CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers’ 2016 schedule is highlighted by a franchise-record five prime-time games, including a Sept. 8 trip to Denver for a Super Bowl 50 rematch with the Denver Broncos.
The schedule also includes five other teams that made the playoffs last year, including all three (Seattle, Arizona and Denver) that Carolina faced in the postseason.
Here are my game-by-game predictions:
Week 1: Thursday, Sept. 8, at Denver Broncos, 8:30 p.m. ET
What better way to put a Super Bowl loss behind you than by opening against the team that beat you in the title game. Quarterback Cam Newton already has included this -- "LOOK1NforReVEEENGe –SEPT.8th" -- in an Instagram post. Fortunately for the Panthers, the Broncos aren’t nearly as complete a team as they were in February with the loss of quarterback Peyton Manning (retirement) and defensive end Malik Jackson (free agency), just to name a few. Record: 1-0.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m. ET
Only three seasons ago, the 49ers walked off the field at Bank of America Stadium with a 23-10 playoff victory. The Niners looked poised to remain one of the best teams in the NFC, and quarterback Colin Kaepernick was rated ahead of Cam Newton. Now the 49ers are a mess, the Panthers are the team on the rise and Newton is the reigning NFL MVP. Record: 2-0.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
The last time these teams met it was in frigid Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota stadium. The Panthers had two blocked punts returned for touchdowns in a 31-13 loss. Just a guess, it won’t be cold in Charlotte and the Vikings won’t return two blocked punts for touchdowns. But the Panthers will shut down Adrian Peterson because they excel against the run to remain undefeated. Record: 3-0.
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
Newton appeared ready to announce to the world he was a father (remember his rock-the-baby move?) after scoring an early touchdown at the Georgia Dome a few days after last Christmas. He had to postpone that after a 20-13 loss that ended Carolina’s bid for perfection at 14-0. I’m not big on revenge games, but Newton does have something to prove. Record: 4-0.
Week 5: Monday, Oct. 10, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:30 p.m. ET
Cam Newton passed for four touchdowns and rushed for two more in two lopsided wins against the Bucs a year ago. Tampa Bay may be the team most likely to end Carolina’s three-year streak of winning the NFC South, but it won’t happen until they get their defense turned around. Record: 5-0.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET
The Louisiana Superdome used to be a scary place for the Panthers. But they’ve won the past two there, putting up 41 points each time. New Orleans hasn’t improved its defense enough to change that. Record: 6-0.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Cardinals haven’t forgotten they gave up 49 points and 476 yards of total offense to Carolina in last year’s NFC Championship Game played on this same field. Expect a much closer game between two of the top three teams in the NFC again this season, with the Cardinals showing they remember how to play defense. Record: 6-1.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Rams traded a ton of draft picks to Tennessee for the first pick of the draft so they could get their franchise quarterback. But even franchise quarterbacks struggle as rookies, particularly against a defense that has ranked in the top 10 the past three seasons. Record: 7-1.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET
The last time these teams met, in 2012, the Chiefs made cornerback Josh Norman look so bad he lost his starting job for more than a year and a half. Norman is now a Pro Bowler and probably will have a say in the outcome of this one. Record: 8-1.
Week 11: Thursday, Nov. 17, vs. New Orleans Saints, 8:25 p.m. ET
The Saints may be the worst team in the NFC South. You can put that on Twitter since this is an NBC/NFLN/Twitter game. They should have parted with quarterback Drew Brees and started building for the future, beginning with the defense. Record: 9-1.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, at Oakland Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET
A cross-country trip and the distraction of Thanksgiving makes this feel like an upset. The Raiders are on the rise and quarterback Derek Carr is headed into his third season, when he will be expected to win as Newton was in his third year. Newton went 12-4 that season. Record: 9-2.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, at Seattle Seahawks, 8:30 p.m. ET
Russell Wilson still gives the Panthers fits, as he showed with three touchdowns in the second half of last year’s furious comeback in an NFC divisional game. With the Panthers on consecutive cross-country trips, Wilson will wear down the legs of Carolina’s front four with his scrambles. Record: 9-3.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, vs. San Diego Chargers, 1 p.m. ET
Carolina leads this series 4-1, and with the Chargers in a rebuilding mode there’s no reason to think it won’t be 5-1 after this one. Maybe San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers at least can catch his alma mater (NC State) on television while in town. The Panthers will get back to winning by getting back to a normal week. Record: 10-3.
Week 15: Monday, Dec. 19, at Washington Redskins, 8:30 p.m. ET
Carolina embarrassed the Redskins 44-16 a year ago thanks to five touchdown passes by Newton. But remember, Washington led 14-7 before the wheels came off. This is the Redskins’ chance to shine in prime time needing a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Record: 10-4.
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
The Panthers embarrassed the Falcons 38-0 at Bank of America Stadium a year ago. They’ve won three of their past four at home against Atlanta, with Carolina scoring 30 or more points in its three wins. There’s no reason to believe this trend won’t continue. Record: 11-4.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
With the early-season win, the Panthers will have won seven straight against the Bucs, going back to 2012. Tampa Bay has played Carolina closer at home than on the road, and this one will be no different. But Jameis Winston still will struggle against this defense that intercepted him six times in two games a year ago. Record: 12-4.