2023 Carolina Panthers schedule analysis

Circle the date: Week 8 vs. Houston Texans (Oct. 29)

The top three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft -- QBs Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, plus edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. -- will likely feature prominently in this mid-season showdown. Young (Carolina) and Stroud (Houston) went 1-2 in the draft after fantastic college careers at Alabama and Ohio State, respectively. Young and Anderson were teammates in Tuscaloosa but will be on opposite sides in this one. If you are looking for a game with promising young talent, Panthers-Texans should be near the top of the list.

Toughest stretch: Weeks 3-6 (at Seattle Seahawks, vs. Minnesota Vikings, at Detroit Lions, at Miami Dolphins)

Carolina didn't get any favors with the way the season opens. The Panthers start with a division road game at the Falcons and then a division home game against the Saints. While division games are tough enough, though, it is the four games immediately following those two that the Panthers should fear the most.

Three of those games are on the road and each team in that span finished 2022 with a winning record. Seattle, Minnesota and Miami reached the playoffs while the Lions (+145) are the current favorite to win the NFC North and projected to win nine games in 2023. (h/t CBS Sports)

Easiest stretch: Weeks 8-11 (vs. Texans, vs. Indianapolis Colts, at Chicago Bears, vs. Dallas Cowboys)

The Cowboys are a good team, but Carolina has nine days off after playing the Bears on Thursday night in Week 10. The Texans and Colts have a combined over/under win total of 12 games and both are most likely a year or two away from being a contender. The same could probably be said about the Bears after they went 3-14 last fall and are trying to build a viable defense on the fly.

"Who won the Panthers-Bears trade?" Part One: Week 9 at Chicago

Carolina paid a handsome price to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft, which it used to select Young. The Panthers traded their 2023 first-round (ninth overall) and second-round (61st overall) picks, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick and wide receiver DJ Moore to Chicago to get who they hope will develop into the team's franchise quarterback.

Of course, it will take more than one game to determine whether the trade was the right move or not but when has that stopped anyone from overreacting in the moment? If the Panthers lose, they got fleeced. If they win, general manager Steve Fitterer is a genius and everyone in the organization should get a raise. Is that an overreaction? Sure. But it's also just an average day in the NFL.