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Carolina Panthers: The Preseason Schedule is Here

By John Woodcock

Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) heads for the bench after a New England Patriots touchdown during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) heads for the bench after a New England Patriots touchdown during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers received their preseason schedule yesterday.

The Carolina Panthers received their preseason schedule just as the rest of the NFL did yesterday. The result is a three game foray into the AFC South followed by the traditional final preseason game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This schedule offers the Panthers a chance to judge whether their active off-season has paid off.

First, we can disregard the game with the Steelers. This is the fourth preseason game and will mostly feature people who are trying to make the final roster on both sides. Therefore the game will not tell us much about the true nature of the Panthers’ roster. We could get a fair number of Joe Webb highlights to make up for it.

The key game of the group is traditionally the third game. That will pit the Panthers against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars have been doing their best to buy their way into contention during the last two free agency periods. This team traded for tackle Branden Albert, and signed big names like safety Barry Church, end Calais Campbell, and cornerback A.J. Bouye.

Therefore Cam Newton and the offense will get a proper challenge in this game. This will be an opportunity to see how the new line members handle Campbell and the Jaguars improved defensive line. It will also test Newton’s reads with the talent injections in the Jaguar secondary. On defense, the Panthers will get to test Blake Bortles with their pass rush.

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The first game of the series will also offer some challenge as the Panthers play the Houston Texans. The Texans have been figuring things out, but they have lacked the quarterback to take them over the hump in the AFC playoffs. J.J. Watt returns from injury and Jadaveon Clowney continues to improve as the Texans figure out his proper role in the defense. That is a fine welcome back to Newton and the offense. On defense, it will be interesting to see who the Texans trot out there at the starting quarterback spot. Will it be Tom Savage or a newly minted rookie?

The second game will feature the Tennessee Titans. Like the Jaguars, the Titans have been making improvements as the build around quarterback Marcus Mariota. The have two good tailbacks in DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. They acquired cornerback Logan Ryan in free agency and also brought in former Broncos defensive tackle Sylvester Williams to bolster the defense.

This second game will largely feature whatever the Panthers learned in the first game against the Texans. It will be more of a test of their run defense.

Next: Panthers Thinking TE?

That is it for the Panthers’ preseason schedule here in 2017. This march through the AFC South will present the Panthers with teams that are trying to grow into playoff teams much like the Panthers are trying to do this year.

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