NFL Week 1: Visiting The Jaguars is a Must-Win Game For The Panthers
Heading into their week one matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Carolina Panthers have an opportunity to showcase what they’re building for the future. 2025 is a make-or-break season for this team. A win here will be the springboard that Carolina desperately needs to be a threat to the reigning 2024 NFC South champs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To do that, however, they must walk into EverBank Stadium and snatch a win.
After trading away veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen back to the Minnesota Vikings on August 27, 2025, it’s on the Panthers’ young receiving core to deliver every single game to get this team on the same level as the Bucs. With Xavier Legette leading the charge in his second year in the league, it’s dependent on him to gather up the young group and make some plays.
Legette had only 497 receiving yards last season on 84 targets and four touchdowns to his name. Expect those numbers to be much higher heading into the season with the Jags (whose defense was ranked 31st last season in the most yards given up) and 32nd in passing yards. Expect another wideout to have a big game as well, by the name of Tetairoa McMillian.
The anticipation for the 22-year-old rookie is at a massive high for all Panthers fans, and what better way to enter his first game as an NFL player than with a win on the road. Coming into game one of the regular season, it’s still unclear if McMillian will start due to a recent hamstring injury. He’s back practicing in Charlotte, so hopes are still high that he’ll make an impact in Jacksonville.
On August 30, 2025, the Panthers announced the return of Hunter Renfrow by signing him to a contract after cutting him days before. The resigning was another significant move, adding depth to the receiver room, which will be beneficial later in the season, particularly if Legette, T-Mac, or Coker experience nagging injuries.
The Carolina Panthers are coming in full force to Jacksonville with a winning mindset. Let’s see what this young core can do under the bright lights of week one action. Carolina visits the Jags on September 7, 2025, at 1:00 pm EST. Week 1 will be a high-scoring game, and I expect a 24-21 victory, as the Panthers narrowly edged out a win by a late-game field goal from rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
Bryce Young will bring that same precision and passing consistency he had late last season into the Jags game, ending with 200-plus yards and 2 TD passes. Tetairoa McMillian will tear directly into the Jags’ secondary as both Tyson Campbell and Montaric Brown are questionable for Week 1 due to injuries.