Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
It’s a new era in the NFC South even though Drew Brees and Matt Ryan are still going strong for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. Of course, the fact that it’s a new era has a lot more to do with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers than it does with the Carolina Panthers. Nonetheless, it is true that the Panthers are in the midst of a complete overhaul. Ron Rivera and Cam Newton are out; Matt Rhule and Teddy Bridgewater are in.
The good news in Carolina is that things can’t get much worse than last year’s 5-11 campaign…. Or can they? The Panthers are going to be bad in 2020. Just how bad is the question—and to find out the answer let’s break it down game-by-game.
Week 1: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
A home date with the Raiders represents one of the Panthers’ best chances to win a football game. And it comes right away in Week 1, assuming the 2020 NFL season starts on time amidst the coronavirus crisis. Win
Week 2: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Following a rare win in the opener, losses are going to come for Carolina—and come in a big way. Whereas a home game with Las Vegas is about as easy as it gets, a road trip to Tampa Bay is at the complete opposite end of the difficulty spectrum. Loss
Week 3: @ Los Angeles Chargers
I can’t see these Panthers winning more than a couple of road games in 2020. Actually, I can’t see them winning more than one road game in 2020. And this one won’t be it—even though it should be somewhat competitive. Loss
Week 4: Arizona Cardinals
A few people are pressing on the Cardinals’ hype-train accelerator a little too fervently these days. They aren’t going to be that good…but they are going to be a lot better than Carolina. Loss
Week 5: @ Atlanta Falcons
The Mercedes-Benz Dome is not exactly the most difficult place for opposing teams to play, but it’s also not a walk in the park—especially not for Carolina. Loss
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
Chicago’s defense should be able to figure out how to get the better of a low-scoring contest against Bridgewater and company. Look for the Panthers to throw away late opportunities in an ugly affair. Loss
Week 7: vs. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans is coming off a bye week and playing at home. All signs point to this being one-way traffic for Brees and the defending NFC South champions. Loss
Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
If the Panthers want to avoid going 0-6 in an unceremonious sweep at the hands of division rivals, they better win this showdown. But…they probably won’t. Loss
Week 9: @ Kansas City Chiefs
The new-look Carolina Panthers against the defending Super Bowl champions? What could possibly go wrong?!?! This should be one of the biggest mismatches of the entire NFL season. Loss
Week 10: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If fans are allowed in stadiums this year, they will come out in droves for this one. Of course, there’s just one small detail worth noting: they will come to see the other team. Loss
Week 11: vs. Detroit Lions
Carolina won’t be the absolute worst team in the NFL. And only the absolute worst team in the NFL does something like lose 10 games in a row. The skid ends at nine at the expense of a moribund Detroit franchise. Win
Week 12: @ Minnesota Vikings
Barring more than a couple of interceptions thrown by Kirk Cousins, Minnesota just isn’t losing to the Panthers at home. On the other side of the ball, the Vikings may be able to contain Christian McCaffrey. Loss
Week 13: BYE
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Their bye will be one of the Panthers’ most successful weeks. But it won’t be as successful as a home showdown against the Broncos. Look for them to score a second victory in the span of three games. Break ‘em up! Win
Week 15: @ Green Bay Packers
The Frozen Tundra could be just that at this point in the season. A team from the southeast will have no interest spending time in the cold north—especially when it won’t be playing for a playoff spot. Loss
Week 16: @ Washington Redskins
This is going to be the road game Carolina wins. Rivera, who is now in Washington, obviously knows a thing or two about his former franchise—but these are not the same Panthers. Rhule will have a few tricks up his sleeve for this one. Win
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
Carolina will have long since been eliminated from playoff contention at this point, instead jostling for draft-pick position. New Orleans could be battling for a division title. It will be over by halftime. Loss
For Rhule’s first season at the helm, 4-12 would not terrible. At the same time, it also wouldn’t be great. You have to admit: 4-12 sounds just about right for this squad. McCaffrey is too good for Carolina to be completely hopeless, but a one-man show won’t be enough to put the Panthers in any sort of contention right away in the post-Rivera, post-Newton, post-Luke Kuechly era.
