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Carolina Panthers: First Thoughts on Schedule

By John Woodcock

Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Confetti falls as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts during his walk off the field following the game against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl 50 at Levi
Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Confetti falls as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts during his walk off the field following the game against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl 50 at Levi /
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The Carolina Panthers face a year of challenge noted by the release of the NFL Schedule.

The Carolina Panthers Schedule was released yesterday in its entirety. While the teams were known in advance and the home/away breakdown was also known in advance, yesterday was the first time that dates could be attached to the calendar.

Here is the Carolina Panthers Schedule for 2016:

Sept 8 – At Denver Broncos, Thursday Night

Sept 18 – San Francisco 49ers

Sept 25 – Minnesota Vikings

Oct 2 – At Atlanta Falcons

Oct 10 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday Night

Oct 16 – At New Orleans Saints

BYE

Oct 30 – Arizona Cardinals

Nov 6 – at Los Angeles Rams

Nov 13 – Kansas City Chiefs

Nov 17 – New Orleans Saints, Thursday Night

Nov 27 – At Oakland Raiders

Dec 4 – At Seattle Seahawks, Sunday Night

Dec 11 – San Diego Chargers

Dec 19 – At Washington Redskins, Monday Night

Dec 24 – Atlanta Falcons, Saturday

Jan 1 – At Tampa Bay Buccaneers

So here are thoughts on the way the schedule has been arranged.

More from Carolina Panthers

  1. It’s Primetime, Primetime

Last year the Panthers were not in much demand for late night viewing. What a difference a year makes. This schedule has the Panthers playing big time night games five times. The best of those games in week one against the Broncos and Week 13 against the Seahawks.

  1. The Division hits early and then very late

Last year the Panthers had a backlog of divisional matchups at the end of the season. This year the team will get it split about half and half between early and late. In both cases, the games come back to back. Weeks 4-6 could decide whether the Panthers are owning the division again or chasing a Wild Card berth.

More from Old North Banter

  1. The BYE

It is not so much that it is a later bye (Week 7), although that may be more useful down the stretch. It is more that the bye comes before the Cardinals game. The Arizona Cardinals are one of a number of teams that have the Panthers in the crosshairs. They will come pumped up for the NFC Championship rematch and the Panthers will be glad they had an extra week to get ready.

  1. The Saints on Short Rest

For some reason the NFL pit the Panthers against the New Orleans Saints twice in situations where the Panthers have less than a week to prepare. In the later Thursday Night showdown, both teams will be on short breaks. However the earlier matchup follows a Panthers Monday Night game. This seems like an oversight.

  1. The Year of the Target

The Panthers have a lot of foes that are wanting a piece of them this year. Besides the obvious division rivals like the Saints, Falcons, and Buccaneers, the Panthers play a number of teams they beat last year. That group looks like Seattle, Arizona, and Washington. The Broncos game will be a feud game as well.

  1. Going to L.A.

The Panthers will play in Los Angeles for the first time this year. They will also play the Raiders and Chargers, two teams linked to the second biggest American city.

Next: Week One Showdown with Broncos

So that is the quick and dirty on the Panthers schedule. More care will be taken later to look at the matchups the Panthers have. They are still drafting on April 28 after all. We don’t really know the entire team makeup yet.

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