Norris Thornburg

DIVISION RIVALRIES: Falcons

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The rivalry between the Panthers and Falcons is one of the biggest in the NFL. The rivalry was dubbed “I-85 Rivalry” due to the teams being four hours apart down Interstate 85. The two teams have been rivals since Carolina’s inaugural year in 1995, as they were both in the NFC West division. In 2002, both teams were placed in the NFC South division, where they still play today.

The Panthers and Falcons have played in 48 regular season games and Atlanta leads the series 30-18. Even though Atlanta has 12 more wins than Carolina, the point totals are a little closer than one might think. In their rivalry, Atlanta has scored 1,028 points and Carolina has scored 943 points. That’s not a huge difference in points when you consider that former Falcons’ quarterback, Michael Vick, used to dominate the Panthers in nearly every meeting. Carolina has swept Atlanta three times in 1997, 2005 and 2013. Atlanta has swept Carolina nine times in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2018.

NFC WEST

The first meeting between the Panthers and Falcons came on September 3, 1995, in Atlanta. In Carolina’s first every regular season game, the Panthers took it into overtime, where the Falcons won by a field goal. The Panthers started fast, as they took a 13-3 lead in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Atlanta scored ten points in the second quarter to tie it up. Atlanta then scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead. In the fourth quarter, Carolina quarterback, Frank Reich, threw a 44 yard touchdown to Willie Green to tie it up. In overtime, Atlanta’s kicker, Morten Anderson, sealed the victory with a 35 yard field goal. Carolina was led by Frank Reich, who threw for 329 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Willie Green has 7 receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. Mark Carrier had 5 catches for 96 yards and 0 touchdowns. Atlanta was led by Jeff George, who threw for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception (by Carolina’s safety Brett Maxie). Atlanta’s receiving trio of Terrance Mathis, Eric Metcalf and Bert Emanuel had a combined 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. After losing the first game in the rivalry, Carolina would only win 5 out of the next 13 games against Atlanta while in the NFC West.

In 2001, the Falcons drafted a quarterback named Michael Vick from Virginia Tech with the first overall pick. Vick was considered one of the most dynamic athletes ever drafted, and he gave Carolina headaches from the moment he was drafted, mainly on the ground. Atlanta swept Carolina in Vick’s rookie year, even though he only played one game against Carolina once and only threw two passes.

NFC South 2002-2010

In 2002, the NFL realigned the division after the addition of the Houston Texans, who were an expansion team. The NFC South was born and the Panthers and Falcons remained rivals in that division. The Falcons would win six out of 10 games with Vick at the helm from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, Vick would become the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards. In his six years with the Falcons, Vick had 1,493 yards, 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in ten games against the Panthers. He also had 485 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Not huge stats from a guy who torched Carolina on more than one occasion. He was such a pain for Carolina, that they drafted hybrid linebacker, Thomas Davis, specifically to spy on Vick.

In August of 2007, Vick plead guilty to federal charges of dog fighting and was suspended from the NFL. He went to prison shortly thereafter. After a year of Joey Harrington at quarterback, Atlanta drafted Matt Ryan. In the four years after Vick, Atlanta would win five out of eight games.

Meanwhile, Jake Delhomme was the quarterback for Carolina until 2009. Jake has his struggles towards the end of his career after having Tommy John surgery in 2007. After Vinny Testaverde and Matt Moore played quarterback for the Panthers, they decided to go a different direction at quarterback in 2010. Carolina drafted quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. That season, Carolina only won two games, which gave them the number one pick of the 2011 draft.

Cam Newton Era

2010 was a tough season for Panther Nation, but it awarded them the number one pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Carolina selected their own duel threat quarterback, Cam Newton. Cam brought the excitement back to the Carolinas, and has had a lot of high scoring battles against the Falcons.

Since Cam was drafted, the Panthers are 6-10 against the Falcons. One of those losses came last season with Taylor Heinicke under center. The I-85 Rivalry has had some close games, and some blow outs. Despite the Falcons having 10 wins over Carolina, the Panthers have outscored Atlanta 368-359 since 2011. Also, the Falcons blew a 25 point lead in the Super Bowl.

In 2018, Atlanta placed second in the division with a record of 7-9. They didn’t have a whole lot of salary cap to work with, but here are some notable transactions:

Signed DE Adrian Clayborn

Signed DT Allen Bailey

Drafted G Chris Lindstrom

Drafted OT Kaleb McGary

Carolina upgraded their roster significantly this offseason and they should have a good chance at beating the Falcons. Carolina will look to build on the promising start they had in 2018, where they started 6-2. Marty Hurney transformed the Carolina roster during the offseason, so there was a lot of roster turnover. Carolina’s notable transactions:

Released CB Captain Munnerlyn

Re-signed S Eric Reid

Signed C Matt Paradis

Re-signed OT Daryl Williams

Signed DE/OLB Bruce Irvin

Signed WR Chris Hogan

Re-signed DT Kyle Love

Drafted DE/OLB Brian Burns

Drafted OT Greg Little

Signed WR Aldrick Robinson

Signed CB Javien Elliott

Signed DT Gerald McCoy

Signed S Tre Boston

Hurney was busy this offseason and the Panthers appear to be in win-now mode. Hopefully, it translates into wins on the field in 2019.

What to Expect in 2019

The expectations for the Panthers in the upcoming season, is to split the series with the Falcons. It’s entirely possible that Carolina will sweep Atlanta, given their vastly improved roster. These two teams battle hard whenever they meet, and it is always fun to watch. Here is a comparison of key players for both teams:

PANTHERS
CAR
ATL
FALCONS
Cam
Newton
✓
Matt
Ryan
Christian
McCaffrey
✓
Devonta
Freeman
Curtis
Samuel
✓
Julio
Jones
Greg
Olsen
✓
Austin
Hooper
Defense
✓
Defense

Cam Newton

VS

Drew Brees

In 14 games, Newton threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2018. It should be noted that that Cam played injured from week nine to week fourteen.

In 16 games, Ryan threw for 4,924 yards, 35 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 2018.

As hard as this is to type, Matt Ryan was really good last year, and has been fairly consistent throughout his career. He has passed for 5,996 yards, 36 touchdowns and 16 interceptions for Atlanta in 22 games against the Carolina. In the last five years, Ryan has the most yards per attempt in the NFL. Newton has 3,241 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 15 games against Atlanta. Cam also has 721 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in the same time frame. Unfortunately, Matt Ryan takes this one by a hair. This could change in 2019, as Carolina will have a healthy Cam Newton with a bevy of weapons and improved offensive line. 

Christian McCaffrey

VS

Devonta Freeman

Last season, McCaffrey had 219 carries for 1,098 yards (5.0 AVG per carry) and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 107 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last season, Freeman had 14 carries for 68 yards (4.9 AVG per carry) due to an injury. In week one, he sustained a knee bruise and missed three games. Then, a sports hernia ended his season.

McCaffrey wins this by a mile. Not to say Freeman isn’t a good running back, but he doesn’t have the upside that McCaffrey does. Atlanta hopes that Freeman has a bounce back year, but it won’t be enough to knock CMC out of first place. 

Curtis Samuel

VS

Julio Jones

Last season, Samuel had 39 receptions for 494 touchdowns and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. He missed time due to injury and it took time for him to become more integrated into the offense when he returned.

Last season, Quintorris Lopez (Julio) Jones had 113 receptions for 1,677 yards and 8 touchdowns in 16 games.

Jones has been a model of dominance and consistency throughout his career. Last year was no different, so Jones wins this by a landslide. It’s hard to tell what Samuel will do based on his injury history. Samuel could very well have a dominant season based on what everyone saw in training camp, but it remains to be seen if he will surpass Jones in 2019. 

Greg Olsen

VS

Austin Hooper

Olsen, who has had trouble staying healthy the last two years, only had 27 receptions for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, in 9 games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get back to his Pro Bowl level, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, Hooper had 71 receptions, 660 yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games.

Hooper has done well in Atlanta’s offense, but he isn’t the red zone threat that Olsen is. Olsen wins this based on him being completely healthy (he’s stated publicly that this is the first time he’s been 100% in two years), his blocking and his red zone dominance. Hopefully, Olsen will remain healthy and give Cam that safety net that he’s missed.

Panthers’ Defense

VS

Falcons’ Defense

Last season, Carolina’s defense was in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 15th most yards per game and the 19th most points per game.

Last season, Atlanta’s defense was towards the bottom of the league, as they  were 28th in yards allowed and 8th in most points allowed.

Carolina’s defense should be much improved this year, with the additions of Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, Tre Boston and Javien Elliott. Carolina will also have a multi-look defense instead of a base 4-3 like in year’s past, so it will be interesting to see how much of a pass rush will be generated this season. Atlanta upgraded their defensive line, but it likely won’t be enough to make much of a difference. Carolina wins this matchup with ease. 

If Carolina stays relatively healthy, they should at least split the series with Atlanta. Judging by how poorly Atlanta did last year, it’s not impossible for Carolina to sweep Atlanta. It could honestly go either way, but Carolina has the talent to retake their throne atop of the NFC South.

A Look Ahead: Rams

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It’s finally here. The day that fans have been looking forward to since January. Week one of NFL action is upon us, and the Panthers have the NFC Champions coming to town. Carolina would love to start off fast this year, and they’re going to have quite the test this week. Here is a look ahead to this week one matchup:

LA Rams

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

Sean McVay

Defensive Coordinator

Wade Phillips

Key Acquisitions

LB Clay Matthews

S Eric Weddle

Key Losses

DT Ndamukong Suh

FS Lamarcus Joyner

RB CJ Anderson

Key Draft Picks

S Taylor Rapp

RB Darrell Henderson

The Rams didn’t have much roster turnaround this offseason, so they’ll likely be a powerhouse again in 2019. Wide receiver, Cooper Kupp, was injured the majority of 2018, so his return gives LA another weapon. The Rams defense wasn’t as dominant last season as they had hoped, and the losses of Suh and Joyner may have a larger impact than they think.

Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

Key Losses

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

RB Jordan Scarlett

The Panthers have definitely upgraded the roster, at least on paper, and they hope to start fast. Last season they started 6-2 before Cam’s injury and they’d love to be in that position again this season, minus the injury to Newton. This year’s defense looks to have more of a pass rush and a more complete secondary, and the offense looks more explosive. Most importantly, Carolina is better in the trenches, which is where games are won or lost.

2018 Team Stat Rankings

Rams

Panthers
2nd– 6,738 yds
Total Offense
10th– 5,972 yds
5th– 4,507 yds
Passing Offense
16th– 3,836 yds
3rd– 2,231 yds
Rushing Offense
4th– 2,136 yds
2nd– 32.9 ppg
Scoring Offense
15th– 23.5 ppg
19th– 5,737 yds
Total Defense
15th– 5,651 yds
14th– 3,780 yds
Passing Defense
18th– 3,847 yds
23rd– 1,957 yds
Rushing Defense
12th– 1,804 yds
20th– 24.0 ppg
Points Allowed
19th– 23.9 ppg

Prior to his injury, Cam Newton was having a better statistical season than his MVP year in 2015. There’s no reason to think he can’t pick up where he left off, and a porous Rams’ defense is a great place to start. Christian McCaffrey running the ball makes this offense explosive, and Carolina also utilizes him a lot in the passing game.

Goff, who was just signed to a four year extension worth $134 million, has the weapons to be successful. Goff passed for 4,688 yards, 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year, and he seems to be getting better by the year. Todd Gurley is one of the best running backs in the league, as he is utilized in the running and passing game.

Things to Watch

Carolina

Cam had the second best completion percentage when using playaction passes. Carolina needs to utilize this not only in this game, but all season. The Rams’ defense was 14th against the pass last season, and it appears as if they’ve regressed since 2018. Not to mention, Carolina’s offensive line has improved substantially since last year.

Christian McCaffrey needs to carry the ball early and often. It wouldn’t hurt to include Scarlett and Bonnafon in the game plan either. The Rams’ defense was 23rd against the run in 2018, and it looks like they could have gotten worse with the loss of Suh. McCaffrey will need to be heavily utilized in the passing game too.

Carolina has a lot of speed at receiver, and also a lot of guys that can get a lot of yards after catch. The Rams do have a good secondary, so Carolina’s receivers need to create space. Aquib Talib has lost a step, so Cam needs to take advantage of him and also aging safety, Eric Weddle.

Carolina’s defense didn’t perform up to their standards last year, until Coach Rivera began calling plays. They have upgraded their pass rush significantly this offseason, and also have a better secondary than they did. The Rams use a lot of play action passing, so Rivera needs to game plan for that. Bradberry and Jackson will have their work cut out for them, as will Boston and Reid. Don’t get beat deep! Hopefully, McCoy, Short and company will get to Goff before he throws it deep.

Los Angeles

Jared Goff utilizes the playaction pass more than most quarterbacks, so if LA wants to win this game, they’re going to need that. Having Todd Gurley involved in both facets of the game will help Goff. Carolina’s defense was ranked 18th against the pass in 2018, but they’ve gotten better since.

Todd Gurley is one of the best running backs in the league. If the Rams want to win, they’ll have to find ways to get him the ball. Carolina was decent at stopping the run in 2018, and looks to have only gotten better. However, you can’t stop Gurley. You can only limit him, and even that’s tough.

The Rams’ receivers are talented, and they’re led by Brandon Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Carolina will have the tough test of knowing where all three (plus Gurley) are on the field. Carolina better hope their pass rush shows up.

The Rams’ defense wasn’t exactly dominating last season, and they seem to have regressed a little bit. The loss of Suh and Joyner hurts, but they still have Aaron Donald wreaking havoc. They also have a good secondary. If the Rams want to win, they’ll have to stop McCaffrey from pounding the ball up the middle.

Keys to a Carolina Win

Utilize ground game.

Use playaction passes.

Limit Todd Gurley’s effectiveness.

Key Matchups

Christian McCaffrey VS Rams’ defensive line.

Curtis Samuel and DJ Moore VS Marcus Peters and Aquib Talib.

Carolina’s offensive line VS Aaron Donald.

Carolina’s pass rush VS Rams’ offensive line.

Bradberry and Jackson VS Cooks and Woods.

Injury Report

The Rams are fully healthy coming into the season. The Panthers, however, have Bruce Irvin and Greg Little on the injury report. It appears as if Little will be out, but Irvin has a small chance to play. If Irvin is out on Sunday, Carolina rookie, Brian Burns, will get more playing time. Carolina’s 2018 fourth round pick, Marquis Haynes, will also get an extended workload.

Prediction

It’s going to be a tough matchup for both teams and a true test for Carolina. Christian McCaffrey will get going early and that’ll set Carolina up for success. Both teams will have success offensively, but ultimately Carolina will take this game at home 30-27

Fun Side Note: Since 2008, Carolina has played the reigning NFC Champs every year. They’ve won three of the last four matchups. 

Predicting the 53 Man Roster

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Carolina has a lot of tough choices ahead of them. A lot of guys played hard enough to make the team, but the Panthers can’t keep all of them. Here’s who should make the 53-man roster:

QB

Cam Newton

Kyle Allen

Will Grier

Tyler Heinicke

Explanation: While Heinicke made a lot of plays against Pittsburgh, it wasn’t enough to make the 53. Although, he should be on a team. Grier was a third round pick and will make the team. Side note: Cam’s rookie preseason was pretty bad, so don’t worry about Grier.

RB

Christian McCaffrey

Reggie Bonnafon

Jordan Scarlett

Cameron Artis-Payne

Elijah Holyfield

Explanation: Bonnafon showed enough in the preseason to earn a roster spot. Scarlett made the most of his opportunities.

FB

Alex Armah

WR

Curtis Samuel

DJ Moore

Jarius Wright

Torrey Smith

Chris Hogan

Terry Godwin

Aldrick Robinson

Jaydon Mickens

DeAndrew White

Andy Levrone

Rashad Ross

Damion Jeanpiere

Explanation: Picking the top 6 guys here. The only one on the bubble was Godwin, who made a case to stay in the preseason. It was between Godwin and Robinson, but Godwin played into a spot.

TE

Greg Olsen

Ian Thomas

Chris Manhertz

Cole Hunt

Jason Vander Laan

Temarrick Hemingway

Marcus Baugh

Explanation: This is an easy one. Keeping Manhertz as the third tight end, mirrors what they’ve done every year. Keeping Manhertz as a blocker will have a ton of benefits for the offense. We know he can catch passes from McCaffrey too. Thomas should be a big part of the offense this year, too. He was having a good camp until he got banged up.

OT

Taylor Moton

Greg Little

Daryl Williams

Explanation: All three (or four if you count Dennis Daley) tackles will make the team. Hopefully Little progresses enough to start and they can put Williams at guard. Having the best offensive line on the field is the goal.

G

Trai Turner

Greg Van Roten

Taylor Hearn

Dennis Daley

Kitt O’Brien

Brandon Greene

Rishard Cook

Tyler Catalina

Kofi Amichia

Explanation: Daley’s position flexibility gives him a roster spot. He showed a lot of promise this preseason at both guard and tackle. Carolina could also pick up another tackle after cuts, but Daley still makes the team. Taylor Hearn, on the other hand….And to be honest, Brandon Greene outplayed Hearn, so look for that too.

C

Matt Paradis

Tyler Larsen

John Yarbrough

Parker Collins

Expanation: Picking the top two players here. Larsen can also play guard in a pinch, since it’s his natural position.

DE

Mario Addison

Bruce Irvin

Brian Burns

Marquis Haynes

Christian Miller

Efe Obada

Brian Cox

Explanation: Picked the top six guys. Haynes played very well the preseason and fits in the 3-4 scheme very well. Obada played well in limited time. He bulked up this offseason, so he could have some looks inside. Miller is a first round talent. Once he gets more opportunities, he should showcase his ability.

DT

Gerald McCoy

Kawann Short

Dontari Poe

Kyle Love

Vernon Butler

Woodrow Hamilton

Bijhon Jackson

Explanation: McCoy, Short, Poe and Love were locks going into training camp, but Butler was on the bubble. Butler has slimmed down, looks stronger and faster and seems to be primed for a breakout season. With him playing some defensive end in the 3-4 scheme, he could play his way into another contract with Carolina.

LB

Luke Kuechly

Shaq Thompson

Jermaine Carter

Andre Smith

Jared Norris

Jordan Kunaszyk

Sione Teuhema

Antwoine Williams

Brandon Bell

Explanation: Even though Luke Kuechly is in danger of losing his roster spot, he should make the team. Joking aside, these were the top five linebackers in the preseason. Kunaszyk played well and had an interception last night, but it wasn’t enough to make the roster. Norris didn’t play well on defense, but he’s a valuable asset on special teams.

CB

James Bradberry

Donte Jackson

Javien Elliott

Ross Cockrell

Corn Elder

Kevon Seymour

Lorenzo Doss

Josh Thornton

Ryan Pulley

Explanation: Only keeping four corners because Carolina has to keep two kickers due to Gano’s injury. Seymour or Elder will likely be picked back up after Gano is played on IR.

S

Eric Reid

Tre Boston

Rashaan Gaulden

Colin Jones

Quin Blanding

Corrion Ballard

Damian Parms 

Explanation: Keeping the best four safeties on the roster. Carolina picking up Boston spelled the end for Blanding making the roster as my dark horse candidate.

ST

Michael Palardy

Graham Gano

JJ Jansen

Joey Slye

Explanation: Slye performed extremely well in the preseason. With Gano possibly going to IR for eight weeks, Slye makes the team. Gano has to start the season on the roster in order to be placed on IR. Jansen as a long snapper is as solid as they come.

Some of this could change if players get signed after final cuts, but this is how I see it shaking out.

Cam Newton Injury Makes Case to Keep Starters Out of Preseason

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So…..Here we are again. Another preseason game, another injury. Cam Newton has a left ankle injury that he sustained late in the first quarter. Cam got hurt on a coverage sack while scrambling to try and keep the play alive. When Cam got up limping, you could almost hear every Panther fan’s heart sink. It begs the question, should franchise players play in the preseason?

For the most part, all players get an opportunity to play in these preseason games, including starters. The starters generally play no more than a half in any preseason game. It seems like more and more starting caliber players get hurt each year in preseason action. Yes, it’s good for starters to play and become a cohesive unit. However, it isn’t necessary to put your franchise players in harm’s way.

Yes, injuries happen. Especially in a gladiator sport such as football. If a player is going to get hurt, it should be in a game that means something. The risk far outweighs the reward.

Cam Newton and Greg Olsen are coming off of injuries that required surgery. These two players have worked hard to get healthy enough to play for the Panthers and shouldn’t be in a meaningless game such as this. These players are professionals and will be ready for the regular season no matter what. The preseason should be designated for rookies and players trying to make the team. The franchise players for NFL teams shouldn’t be playing in games that mean nothing.

DIVISION RIVALRIES: Saints

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The Panthers and Saints have one of the biggest rivalries in all of football. Hate runs deep between the two teams, and the rivalry has been heated from the very start. Both Carolina and New Orleans have been in the same division since Carolina’s inaugural year in 1995. From 1995-2001, the Panthers were in the NFC West division, where New Orleans had been since 1970. In 2002, both teams went to the newly formed NFC South, where the rivalry continued.

The Saints and Panthers have played in 48 regular season games and Carolina leads the series 25-23. This has also been a close series regarding total points scored, as Carolina has scored 1,065 and New Orleans has scored 1,031. The Panthers have swept the Saints six times, in 1996, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2015. The Saints have swept The Panthers five times, in 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011 and 2017. The Saints also beat the Panthers in their only playoff meeting during the 2017-18 season.

NFC WEST

The first meeting between the Panthers and the Saints came on October 22nd, 1995 at Clemson University, where Carolina played their first season. The Panthers came away with the victory that day, due mainly to Carolina’s defense intercepting Jim Everett four times. The Panthers’ defense was led by Brett Maxie with 2 interceptions, Bubba McDowell with 1 interception and Sam Mills with 1 interception. After winning the first game, New Orleans went on to win 8 out of the next 13 games. It should be noted that Panthers’ Hall of Honor member, Wesley Walls, played for the Saints in 1995. These two teams would have a lot of battles throughout their years in the NFC West, but it wouldn’t hold a candle to what had yet to come.

NFC South 2002-2010

In 2002, the NFL realigned the divisions after they added the Houston Texans as an expansion team. The NFC South was born and the Panthers and Saints remained rivals. Carolina would win five out of the next eight games, from 2002-2005. In 2006, the division got a little tougher. After not getting the contract he wanted in San Diego, quarterback Drew Brees signed a six year deal with New Orleans. Even though the future Hall of Fame quarterback has been a thorn in Carolina’s side, from 2006-2010 Carolina still beat New Orleans six out of ten times. Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith and a nasty Panthers’ defense made it nearly impossible for New Orleans to beat Carolina. Additionally, New Orleans didn’t have that great of a defense. In 2010, Carolina had a rookie quarterback named Jimmy Clausen starting. New Orleans swept Carolina that year, and Carolina went 2-14.

Cam Newton Era

In 2011, Cam Newton was drafted first overall for the Carolina Panthers. Since then, there have been many exciting, high scoring games and last second heroics by both teams. One particular last second win came when Cam led the Carolina offense down the field and threw a touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 23 seconds left to beat the Saints in 2013. The week 16 game helped Carolina win the division, and when that touchdown was scored, the stadium shook like never before.

Since Cam was drafted, the Panthers are 8-8 against the Saints. One of those wins came last year with quarterback Kyle Allen at the helm. The fact that these two teams are both 8-8 in regular season meetings in the last eight years, shows how hard they play against each other. Carolina has scored a total of 409 points in the Cam era and New Orleans has scored 434 points in the same time.

New Orleans has been consistently good for the last two years, as their records have been 11-5 in 2017 and 13-3 in 2018. However, it’s hard to gauge what they’ll do this year. Drew Brees is older, their defense is still suspect and they didn’t have the salary cap space to make necessary moves. Saints notable transactions:

Released S Kurt Coleman

Signed RB Latavius Murray

Signed TE Jared Cook

Signed DE Wes Horton

New Orleans didn’t have a lot of cap space to work with, but they also went to the playoffs last year with, essentially, this same team.

Barring major injuries, Carolina should have a decent shot against the Saints. Marty Hurney upgraded the Panthers significantly this offseason, and they look to build on the promising start they had in 2018, where they started the season 6-2. Carolina’s notable transactions:

Released CB Captain Munnerlyn

Re-signed S Eric Reid

Signed C Matt Paradis

Re-signed OT Daryl Williams

Signed DE/OLB Bruce Irvin

Signed WR Chris Hogan

Re-signed DT Kyle Love

Drafted DE/OLB Brian Burns

Drafted OT Greg Little

Signed WR Aldrick Robinson

Signed CB Javien Elliott

Signed DT Gerald McCoy

Signed S Tre Boston

That’s a huge pull for Hurney and the Panthers, and it shows that they’re in win-now mode. Hopefully, it translates into wins on the field in 2019.

What to Expect in 2019

The expectations for the Panthers in the upcoming season, is to split the series with the Saints. Both teams have the talent to sweep the other, but chances are, each will win at home. This is a hard fought battle every time these two teams hit the field, and it should be fun (and exhausting) to watch. Here is a comparison of key players for both teams:

CAROLINA

NEW ORLEANS

Cam

Newton

 ✓

Drew

Brees

Christian

McCaffrey

 = =

Alvin

Kamara

Curtis

Samuel

 ✓

Michael

Thomas

Greg

Olsen

 = =

Jared

Cook

Defense

 ✓

Defense

Cam Newton

VS

Drew Brees

In 14 games, Newton threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2018. It should be noted that Cam played injured from week nine to week fourteen.

In 15 games, Brees threw for 3,992 yards, 32 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 2018.

It’s hard to argue that Brees has had a Hall of Fame career. He has passed for 6,701 yards, 44 touchdowns and 20 interceptions for the Saints in 23 games against Carolina. Newton has 3,238 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games against New Orleans in 15 games. Brees obviously has the edge over Newton in this one. Given Brees’ age and loss of production, as well as Cam being healthy, it could be a lot closer this year. 

Christian McCaffrey 

VS

Alvin Kamara

Last season, Christian McCaffrey had 219 carries for 1,098 yards (5.0 AVG per carry) and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 107 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last season, Alvin Kamara had 194 carries for 883 yards (4.6 AVG per carry) and 14 touchdowns in 15 games. He also had 81 receptions for 709 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Essentially, McCaffrey and Kamara are the same player with similar skill sets. McCaffrey had a better stat line, but he was also the featured back in Carolina, but Kamara shared carries with Mark Ingram. It remains to be seen if Kamara can be consistent with more of the workload. Latavius Murray could also take carries away from him. McCaffrey could possibly take the lead between the two players this season.

Curtis Samuel

VS

Michael Thomas

Last season, Samuel had 39 receptions for 494 touchdowns and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. He missed time due to injury and it took time for him to become more integrated into the offense when he returned.

Last season, Michael Thomas had 125 receptions for 1,405 yards and 9 touchdowns in 16 games.

Thomas wins this matchup based on his consistent performance and the fact that he has more receptions in his first 3 years than any other player in NFL history. Samuel is an unknown element due to his injury history. Samuel was the training camp MVP in the eyes of the coaching staff, but it remains to be seen how it will translate to the games. 

Greg Olsen

VS 

Jared Cook

Olsen, who has had trouble staying healthy the last two years, only had 27 receptions for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, in 9 games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get back to his Pro Bowl level, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, Cook has 68 receptions for 896 yards and 6 touchdowns in 16 games with the Raiders.

Olsen and Cook are pretty even. Both players are good pass catchers, both are good blockers and both are good in the red zone. If Olsen were healthy, he’d be ahead of Cook, but the last two years show that Greg might be considered injury prone. The foot injury is tough to recover from. Hopefully Olsen’s foot will be strong and he can return to his Pro Bowl form. 

Panthers’ Defense

VS 

Saints’ Defense

Last season, Carolina’s defense was in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 15th most yards per game and the 19th most points per game.

Last season, New Orlean’s defense was also in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 14th most yards per game and also the 14th most points per game.

Carolina’s defense should be much improved this year, with the additions of Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, Tre Boston and Javien Elliott. Carolina will also have a multi-look defense instead of a base 4-3 like in year’s past, so it will be interesting to see how much of a pass rush will be generated this season. New Orleans did little to upgrade their defense. They’ll likely be middle of the pack again, but against Carolina, they will likely struggle. How can any defense account for McCaffrey, Newton, Samuel, Moore and Olsen? 

If Carolina stays healthy, they should at least split the series. There’s a possibility that Carolina could sweep if Brees’ play continues to decline. Mainly, it could happen if things continue to click for Carolina. This could be the year that the Panthers retake their thrones as the Kings of the South.

DIVISION RIVALRIES: Buccaneers

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The rivalries have ran deep in the NFC South ever since it was formed in 2002. Tampa Bay and Carolina’s rivalry is talked about the least, but it’s a rivalry nonetheless. The two teams have played each other 37 times since Carolina’s inaugural season in 1995. Carolina leads the all-time series 23-14. The Panthers and Bucs have played each other less than the other rivals because they weren’t in the same division until 2002.

These two teams have had some dog fights over the years, but the most heated ones came in the mid-2000s. Players from those teams have been quoted as saying that they were some of the most physically and mentally draining games in their career. Carolina legends Jake Delhomme, Stephen Davis, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, Brad Hoover, Mike Rucker, Julius Peppers, Dan Morgan, Kris Jenkins and Mike Minter battling against the Bucs legends Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Ronde Barber and Mike Alstott.

2002-2010

In the years of their NFC South rivalry before Cam Newton, Carolina won 11 games and lost 7. Carolina’s largest margin of victory was 20 points and the average point total for their wins was a little over 9 points. Tampa’s largest margin of victory was 24 points and the average point total for their wins was 13 points. Carolina swept Tampa in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2009. Tampa swept Carolina in 2002 and 2010.

Cam Newton Era 2011-Present

In the years since Cam has been in the league, Carolina has all but dominated Tampa Bay. Carolina has won 11 out of 16 games by an average of 16 points. In the 5 Tampa wins, they averaged 5 points per win. It should be noted that two Carolina wins and one loss was with Derek Anderson starting at quarterback. In the last eight years, Carolina has scored a total of 417 points against Tampa, while Tampa has only scored 269 points against Carolina in the same time span. The Panthers have swept the Bucs in five of the last eight years.

Team Transactions

It’s hard to tell what Tampa will do this year, but on paper they have a decent roster. New head coach, Bruce Arians, has always had a knack for getting teams to overachieve. Tampa did little to upgrade their roster during the offseason. Tampa’s notable transactions:

Released DE Vinny Curry

Re-signed OT Donovan Smith

Re-Signed RB Peyton Barber

Traded WR Desean Jackson to Philadelphia

Released DT Gerald McCoy

Signed DT Ndamukong Suh

Drafted LB Devin White from LSU

Signed S Darian Stewart

That’s not a whole lot of movement for a team that only won 5 games in 2018.

Barring any major injuries, Carolina should do well against the Bucs. Marty Hurney upgraded the Panthers significantly this offseason, and they look to build on the promising start they had in 2018, where they started the season 6-2. Carolina’s notable transactions:

Released CB Captain Munnerlyn

Re-signed S Eric Reid

Signed C Matt Paradis

Re-signed OT Daryl Williams

Signed DE/OLB Bruce Irvin

Signed WR Chris Hogan

Re-signed DT Kyle Love

Drafted DE/OLB Brian Burns

Drafted OT Greg Little

Signed WR Aldrick Robinson

Signed CB Javien Elliott

Signed DT Gerald McCoy

Signed S Tre Boston

That’s a huge pull for Hurney and the Panthers, and it shows that they’re in win-now mode. Hopefully, it translates into wins on the field in 2019.

What to Expect in 2019

The expectations for 2019 are that Carolina sweeps Tampa Bay. When you compare both sides of the ball, Carolina dominates on paper. If Cam Newton stays healthy, he is far and away better than Jameis Winston. Here is a comparison of key players from both teams:

CAROLINA

TAMPA

Cam

Newton

 ✓

Jameis

Winston

Christian

McCaffrey

 ✓

Peyton

Barber

Curtis

Samuel

 ✓

Mike

Evans

Greg

Olsen

 = =

OJ

Howard

Defense

 ✓

Defense

QB Cam Newton

VS

QB Jameis Winston

In 14 games, Newton threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2018.

In 11 games, Winston threw for 2,992 yards, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2018.

Newton, when healthy, wins this battle every time. In his career, Newton has passed for 2,929 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 13 total games. He’s also ran for 520 yards and 9 touchdowns. Winston, who has had some good games against Carolina, has passed for 1,859 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in seven total games. 

RB Christian McCaffrey 

VS

RB Peyton Barber

Last season, Christian McCaffrey had 219 carries for 1,098 yards (5.0 AVG per carry) and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 107 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last season, Peyton Barber had 234 carries for 871 yards (3.7 AVG per carry) and 5 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 20 receptions for 92 yards and 1 touchdown.

There’s no doubt that McCaffrey wins this matchup in regards to offensive production. He is a Pro Bowl Caliber running back, who is an asset in the running game and passing game. 

WR Curtis Samuel 

VS

WR Mike Evans

Last season, Samuel had 39 receptions for 494 touchdowns and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. He missed time due to injury and it took time for him to become more integrated into the offense when he returned.

Last season, Evans had 86 receptions for 1,524 yards and 8 touchdowns in 16 games. While Evans has been dominant in the NFL, he’s struggled against James Bradberry and the Panthers. Last season, Evans had a total of 5 receptions for 64 yards against Carolina, so that should be something to watch.

Evans wins this matchup based purely on his dominance and the unknowns about Samuel. Samuel was the 2019 training camp MVP, but this isn’t based on potential. Samuel is very talented and has all the tools to be a special player. Time will tell….

TE Greg Olsen

VS

TE OJ Howard

Olsen, who has had trouble staying healthy the last two years, only had 27 receptions for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, in 9 games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get back to his Pro Bowl level, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, Howard had 34 receptions for 565 yards and 5 touchdowns in 10 games. 2 of those touchdowns came against Carolina in week 9.

Word out of Tampa is, Howard will be used even more this year in the passing game. Olsen has had a healthy offseason and looks to come back strong this year. With so many unknowns about both players, Olsen and Howard are tied in how much of an impact they’ll have in these games. Hopefully, Olsen will be back to his old self. 

Panthers’ Defense

VS 

Tampa Bay’s Defense

Last season, Carolina’s defense was in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 15th most yards per game and the 19th most points per game.

Tampa’s defense was one of the worst in the league, as they were ranked 27th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed.

Carolina’s defense should be much improved this year, with the additions of Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, Tre Boston and Javien Elliott. Carolina will also have a multi-look defense instead of a base 4-3 like in year’s past, so it will be interesting to see how much of a pass rush will be generated this season. Tampa’s defense didn’t change much, as they added rookie linebacker, Devin White, and essentially swapped Gerald McCoy for Ndamukong Suh. Barring any issues for Carolina, the Panthers’ defense should dominate against the Buccaneers. 

Things rarely go as planned in the NFL. If Carolina stays healthy, they should no doubt sweep Tampa Bay, and convincingly. Even though new head coach, Bruce Arians, is a great coach, the fact that the entire coaching staff was replaced this offseason, puts them behind from the beginning. Although, anything can happen.

By: Norris Thornburg August 17, 2019