Panthers’ 2015 Schedule: History, Trends, Notable Notes

Bill Voth

2 years ago

Categories: News

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at Jacksonville, Sept. 13, 1:00 on FOX

Jaguars 2014 record: 3-13Series history: Jaguars lead 3-2Last meeting: Panthers won 16-10 in Charlotte on 9/25/11Notes:

The Jaguars, who have won just nine games since 2012, added a marquee weapon this offseason by signing tight end Julius Thomas.
Carolina fought through thick humidity in Tampa Bay to win last season’s opener, and conditions will likely be similar in Jacksonville.
The Panthers are 0-2 all-time in Jacksonville.
The last time these two teams met, rookie Cam Newton earned his first career win during a deluge at Bank of America Stadium.

vs Houston, Sept. 20, 1:00 on CBS

Texans 2014 record: 9-7Series history: Texans lead 2-1Last meeting: Panthers won 23-18 in Houston on 12/18/11Notes:

Of Carolina’s first four opponents, the Texans are the only team that finished above .500 last year.
Whether it’s Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer, Houston’s quarterback situation remains uninspiring.
New Panthers left tackle Michael Oher will have his hands full with 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.
Houston’s defense could be scary if linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Brian Cushing are healthy. Safety Rahim Moore and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork were a couple nice free agent pickups.
The Panthers lost the only game played at Charlotte in the series. Despite three touchdown receptions by receiver Steve Smith, the Texans left town with a 34-21 win on 9/16/07.

vs New Orleans, Sept. 27, 1:00 on FOX

Saints 2014 record: 7-9Series history: Panthers lead 21-19Last meeting: Panthers won 41-10 in New Orleans on 12/7/14Notes:

The Saints shocked the league by trading away tight end Jimmy Graham, but that may turn out to be a smart play. Free agent addition C.J. Spiller should help improve their run game, and the Saints now have two first-round picks.
Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin’s work got tougher after the Saints added cornerback Brandon Browner (6-foot-4) to team with Keenan Lewis (6-foot-1).
The two teams have split their season series the last two years.
The Saints have won three of their last five trips to Bank of America Stadium.

WEEK 4

at Tampa Bay, Oct. 4, 1:00 on FOX

Bucs 2014 record: 2-14Series history: Panthers lead 18-11Last meeting: Panthers won 19-17 in Charlotte on 12/14/14Notes:

Carolina’s first four opponents had a combined 20-43 record last year. The Panthers will want to head into the bye that comes after this game at no worse than 3-1.
If the Bucs use their top pick on quarterback Jameis Winston in next week’s draft, there’s a very good chance the Panthers will face him in his fourth career start.
The series has ended up as a sweep the last six seasons.
The Panthers swept the Bucs each of the last two years, including a pair of wins behind backup quarterback Derek Anderson in 2014.

WEEK 6

at Seattle, Oct. 18, 4:05 on FOX

Seahawks 2014 record: 12-4Series history: Seahawks lead 7-2Last meeting: Seahawks won 31-17 in Seattle on 1/10/15Notes:

The Panthers return from their Week 5 bye to start the toughest stretch of the season. Their next four opponents went a combined 45-19 in 2014.
Carolina has dropped five straight to the Seahawks, including four games in the last three seasons.
The Panthers are 0-4 all-time in Seattle, including a 31-17 loss in January’s Divisional playoffs.
Not only do the Panthers get another crack at many of their old nemeses, but they’ll also face new Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, who was a prickly foe with the Saints.
The last time the Panthers won in the series, quarterback Matt Moore led the way in his first career start on 12/16/07.

WEEK 7

vs Philadelphia, Oct. 25, 8:30 on NBC

Eagles 2014 record: 10-6Series history: Eagles lead 6-3Last meeting: Eagles won 45-21 in Philadelphia on 11/10/14Notes:

This is the first of two Panthers’ prime-time home games in 14 days. Carolina is 13-20 all-time in prime time after going 0-3 in the time slot last year.
Few know what Eagles head coach Chip Kelly is planning week-to-week, so there’s no telling what he may be up to come late October.
Quarterback Nick Foles, running back LeSean McCoy and receiver Jeremy Maclin were a few departures. Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray and cornerback Byron Maxwell were among the additions during a wild offseason makeover.
The Panthers have lost four of five in the series.
They were embarrassed on Monday Night Football last year, trailing 45-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Carolina’s only home win in the series was on 11/7/99. Making his fifth career start, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was 8-of-20 for 68 yards and an interception in a 33-7 loss.

WEEK 8

vs Indianapolis, Nov. 2, 8:30 on ESPN

Colts 2014 record: 11-5Series history: Panthers lead 4-1Last meeting: Panthers won 27-19 in Indianapolis on 11/27/11Notes:

Cam Newton vs. Andrew Luck: A marquee matchup between the No. 1 pick of the 2011 draft and the top pick in 2012.
While aging, receiver Andre Johnson and running back Frank Gore give Luck a couple more weapons.
The Colts’ only win in the series was on 10/28/07 when Peyton Manning outplayed a Panthers’ quarterback pairing of David Carr and Vinny Testaverde.

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vs Green Bay, Nov. 8, 1:00 on FOX

Packers 2014 record: 12-4Series history: Packers lead 9-4Last meeting: Packers won 38-17 in Green Bay on 10/19/14Notes:

The Panthers fell behind 28-0 last October in a forgettable performance that put them in a six-game tailspin.
As usual, the Packers watched the rest of the league play in free agency this offseason. Green Bay instead re-signed a couple guys who may have made bigger money on the open market: receiver Randall Cobb and offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga.
The Packers have won five of the last seven meetings in Charlotte.
The last time the Panthers won a home game in the series was a 32-29 Monday Night victory on 10/3/05.

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at Tennessee, Nov. 15, 1:00 on FOX

Titans 2014 record: 2-14Series history: Titans lead 3-1Last meeting: Titans won 30-3 in Charlotte on 11/13/11Notes:

No one’s sure what Tennessee is are going to do with the second pick in next week’s draft, so it’s anyone’s guess who will be at quarterback in Week 10.
The Titans have won three straight in the series.
The Panthers have never beaten Tennessee. Their only win against the franchise formerly known as the Oilers was on 11/14/96 in Houston.

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vs Washington, Nov. 22, 1:00 on FOX

Redskins 2014 record: 4-12Series history: Redskins lead 7-4Last meeting: Panthers won 21-13 at Washington on 11/4/12Notes:

The Redskins tend to be in turmoil, and if they struggle during the first half of the season, they may again be a mess when they come to Carolina.
Washington’s immediate future still rests on the fragile legs of quarterback Robert Griffin III.
The Panthers have won three straight in the series.
Carolina has won the last three meetings played in Charlotte.
Washington’s last win in Carolina was on 12/13/98.

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at Dallas, Nov. 26, 4:30 on CBS

Cowboys 2014 record: 12-4Series history: Cowboys lead 9-3Last meeting: Cowboys won 19-14 in Charlotte on 10/21/12Notes:

Storylines aplenty. The Panthers’ first ever game on Thanksgiving. Potentially against former defensive end Greg Hardy. And there’s sure to be some more drama surrounding the Cowboys come late November.
The Cowboys have won nine of the last 10 meetings, including five straight.
The Panthers’ last win in the series came in the 2003 Wild Card round.
Carolina’s only win in Dallas was on 12/8/97 when Kerry Collins outplayed Troy Aikman.

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at New Orleans, Dec. 6, 1:00 on FOX

Saints 2014 record: 7-9Series history: Panthers lead 21-19Last meeting: Panthers won 41-10 in New Orleans on 12/7/14Notes:

This starts a five-game homestretch against teams that all finished below .500 last year.
Carolina has won two of its last three trips to New Orleans.
Last year’s blow-out win in the Superdome propelled the Panthers on a late-season rally that put them in the playoffs.

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vs Atlanta, Dec. 13, 1:00 on FOX

Falcons 2014 record: 6-10Series history: Falcons lead 24-16Last meeting: Panthers won 34-3 in Atlanta on 12/28/14Notes:

This is the first of a pair of games between the two teams in a 15-day span.
The Falcons won just 10 games their last two seasons, but they still have some solid pieces, especially on offense. If new defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn can turn that unit around, Atlanta may not be the pushover many expect them to be.
The Panthers snapped a five-game losing streak in the series by winning four of the last five.
Atlanta has won three of its last three trips to Charlotte.

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at NY Giants, Dec. 20, 1:00 on FOX

Giants 2014 record: 6-10Series history: Panthers lead 5-4Last meeting: Panthers won 38-0 in Charlotte on 9/22/13Notes:

If the Giants are in danger of missing the postseason this late in the season, Tom Coughlin may be coaching one of his final games in New York.
The Panthers get their first taste of receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was the best of a star-studded 2014 rookie class.
In their last visit to New York, the Panthers opened up their dreadful 2010 season with a 31-18 loss in the inaugural game at MetLife Stadium.

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at Atlanta, Dec. 27, 1:00 on FOX