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          NFL Nation

          Carolina Panthers have tough opener, little prime-time exposure

          Cam Newton and the Panthers could have a challenging December, as their last three opponents made the playoffs last season. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterApr 18, 2019, 12:50 AM
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          The NFL has released its 2019 regular-season schedule. Here's a look at what's in store for the Carolina Panthers:

          Game-by-game prediction

          Panthers reporter David Newton is predicting a 9-7 finish:

          Sept. 8: vs. L.A. Rams, Loss

          Sept. 12: vs. Tampa Bay (TNF), Win

          Sept. 22: at Arizona, Win

          Sept. 29: at Houston, Loss

          Oct. 6: vs. Jacksonville, Win

          Oct. 13: vs. Tampa Bay in London, Win

          Oct. 27: at San Francisco, Win

          Nov. 3: vs. Tennessee, Win

          Nov. 10: at Green Bay, Loss

          Nov. 17: vs. Atlanta, Win

          Nov. 24: at New Orleans, Loss

          Dec. 1: vs. Washington, Win

          Dec. 8: at Atlanta, Loss

          Dec. 15: vs. Seattle, Loss

          Dec. 22: at Indianapolis, Loss

          Dec. 29: vs. New Orleans, Win

          Strength of schedule: .502, 16th

          Breakdown

          Coach Ron Rivera often talks about measuring-stick games and respect. That makes this his ideal schedule. The measuring stick on how good the Panthers can be comes in the opener against the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams. How the Panthers handle this game and a quick turnaround against Tampa Bay will go a long way toward setting the tone for the season. The respect comes from the league not scheduling Carolina with a Monday or Sunday night prime-time game. You can bet Rivera will use that for motivation.

          Who Dat

          The schedule-makers liked the drama of Carolina facing New Orleans twice in the final three weeks last season so much that they almost pulled a repeat. The NFC South rivals play each other twice in the final five weeks, including the finale in Charlotte, so if the division comes down to these two, as some predict, there will be plenty of intrigue. Maybe even big enough to get flipped to prime time. Winning two of the three games before that against Atlanta, Seattle and Indianapolis in what is Carolina’s toughest stretch might be more important to making the finale significant.

          London homecoming

          For the first time in team history, the Panthers will travel abroad for a game. The 9:30 a.m. Oct. 13 NFC South game against Tampa Bay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London will be a homecoming for defensive end Efe Obada, a Nigerian-born player who grew up in foster homes around the city after being left homeless there at the age of 8. The game will come during a four-game stretch that also includes Jacksonville, San Francisco and Tennessee, a stretch the Panthers may need to sweep to make the playoffs.