The Carolina Panthers are in for a tough road ahead in 2020. In addition to a new coach, a new starting quarterback and a totally remade defense, they’ll face the most difficult schedule in the league according to a projection by Football Outsiders.

The toughest single game of the year? That will come Week 9 when they visit the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, according to Touchdown Wire,

Kansas City has a number of advantages. On top of playing at home, they have the best offensive coach in football, the most-talented quarterback in the NFL and a superb collection of talent at the skill positions. They’ve also added an intriguing new weapon in running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who should thrive in the old Kareem Hunt role.

To stop this juggernaut of an offense the Panthers will rely on an unproven defensive coordinator who’s coaching his first game in the NFL. Phil Snow will lead a unit that was decimated by several free agent losses, one devastating retirement and will probably have at least four rookies starting at key positions.

The Chiefs also got a lot better on defense en route to their first title in 50 years. The additions of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and safety Tyrann Mathieu helped turn around a unit that ranked No. 26 in DVOA in 2018 and improved to No. 14 last season. They should offer a good test for Teddy Bridgewater and a deep, speedy wide receiver corps.

To pull off an upset, the Panthers will have to dominate at the line of scrimmage and get lucky with turnovers. Don’t expect any help from Mahomes in this department, though. Even though he has a reputation as a gunslinger in the same mold as Brett Favre, Mahomes is far less reckless. He only threw a pick on one percent of his passes last season.

When the odds come out it will be a shock if Kansas City is favored by anything less than 13.5 points.

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