The Carolina Panthers have bigger ambitions heading into the 2025 season. Head coach Dave Canales laid down the gauntlet to his rivals, putting them on notice by proclaiming his supreme confidence in being more competitive when competitive action commences.
Carolina's playing personnel must now back up Canales' big talk. There is a quiet confidence growing in the building, but their situation remains precarious until further notice.
This team has almost always flattered to deceive under David Tepper's ownership. Things look more stable now, which stems from some encouraging growth over the second half of 2024 and the renewed confidence in third-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Dan Morgan worked hard to rectify the defense this offseason. Whether these alterations bear fruit remains to be seen, but defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero won't last much longer unless progress arrives in some capacity.
The Panthers are relying heavily on their youth movement to steer them on the right path. That's a lot to ask, but the fact that they are all growing together cannot be seen as anything other than positive. It doesn't guarantee success, but it's not a bad place to start.
A fascinating few months are ahead. Before then, we predicted the first five games in what promises to be a massive season for the Panthers.
Predicting the Panthers' first five games of massive 2025 season
Carolina Panthers at Jaguars - Week 1
- Date: Sunday, September 7
- Time: 1.00 p.m. ET
- Venue: EverBank Stadium
- Channel: FOX
First up for the Carolina Panthers is a trip to the Jacksonville Jaguars. No road game is easy, but things could have been a lot worse for head coach Dave Canales to begin the second season under his leadership.
The Jaguars are going through another transition. First-year head coach Liam Coen is looking to improve the culture. This perennial struggler has been down for a long time, so it's going to take a while before the ship is steadied. This is something the Panthers could potentially take advantage of if everything clicks right away.
Jacksonville has some dangerous weapons on both sides of the football that warrant respect. It's a big campaign for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, so he must take advantage of the improved options at his disposal. These now include Travis Hunter, the dual-threat phenom who plans to play both ways in the pros.
Not having Ikem Ekwonu could be a blow against the formidable defensive end tandem of Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. But if the Panthers can keep Bryce Young clean in the pocket, Jacksonville's secondary could be vulnerable.
- Prediction: Win (1-0)
This could legitimately go either way. However, if there was ever a time for the Panthers to make a statement, it's right now.