NEW ORLEANS — After a 2-15 campaign in 2023, the Carolina Panthers open up the 2024 season this Sunday on the road against the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m.
The Panthers were 0-2 against the Saints in 2023 and have lost seven of their last nine games overall against their division rival. Sunday marks the first game for Carolina under new head coach Dave Canales, who spent last season as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator.
Here are a few things to watch for Sunday as Carolina tries to start the year with a win.
New faces
Carolina has had a facelift on both sides of the ball since last season ended. And the Panthers made the most changes to their offensive line.
In free agency, Carolina signed guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to massive deals. Austin Corbett returns to the lineup at center after missing most of 2023 with an injury, and Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton will hold things down at the tackle spots.
Last season, Bryce Young was sacked the second-most times of any player in the NFL (62). The hope is these new additions will give Young enough time to find his weapons in the pass game.
Speaking of the pass game, the Panthers have a new No. 1 receiver in Diontae Johnson, who came over via a trade with the Steelers this offseason. Johnson had a solid year in 2023 — catching 51 passes for 717 yards and five touchdowns despite dealing with nagging injuries.
On the defensive side of the ball, the biggest new piece at Carolina's disposal is defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, a Rock Hill, S.C. native who played his college ball at South Carolina.
Clowney had one of his best seasons as a pro in 2023, totaling 9.5 sacks and a PFF grade of 85.7. He will fill the gap left behind by the departure of Brian Burns, who was traded to the New York Giants during the NFL Draft.
Starting hot
Winning your Week 1 game can go a long way toward establishing an identity early in the season. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they haven't won their first game of a season since a 19-14 win over the Jets in 2021.
The Panthers actually started the 2021 season 3-0 before going 3-11 the rest of the season and missing the playoffs. Carolina's last postseason appearance came in 2017 when the team still had Cam Newton under center.
Carolina faces the 11th easiest schedule in 2024 in terms of last season's opponent win percentage. After their matchup with New Orleans, the Panthers host the Chargers in Week 2 and travel to Las Vegas to play the Raiders in Week 3.
Los Angeles and Las Vegas went a combined 13-21 in 2023. If the Panthers look good in Week 1, there's a realistic shot they could have two or three wins before they play one of their toughest games of the season in Week 4 against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Know your opponent
The Saints narrowly missed out on the playoffs in 2023, but this New Orleans squad might be a hair worse than the one we saw last season.
New Orleans made a couple of splash signings in free agency, bringing in Chase Young on a one-year deal. The former No. 2 overall pick has the talent to make an impact, but it remains to be seen whether he can stay healthy enough to do so.
Offensively, the Saints are led once again by Derek Carr, who completed 68.4% of his passes for 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2023. Things will look slightly different though, as New Orleans has a new offensive coordinator this year in Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak spent the 2023 season as the passing game coordinator for the 49ers, helping Brock Purdy throw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
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