Clear your Thanksgiving day: Panthers play the Cowboys
My family has always had Thanksgiving lunch rather than dinner, and I imagine most Charlotte homes will be doing the same this year.
For the first time in franchise history, the Panthers will play on Thanksgiving Day, and it doesn’t get any bigger than a game at Dallas against the Cowboys.
Carolina Panthers schedule includes Thanksgiving at Dallas, back-to-back home night games. http://t.co/xtszBoc2jO pic.twitter.com/LserYF27Sx
— Mike Persinger (@mikepersinger) April 22, 2015
That’s the jewel of Carolina’s 2015 schedule, which was released Tuesday night to great anticipation. But that’s not the only exciting game for the Panthers and their fans this season.
Primetime
Charlotte will see two primetime games against very good opponents. The first comes in Week 7 against the Eagles on Oct. 25. And in case you somehow missed it, Tim Tebow recently signed with Philadelphia. It’s a long shot, but maybe Tebow will grace Bank of America Stadium with his presence.
Yes, that’s a pretzel in the shape of Tim Tebow — pass the mustard! http://t.co/p6jfLgoAgp pic.twitter.com/0HSQsuuzii — People magazine (@people) April 21, 2015
The following week the Panthers host the Indianapolis Colts at home on MondayNight Football. It’ll be the 2011 No. 1 pick Cam Newton against the 2012 top pick in Andrew Luck.
NFL Quarterback Matchup Who’s better? RT for Andrew Luck Fav for Cam Newton pic.twitter.com/8EuThhmq9E
— Football Tweets™ (@FBLifeRT) April 12, 2015
Other schedule highlights
– The Panthers start in Jacksonville in Week 1, and it’s going to be hot
My first reaction to seeing the schedule was YES we dont have to open in HOT Tampa. My second was dang we have to open in HOT Jacksonville.
— Richie Brockel (@RichieBrockel) April 22, 2015
– Carolina has a somewhat early bye week during Week 5, which will be much needed because the stretch coming up …
– Has the Panthers traveling to Seattle, then home against the Eagles, Colts and Packers. If the Panthers can come out of that four-game stretch 2-2, fans should take that as a win.
– Carolina avoided cold-weather games except for the Week 15 match in New York against the Giants. That Dec. 20 game has the potential to be cold, but probably not as cold as last year’s 12-degree game in Minnesota.
brrrrrrr #CARvsMIN RT @ekarow7: A little cold for the #Vikings #panthers game @FOXSports @Vikings pic.twitter.com/UZ7mMhuNzg
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 30, 2014
//><!--– Sorry about your holidays. Carolina is in Dallas for Thanksgiving and in Atlanta just two days after Christmas.//--><!
So how do I, an only child, break this Thanksgiving-in-Dallas news to my mom?
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) April 21, 2015
Other teams
The schedule makers have plenty of other big (non-Panthers) games throughout the season. The defending champion Patriots open the season with a home game against the Steelers. The rematch of the amazing NFC title game between the Packers and Seahawks will occur in Week 2.
Well… this should be fun. @Seahawks. @Packers. Lambeau Field. #Week2 pic.twitter.com/MHOcOFwqAe
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 22, 2015
Former Panthers/Broncos and current Bears coach John Fox will welcome Denver to Chicago in Week 10.
And, as always, the entire Week 17 slate is filled with divisional games that, for some teams, will carry playoff implications.
This story was originally published April 21, 2015 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Clear your Thanksgiving day: Panthers play the Cowboys."