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2022 Carolina Panthers Predictions with Odds to Win Super Bowl

by Sean Barnard - 6/21/2022

Carolina Panthers predictions Sam Darnold

The Carolina Panthers had a mediocre 2021 season that ended with a 5-12 record. Their hot 3-0 start raised expectations, but the Panthers were unable to keep this momentum. The quarterback position was not solidified even with the addition of Sam Darnold. Cam Newton made his return to Carolina, and PJ Walker also clocked snaps in 5 games. Matt Rhule is returning as head coach, but there has been some shakeup among the rest of the staff. There is some room for optimism for growth within the team as the core has mostly been kept intact with the hope it will flourish.

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The Panthers will begin their season at home with a matchup against the Browns. They will then travel to face the New York Giants in Week 2. They will return home for three straight games to face the Saints, Cardinals, and 49ers. They then will travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams before returning home to face the Buccaneers in Week 7. The Panthers have back-to-back road games against the Falcons and Bengals in Weeks 8 and 9. Carolina will face off with the Falcons in a Thursday night matchup at home. They will then travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens before returning home to play the Broncos. The Panthers hold a Week 13 bye. Carolina will travel to Seattle to place the Seahawks in Week 14 before returning home for back-to-back games against the Steelers and Lions. The Panthers' final two games will be on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints.

The Panthers have +13000 odds to win the Super Bowl, which is tied for the 4th longest odds in the NFL. Carolina is +6000 to win the conference and +1200 to win the NFC South. Their season total over/under for wins is set at 6 games. The Panthers are +500 to make the playoffs and -650 to miss.

Offense:

Key Players: Sam Darnold, Christian McCaffrey

The Panthers made an interesting choice in the draft by selecting QB Matt Corral in the third round. Sam Darnold started 11 games for the Panthers last season before a shoulder fracture shut down his season early. Darnold had some nice flashes. However, just as was the case with the Jets, he was inconsistent. In total, the 25-year-old threw for 9 touchdowns and 13 interceptions but also ran for over 200 yards. Carolina seems content moving forward with Darnold, Corral, and PJ Walker in the QB room as Cam Newton remains a free agent.

Carolina’s offense is extremely reliant on Christian McCaffrey, but his body was once again unable to hold up. McCaffrey played in just 7 games in 2021 and recorded 785 total yards from scrimmage. Chuba Hubbard impressed as his backup, and the Panthers also signed D’Onta Foreman to add to the RB unit. DJ Moore and Robbie Anderson are set to be the two primary options in the passing game, although there is a weakness at the tight end position, which is concerning.

The Panthers ranked 29th in the NFL in points scored and 30th in yards allowed in 2021. They also had the 29th ranked score percentage.

Defense:

Key Players: Jaycee Horn, Yetur Gross-Matos

The Panthers' defense was the saving grace in 2021. The team ranked 2nd in the NFL in yards allowed last season. They allowed the 4th fewest first downs and 4th fewest passing yards. The Panthers also held the 8th best yards per rushing attempt. While the scoring defense was not as great as the rest of the numbers, the defensive unit was the bright spot for Carolina.

The defense was led by Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore, who will be playing with the Colts next season. They also lost fellow CB AJ Bouye and Haason Reddick this offseason. Brian Burns also earned Bro Bowl honors for the 50 tackles, 9 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss. Burns will lead a defensive unit also highlighted by Yetur Gross-Matos, Derrick Brown, and Shaq Thompson. The Panthers added Jaycee Horn with the 8th overall pick in the 2021 draft, but he was only able to suit up for 3 games as he broke his foot. Horn is expected to make a much bigger impact this season and will be looked to for a bounce-back season.

Outlook:

The Panthers are a difficult team to evaluate in 2022. They still have a long way to go, and it seems unlikely they will be able to make a major leap forward. Winning 7 games seems like a steep goal for the Panthers, but it really depends on the version of Sam Darnold that shows up on a week-by-week basis. As bad as the Panthers potentially could be, they do have a more impressive roster than the Atlanta Falcons. Taking the Panthers at +165 odds to finish 3rd in the Division holds intriguing value. Christian McCaffrey is also worth a bet for Comeback Player of the Year at +750. If he can stay healthy, he is one of the best players in the NFL, but he has struggled to be able to do this consistently.

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