens to be on Thursday Night Football, which is the second and final primetime game for Young unless a contest gets flexed later in the campaign.
Prediction: Loss (5-4)
Again, this could legitimately go either way. Bears fans aren't going to make this a pleasant experience for the Panthers and that might prove decisive when push comes to shove.
Carolina Panthers vs. Cowboys - Week 11
Things don't get any easier for the Carolina Panthers in Week 11 when the Dallas Cowboys come to town. This will probably feel like a road game when one considers the number of visiting fans that might be in attendance at Bank of America Stadium, which represents another big challenge for Bryce Young during his first pro campaign.
Dallas is once again tipped by many to go deep into the postseason. They almost always flatter to deceive, but Dan Quinn's defense alone looks elite enough to propel them into contention.
Prediction: Loss (5-5)
If Mike McCarthy's play-calling sparks the offense into life, the Cowboys will be a tough out for anybody. So the Panthers would do well to get anything out of this one.
Carolina Panthers at Titans - Week 12
It's hard to gauge what to expect from the Tennessee Titans this season. They have talent on both sides of the football that must be respected, but serious questions surround the quarterback position that could hold them back from contention in the AFC South.
Ryan Tannehill will start the campaign under center, but whether he'll still have the same responsibilities at this stage remains to be seen. The Titans drafted Will Levis in the hope he can be their long-term answer, but Malik Willis demonstrated exceptional growth this summer and is reportedly their clear No. 2 currently.
Prediction: Win (6-5)
If the Panthers' run defense can keep Derrick Henry quiet, they have a good chance. But as we all know, that's easier said than done.
Carolina Panthers at Buccaneers - Week 13
With Tom Brady officially retired at long last, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are embarking on a period of transition. There is also no fear factor attached to playing them home or away entering the 2023 campaign.
The Carolina Panthers come up against a familiar NFC South foe for the first time this season. They also look set to square off against their former quarterback Baker Mayfield providing he is still under center by this point.
Prediction: Win (7-5)
No NFL game is a cake walk and the Buccaneers still have an abundance of weapons that demand close attention. However, the Panthers should be relishing the prospect of going up versus Mayfield - a signal-caller clearly on the decline in recent seasons.
Carolina Panthers at Saints - Week 14
Another tricky road game sees the Panthers travel to the New Orleans Saints in Week 14. There will be some weary limbs within the ranks at this stage and despite winning at the venue last season, the Caesars Superdome hasn't been the most hospitable place for Carolina over the years.
We should have a broader perspective about where both teams are at this juncture. The Saints will also have running back Alvin Kamara in the lineup, who'll miss their first encounter through suspension.
Prediction: Loss (7-6)
It would be a real coup if the Panthers could get another victory in New Orleans at such an important time of the campaign. For now, we're going with the hosts by a slender margin.
Carolina Panthers vs. Falcons - Week 15
It'll be a long time before the Carolina Panthers see the Atlanta Falcons again after this weekend's regular-season opener. Both teams should look entirely different from the rusty football you're likely to witness at times in Week 1, but Frank Reich will be hoping home advantage can be enough for a much-needed triumph.
Bryce Young should be fully immersed in the offense and well up to speed with what's required in the NFL. The same goes for Desmond Ridder on the other side, although he doesn't have anything like the intangibles that the former Alabama stud brings to the table.
Prediction: Win (8-6)
This game should have some playoff-type urgency attached. If the Panthers handle the pressure well enough and the coaching staff also holds their nerve, they can win.
Carolina Panthers vs. Packers - Week 16
Much like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers are venturing into the unknown this season without a legendary quarterback leading the charge. Aaron Rodgers is gone after being traded to the New York Jets, but there is a growing sense of belief that Jordan Love can perform much better than many anticipate.
Love has a good supporting cast of young playmakers and an offensive line that should provide enough time in the pocket, Green Bay also has a top-tier defense capable of keeping them in games when the offense isn't clicking.
Prediction: Loss (8-7)
The Panthers managed to dominate on Christmas Eve last year and could do the same again. But there can be no room for complacency against a Packers outfit that has the scope to become one of the NFL's surprises in 2023.
Carolina Panthers at Jaguars - Week 17
The Jacksonville Jaguars are being tipped by many to make noise in the highly competitive AFC. While they might win a less-than-stellar division once again, going any further will be dependent on their progressive defense and Trevor Lawrence's projected third-year leap.
Both teams should be right in the thick of things if these predictions are accurate. The Carolina Panthers won't want to lose momentum at a difficult time as Frank Reich goes up against a head coach in Doug Pederson who he helped win a Super Bowl during their time together on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prediction: Loss (8-8)
The margin for error is slim. But the Jaguars offense and its expected potency could mean the Panthers are left with nothing to show for their efforts.
Carolina Panthers vs. Buccaneers - Week 18
What better way to end the season than with a home game against one of their NFC South rivals? And as previously stated, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not the force of old.
It would be a surprise if the Buccaneers were anywhere close to the playoffs at this stage. For the Panthers, getting to 9-8 might be enough within a weak-looking NFC aside from the Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys.
Prediction: Win (9-8)
Considering the vast changes made across the franchise this offseason, emerging with a winning record from the 2023 campaign would be a big plus for head coach Frank Reich and rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Whether it results in postseason involvement is another matter.