5-11, 3rd NFC South
The Panthers have the misfortune of finding themselves in the same division as Tom Brady and Drew Brees this year. With their defensive unit that just lost half their starters, including captain Luke Kuechly, it’s going to be a tall task to finish with a winning record in the NFC South. Their late bye (Week 13) also doesn’t bode well for their long-term prospects, but it helps that they’re a younger team. The Panthers have the 8th-toughest schedule in the league based on projected opponent win totals, but that shouldn’t stop their offense from being one of the best units in the league. Of course, they have Christian McCaffrey coming off a season with close to 2,500 combined yards and 19 combined touchdowns, but Teddy Bridgewater will help them be an overall productive unit. Joe Brady, who helped orchestrate the elite Saints offense and LSU’s record-breaking scoring unit last year, is the new offensive coordinator. That bodes well for D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel. The Panthers are definitely moving in the right direction, but their tough schedule and first-year coaching staff and quarterback gives them an overwhelming combination of variables to overcome this year.