During July, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being most difficult). The series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Carolina Panthers easiest games are the focus.
Carolina Panthers Easiest Games in 2016
9. Week 4 at Atlanta Falcons
The Panthers travel to Atlanta for a rematch of their only regular season loss from last season. In this match up last season, Vic Beasley and Julio Jones wreaked havoc on the Panthers. The Falcons, like many dome teams, are known to play much better on their home turf and it should be a great and close game. If the Panthers can keep a good pass rush against Matt Ryan they should come away with a victory. The Panthers will need right tackle, Mike Remmers, to step up big time in this game to keep Beasley from terrorizing the backfield.
10. Week 10 vs Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have a great quarterback in Alex Smith and talented receivers, but they are a team that has never been able to make the jump to being great. They also have a tremendous running back, Jamal Charles, if he stays healthy. Charles runs with blistering speed, which could challenge the Panthers edge rushers and linebackers lateral speed in this game. The Panthers secondary shouldn’t have a problem keeping the Chiefs wide receivers out of the end zone considering the Chiefs passing attack was one of the worst in the league in touchdowns.
11. Week 5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Panthers take on the Buccaneers in Charlotte in what should be a great game. The Buccaneers will be a much better all-around team in 2016, like mentioned above. Jameis Winston is coming off a stellar rookie year and should be a much tougher match for the Panthers defense this season. Without Josh Norman, the Panthers’ youthful secondary will have their days work keeping Mike Evans out of the end zone.
12. Week 6 at New Orleans Saints
The Panthers travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints, who may have a little more to give the Panthers on their own turf, but still won’t be any match for them. It should be a much closer game than week 11 in Charlotte, but nonetheless a loss as well. Although the Saints are not nearly as lethal as the Panthers, the Saints do tend to play much better on their own turf, which could be something to look out for. The Panthers’ blistering run game and depth at wide receiver will leave the Saints defense in the dust.
13. Week 16 vs Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons come to Charlotte take on the Panthers in the last home game of the NFL regular season and if it’s anything like last season, the Panthers second and third string players should get a lot of playing time. The Panthers blew the Falcons out 38-0.
Atlanta has arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in Jones, but their offensive line does not leave quarterback Matt Ryan with enough time to get him the ball. The Falcons may have been able to defeat the Panthers in Atlanta last season, but they shouldn’t be any match to the Panthers home cooking in week 16.
14. Week 2 vs San Francisco 49ers
These two teams meet for the first time since the 49ers defeated the Panthers at home in the divisional round of the 2013 playoffs. The 49ers have a team riddled with holes due to the large amount of retirees in the last few years. The 49ers also have a quarterback controversy between Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick was benched/injured last season after poor play and an injury and allowed Gabbert to step in under center.
Gabbert did much better with the 49ers than he ever did with the Jaguars, but the sheer athleticism of Kaepernick could be why the 49ers have not chosen to move him in the offseason. Kaepernick also could be a great fit for a Chip Kelly style offense. The Panthers should be able to defeat the 49ers fairly easily mainly due to the lack of playmakers on the 49ers roster.
15. Week 9 at Los Angeles Rams
Despite being later in the season, the Panthers brash defense will surely welcome Jared Goff to the NFL in stunning fashion. The Panthers may have the advantage of taking on a rookie quarterback, but they will have a tough task keeping Todd Gurley in check. Gurley is a freak athlete who even the best defenses have trouble containing. The Panthers defense should have no problem containing Tavon Austin as well, considering the depth in pass rushers and youthful secondary.
16. Week 11 vs New Orleans Saints
This should be the Panthers easiest game of the season. The Saints have very little cap space, an aging roster, and a sub-par defense. The Panthers should have no problem torching the Saints with a combination of their power-run scheme and a wide open passing game. With the talent on the Panthers defensive side of the ball, it’s hard to imagine the Saints having success on offense against that.
Be sure and check out the eight most difficult games on the 2016 Carolina Panthers schedule.
