The Carolina Panthers will face a monster opponent right out of the gate for the 2019 season. According to a report by Joe Person at the Athletic, the team will host the reigning NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in Charlotte for their season opener.
Led by an ingenious offensive mind in head coach Sean McVay, LA finished second in the league in scoring behind the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams also have the most disruptive defender in the league, superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald. He led the NFL in sacks (20.5) and tackles for a loss (25) last year. Stopping Donald will be the top priority for incoming center Matt Paradis and the other interior offensive linemen.
Neutralizing Donald is easier said than done of course. He’s also well-coached. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips calls the plays and he’s every bit as good as anyone else who does his job.
The Rams also have one of the league’s best running backs in Todd Gurley and several high-quality wide receivers.
Their Achilles’ heel is at the quarterback position. Former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff benefits a great deal from the talent around him and in his headset, but his game still has glaring flaws even after three years in the league. Those were exposed by the Patriots in their Super Bowl victory – they held the Rams to just three points.
The full 2019 schedule will be released in two and a half hours.
