Examining Panthers’ 2023 regular-season schedule: Cowboys, Packers headline home games
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2023 Panthers season preview
A new coaching staff, a new quarterback and a new hope for the fanbase. The Charlotte Observer previews the upcoming season for the Carolina Panthers.
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Examining Panthers’ 2023 regular-season schedule: Cowboys, Packers headline home games
The Panthers’ 2023 regular season is all about rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
The first overall pick is the team’s starting signal-caller entering Week 1, and he will deal with a slew of formidable defenses throughout his first NFL campaign. Young will also duel against notable quarterbacks, including Houston Texans passer CJ Stroud, who was selected right after Young with the second overall pick in April’s draft.
The Panthers will battle against the likes of the Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins outside of the NFC South, which is a division that appears to be wide open entering the opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
Here’s a look at the Panthers’ 2023 regular-season schedule:
Week 1
at Atlanta Falcons
Date/Time: Sept. 10 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
Carolina and Atlanta will kick off their respective seasons with an NFC South grudge match on Sunday. After splitting their series last year, the Panthers will look to pounce on the Falcons with season-opening win.
Week 2
vs. New Orleans Saints
Date/Time: Sept. 18 (Monday Night Football), 7:15 p.m.
Young gets his first regular-season prime time game in Week 2 when the Panthers host the Saints in Carolina’s home opener. Will Young be able to out-duel veteran Derek Carr?
Week 3
at Seattle Seahawks
Date/Time: Sept. 24 (Sunday), 4:05 p.m.
The Panthers were able to upset the Seahawks on the road last season under a different staff. Can Frank Reich and company pull off a similar result?
Week 4
vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date/Time: Oct. 1 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The Panthers will look to ring in October with a win against a talented Vikings team at home. Young will, again, duel against a notable quarterback in Kirk Cousins.
Week 5
at Detroit Lions
Date/Time: Oct. 8 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The Panthers will return to the road for another clash with the Lions, who receiving considerable preseason hype. Young played well against the Lions in the preseason finale, and he and the Carolina offense will look to follow suit in Week 5.
Week 6
at Miami Dolphins
Date/Time: Oct. 15 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The Panthers will head south to face off against the Dolphins in the second of back-to-back road matchups ahead of the early bye week. Alabama fans will get a double dose of Crimson Tide quarterbacks as Young will face off against a Miami squad led by Tua Tagovailoa.
Week 7
Bye
Enjoy the weekend, Panthers fans.
Week 8
vs. Houston Texans
Date/Time: Oct. 29 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The top two picks in April’s draft will lead their respective units against each other in Week 8 at Bank of America Stadium. Young and Stroud are longtime pals, and they’ll look to one-up each other in an NFC vs. AFC showdown.
Week 9
vs. Indianapolis Colts
Date/Time: Nov. 5 (Sunday), 4:05 p.m.
Young will face off against another rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson, in Week 9. Richardson came into the draft being viewed as a project, but the Colts have put the rookie in a similar spot to Young, who was considered an NFL-ready prospect.
Week 10
at Chicago Bears
Date/Time: Nov. 9 (Thursday), 8:15 p.m.
Young and the Panthers will head back to prime time as the team travels to Chicago for a Thursday night war with the Bears. Can Reich and the Panthers’ offense put up points against the Bears’ retooled defense?
Week 11
vs. Dallas Cowboys
Date/Time: Nov. 19 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
A late-season challenge awaits, as the Panthers host the Cowboys in Week 11. Cowboys fans travel in droves, which could make the home turf a bit less friendly for the Process Blue crew.
Week 12
at Tennessee Titans
Date/Time: Nov. 26 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
A trip to Nashville will test the Panthers’ offensive might. The Titans have a strong defensive front, and the Panthers’ offensive line will need to protect Young in order to put up points.
Week 13
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Date/Time: Dec. 3 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The first clash with Tampa Bay doesn’t come until December this year. The Panthers will try to make up ground in the division race down the stretch with a winner against the underwhelming (on paper) Bucs.
Week 14
at New Orleans Saints
Date/Time: Dec. 10 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The Panthers will continue to travel as they face their second of three consecutive NFC South matchups in December. Carolina’s defense needs to hit its stride down the stretch.
Week 15
vs. Atlanta Falcons
Date/Time: To be determined
While the time and date have yet to be determined for this matchup, the Panthers will be thrilled to be back home to cap this stretch of three consecutive NFC South battles. The Falcons are a legitimate division contenders, and the Panthers want to spoil their chances of one-upping them.
Week 16
vs. Green Bay Packers
Date/Time: Dec. 24 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
The Panthers are thrilled to avoid a trip to Green Bay for this Christmas week matchup against the Packers. With Jordan Love at quarterback, the Panthers will try to confuse him with their multiple fronts on defense.
Week 17
at Jacksonville Jaguars
Date/Time: Dec. 31 (Sunday), 1 p.m.
A New Year’s Eve battle with the Jaguars sets the stage for a pair of former expansion teams looking to make the most out of their first overall pick quarterbacks. Will Young be able to out-shine Trevor Lawrence on the road?
Week 18
vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Date/Time: To be determined
While the Buccaneers look like a mess on paper, weird things tend to happen in the NFC South. This matchup could go a long way in determining who wears the NFC South crown in the playoffs.
This story was originally published September 7, 2023 at 7:30 AM.
