The Carolina Panthers may be opening up their new campaign at the site of their most painful outcome from the last one.
According to Zach Klein of WSB in Atlanta, the Panthers will begin the 2023 season on the road against the Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons will open up the 2023
Season at home vs Bryce Young and Carolina Panthers #NFLSchedule2023— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) May 10, 2023
Ironically enough, the Panthers’ very first regular-season game in franchise history was a Week 1 bout in Atlanta—one quarterbacked by new head coach Frank Reich. It’ll also be their first trip back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium since their Week 8 meeting with the Falcons in 2022, where the follies of wide receiver DJ Moore and kicker Eddy Piñeiro helped seal a painful 37-34 loss.
Additionally, that very turf played host to the 2021 SEC Championship Game—perhaps the best performance of Bryce Young’s college career. The eventual Heisman Trophy winner and 2023 No. 1 overall pick completed 26 of his 44 throws for 421 yards and three touchdowns while running for another 40 yards and a score in a 41-24 win over the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.
