Carolina Panthers 2023 Game Schedule And Tickets

New Coach, New QB and A New Hope

The Carolina Panthers are entering a new era in 2023, with a new head coach, a new quarterback, and a new outlook. After finishing 7-10 in 2022 and missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, the Panthers decided to make some major changes in the offseason. They hired former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, who led the Colts to three playoff appearances in four years, as their new head coach. They also traded star wide receiver D. J. Moore to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which they used to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Young is the third quarterback drafted by the Panthers in the first round, following Kerry Collins in 1995 and Cam Newton in 2011.

Young is expected to be the franchise quarterback for the Panthers, who have struggled to find stability at the position since Newton left the team. Young had a stellar college career at Alabama, where he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Crimson Tide to two national championships. He is known for his accuracy, mobility, and leadership skills, and has drawn comparisons to Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray. 

Young will have some weapons to work with on offense, such as running back Miles Sanders, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, and wide receivers Terrace Marshall Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., and Adam Thielen. The Panthers also drafted wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from Ole Miss in the second round to add more depth and speed to their receiving corps.

The Panthers also made some moves to improve their defense, which ranked 17th in points allowed in 2022. Christian McCaffrey trade to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for second, third, and fourth-round picks and a 2024 fifth-round pick were useful to that purpose, as they used some of those picks to draft outside linebacker D. J. Johnson from Oregon and guard Chandler Zavala from NC State.

The Panthers have a tough schedule in 2023, as they face six playoff teams from last year, including three division rivals: the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s only up to them if they make it to the playoffs, as the NFC South crown is up for grabs.

How did the Carolina Panthers perform in the 2022 NFL Season?

The 2022 NFL season was a disappointment for the Panthers and it was filled with highs and lows, triumphs and disappointments. The team ended the season with a 7-10 record, ranking 29th in total offense and 22nd in total defense.

The season started off on a rocky note, with the Panthers losing their first game to the Cleveland Browns. Despite a brave effort, they fell short by just two points, ending the game with a score of 24-26. The following week saw another close defeat at the hands of the New York Giants, with a final score of 16-19.

Despite the initial setbacks, the Panthers showed resilience. In their third game against the New Orleans Saints, they secured their first victory of the season. This win was a testament to their fighting spirit and a sign of better things to come. However, the joy was short-lived as they suffered consecutive losses against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers’ struggle was evident on both sides of the ball.

After a disappointing 1-4 start to the season, the Panthers made a significant change. Head coach Matt Rhule was fired, along with defensive coordinator Phil Snow. Defensive passing game coordinator Steve Wilks stepped in as interim head coach. Under Wilks’ leadership, the Panthers showed signs of improvement. They managed to secure a 6-6 record after that, including an impressive win against divisional rivals New Orleans Saints in Week 18, but despite their efforts, they missed out on the playoffs and marked their fifth straight year without postseason play. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold had underwhelming performances throughout the season, as neither of them threw for over 1,500 yards or 10 touchdowns. Their receivers didn’t perform as expected, with D. J. Moore only received 888 yards and seven touchdowns. On the defensive side, running back Onta Foreman had some standout performances and he consistently led in rushing and receiving yards in several games.

While the 2022 season didn’t go as planned for the Carolina Panthers, it was not without its moments. It was a year of learning and growth that will undoubtedly shape their strategies for this upcoming season.

Who did the Carolina Panthers acquire in the 2023 NFL Draft?Their picks for this 2023 season were:

• Round 1, Pick 1 (From Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
• Round 2, Pick 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
• Round 3, Pick 80 (From Pittsburgh): D. J. Johnson, OLB, Oregon
• Round 4, Pick 114: Chandler Zavala, G, NC State
• Round 5, Pick 145: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State

Who else did the Panthers sign for the 2023 Season?The following players joined the roster this offseason:

• Hayden Hurst, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (Free Agent)
• Shy Tuttle, NT, New Orleans Saints (Free Agent)
• D. J. Chark, WR, Detroit Lions (Free Agent)
• Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB, Arizona Cardinals (Free Agent)
• Nick Thurman, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (Free Agent)
• Justin Houston, OLB, Baltimore Ravens (Free Agent)
• Troy Hill, CB, Los Angeles Rams (Free Agent)
• David Sharpe, OT, Baltimore Ravens (Free Agent)
• Sam Webb, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (Free Agent)
• Nash Jensen, G, North Dakota State (Undrafted Free Agent)
• Ricky Lee, OT, North Carolina A&T (Undrafted Free Agent)

Some players who were signed but not put on the 53-Man did make it to the practice squad or reserve list:

• Eric Rowe, FS, Miami Dolphins (Free Agent, Practice squad) 
• Deion Jones, ILB, Cleveland Browns (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Jordan Thomas, OLB, Orlando Guardians (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Jashaun Corbin, RB, New York Giants (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Chris Wormley, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Dicaprio Bootle, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Lamar Jackson, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Michael Strachan, WR, Indianapolis Colts (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Tarik Cohen, RB, Chicago Bears (Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Eku Leota, OLB, Auburn (Undrafted Free Agent, Practice squad)
• Mark Milton, CB, Baylor (Undrafted Free Agent, Practice squad)
• J. D. Direnzo, T, Rutgers (Undrafted Free Agent, Practice squad)

Carolina Panthers Key Matchups in 2023The 2023 season will be a challenging one for the Panthers, who will face some tough opponents in their quest for the playoffs. Some of the key matchups to watch are:

• Week 2 vs. New Orleans Saints: This is the Panthers’ home opener and their first primetime game of the season. The Panthers and the Saints are division rivals who have a history of close and competitive games. The Panthers will also have to deal with quarterback Derek Carr, the Saints’ main acquisition for this season, and wide receiver Chris Olave, who had 72 receptions for 1,042 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in his rookie year.
• Week 9 vs. Indianapolis Colts: This is a rare matchup between both teams, who have only met seven times in the regular season since 1995. The Panthers have a 5-2 record in the series, but the Colts won the last meeting in 2019 by a score of 38-6. The Colts will face their former head coach Frank Reich, who left Indianapolis to take over the Panthers after Matt Rhule was fired. The Panthers will also have to deal with the Colts’ rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was drafted with the fourth overall pick.
• Week 15 vs. Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons and the Panthers will face each other in a crucial game which might have major implications for the playoff race in the NFC South division. The winner of this game will have a significant edge in either securing a wild card spot or leading the division, while the loser will face a tough challenge in staying alive.

• Week 18 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This is the Panthers’ regular season finale and their second meeting with their division rival, the Buccaneers, to whom they have a 20-25 lead in clashes against each other. Most recently, the Panthers and the Buccaneers split their series in 2022, with each team winning on their home field.