Quarterbacks Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers (L) and Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Photo : Reuters)
Two 1995 expansion teams Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars are set to clash at the latter's EverBank Field in Downtown Jacksonville on Sunday, September 13.
Carolina seems to have the advantage over the ill-fated Jaguars in this season-opening game for both squads.
Cam Newton and company should not be too confident especially after they lost Newton's favorite pass catcher, sophomore wideout Kelvin Benjamin, in an ACL tear during the preseason. Second-stringer Devin Funchess is not likely to start the game as well because of a recurring hamstring injury.
However, even without the above-mentioned wideouts, the Panthers are still the "more talented" team on paper, as per ESPN.
Bleacher Report noted that Newton's offensive group is "too tough to stop" as they are a natural playoff squad as compared to the Jaguars who are still playing like an expansion team 20 years after.
The key in this game will be Ron Rivera's acclaimed defense, which will keep Jacksonville signal caller Blake Bortles guessing right from the start.
Prediction: Panthers win, 28-11
Carolina Panthers starting lineup
Offense: Newton (QB), Stewart (RB), Tolbert (FB), Cotchery (WR1), Brown (WR2), Olsen (TE), Oher (LT), Norwell (LG), Kalil (C), Turner (RG), Remmers (RT)
Defense: Johnson (DE), Short (DT), Cole (DT), Ealy (DE), Klein (OLB), Kuechly (MLB), Davis (OLB), Norman (CB1), Tillman (CB2), Harper (SS), Boston (FS)
Jacksonville Jaguars starting lineup
Offense: Bortles (QB), D. Robinson (RB), A. Robinson (WR1), Hurns (WR2), Thomas (TE1), Lewis (TE2), Joeckel (LT), Beadles (LG), Wisniewski (C), Linder (RG), Parnell (RT)
Defense: Branch (DE), Bennett (DT), Miller (DT), Odrick (DE), Skuta (OLB), Posluszny (MLB), Smith (OLB), House (CB1), Colvin (CB2), Evans (SS), Brown (FS)
