Week One of the 2019 NFL season has already started. With the low-scoring 10-3 affair between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago on Thursday night, football fans’ hunger for regular season action is over.
Tomorrow, the first full slate of Sunday games in Week One of the 2019 NFL season will take place. New players with new teams, new head coaches, and revived fan bases are three things to keep an eye on. There are even a couple of players who have not been signed to extensions yet (or have recently been released for that matter).
One game that I am particularly excited to watch (I will be there live) is the 1:00 P.M. clash between the Carolina Panthers and the defending NFC Champions, the Los Angeles Rams. This game pits a team with high expectations for the season against a team who is expected to dominate their division again, and one that could potentially win the Super Bowl this time.
Why do the Carolina Panthers have such high expectations in this game? I will tell you why. They have a new-and-improved Cam Newton, who is coming off an offseason in which he got surgery on his throwing shoulder. Newton appeared to injure his throwing shoulder after a big hit from TJ Watt in Week 10 of the 2018 NFL season., which eventually led to Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen starting the final two weeks of the regular season. The other day, Newton said that he has not felt this good since his rookie season. Watch out, league.
The Panthers are also bringing back Christian McCaffrey, one of the best young running backs in the league. Last year, McCaffrey was the Panthers’ every-down back, and he looks to be that again this year. In 2018, McCaffrey set career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns (1,098 yards, seven touchdowns), and in receiving yards and touchdowns (867 yards, six touchdowns). I am especially excited about McCaffrey, not only because of the big year he is poised to have, but also because he was my first fantasy football pick.
The wide receiving corps for the Carolina Panthers is younger and revamped. Gone is Devin Funchess, who will likely be the Indianapolis Colts’ top option opposite T.Y. Hilton. In is Curtis Samuel, the exciting young receiver from Ohio State that the Panthers took in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and D.J. Moore, the exciting young receiver from Maryland that the Panthers took with their first-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. These two will look to make a name for themselves as another great wide reeiver tandem in the league. He is a tight end, but Greg Olsen, one of the league’s most reliable tight ends, is healthy and ready to ball out.
Look at the offensive weapons on the Panthers to create havoc for a top-ranked Rams defense. If the Rams are shutting one guy down, the Panthers can go right to someone else.
It does not stop there. Look at the defense. 2019 first-round pick Brian Burns. Dontari Poe. Kawaan Short. Gerald McCoy. Mario Addison. Shaq Thompson. Luke Kuechly. Bruce Irvin. Donte Jackson. James Bradberry. Eric Reid. Tre Boston. These are just the starters. If the Rams are able to score more than 21 points on Sunday, I would be shocked, even with their offensive weapons like Goff, Gurley, Woods, and Kupp. The Panthers defense will surely cause trouble for an usually-strong Rams offensive line.
If you want to watch the Carolina Panthers take on the Los Angeles Rams, it will be broadcast live on FOX at 1:00 P.M. ET. This will be one of the games to watch this week, as a revamped offense takes on the defending NFC Champions.
I expect the Rams defense to give the Panthers trouble early, but I expect Newton to re-gain his form once he starts to find his receivers. Final score: Panthers 31, Rams 20.
Podcasts/Media
-
Podcast
/ 3 days agoBleav in Panthers – The One With The Six Sack Day – Tues Dec 16th 2024
Hosted by Desmond Johnson and Jonathan Stewart Dez and J Stew review the Panthers...
-
Podcast
/ 3 days agoThe Cat Cave – Ep 66 – Thurs Dec 19th 2024
Ryan Frick and Shannon Smith discuss the Carolina Panthers’ latest loss to the Dallas...
-
Podcast
/ 3 days agoWinning The Division – Ep 18 – Thurs Dec 19th 2024
Co Hosts Ryan Smith and former NFL TE Ben Troupe recap week 15 of...
-
Podcast
/ 5 days agoThis is Whirlie Nation – Season 2 Ep 14 – Mon Dec 16th 2024
Hosted by Chase Williams Recorded live from Natty Greene’s in Greensboro every Monday night...
ACC Football
-
ACC Football
/ 2 days agoNorth Carolina enters mix for NC State transfer WR KC Concepcion
Published by On3 NC State transfer wide receiver KC Concepcion is currently at Texas...
-
ACC Football
/ 3 days agoCollege Football Playoffs Are Here
Published by Taste of Country The expanded college football playoffs — something football fans...
-
ACC Football
/ 6 days agoTransfer Portal Bio Blast: Maalik Murphy
Published by On3 The winter transfer portal window officially opened last week. We’ve seen...
-
ACC Football
/ 6 days agoReport: Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson to step down
Published by On3 Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson will step down as the...
NFL/Carolina Panthers
-
NFL
/ 2 weeks agoPanthers HC Dave Canales on Bill Belichick-UNC reports: Would love to ‘pick his brain at some point
Published by On3 The state of North Carolina is home to football coaches such...
-
NFL
/ 2 weeks agoXavier Legette reveals he canceled ‘every plan’ he had after heartbreaking drop vs. Eagles
Published by On3 Carolina Panthers (3-10) rookie wideout Xavier Legette his struggled with drops...
-
NFL
/ 2 weeks agoBleav in Panthers – The One With The Cowboys Visit – Tues Dec 10th 2024
Hosted by Jonathan Stewart, Desmond Johnson, Schuyler Callihan The Panthers narrowly lose for the...
-
NFL
/ 2 weeks agoPanthers signing former Tennessee, USC star WR Velus Jones Jr.
Published by On3 As Velus Jones Jr. tries to find his footing in the...