This should be a fun one, and for a lot of reasons. The are traveling to lock horns with the in an AFC versus NFC matchup that will see go up against his former team for the first time since being traded. Usually players get a few weeks or months before they square up against their previous team, but Darnold will be faced with exorcising his demons in his first game as Panthers quarterback, and he'll have the help of another former Jet in wide receiver . If you flip the Seth Curry Jersey coin, you'll see rookie second overall pick dre sed in green and white and looking to hit the ground running as the replacement for Darnold -- being coached up by newly installed head coach Robert Saleh.Experience and home-field advantage have oddsmakers leaning toward the Panthers in this one, with Caesars Sportsbook listing them as five-point favorites ahead of Sunday's matchup. And with an over/under of 44.5, this isn't expected to be a dry game, but instead one in which both teams find the end zone on multiple occasions. You'll want to make sure you're glued to this game, as the future of the Jets battles the team's past, who now lives and plays in North Carolina.Date:Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 |Time:1 p.m. ETLocation:Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)TV:CBS|Stream:Paramount+ ( )Follow:Odds:Panthers -5, O/U 44.5It's now officially Darnold or bust in 2021. After trading for the former No. 3 overall pick in a deal that sent three draft picks to these very New York Jets, the Panthers remained in the running to select a quarterback with their No. 8 pick in this year's draft, but instead turned to the defensive side of the ball and grabbed top cornerback prospect . As a matter of fact, they didn't draft a quarterback whatsoever, and followed that by exercising Darnold's fifth-year contract option. That locks Darnold in through 2022, but put a pin in that for now because it's Jason Kidd Jersey all about what he does or doesn't do this coming season that will determine if he's around to enjoy next year's salary in Charlotte. There are mixed reviews on what Darnold is and can or can't be going forward, but head coach Matt Rhule is once again trying to find his QB of now and later after the failed experiment with . If Darnold achieves his potential in Carolina, Rhule will be all smiles and can begin truly keying in on other team needs. But, if Darnold doesn't, Rhule will enter Year 3 with yet another round of questions at the position, Nate Hinton Jersey and those will inevitably bleed into speculation on if he is the right man for the head coaching job.That's not the only headline going into this contest, though, because Darnold is facing his former team (another one) and their new sheriff at QB: Wilson. Wilson is now thought to be what the Jets wanted Darnold to become but never did, which makes for a very, very interesting QB matchup that will see Darnold trying to prove the point that he's a franchise quarterback while Wilson works to show why he's better than his predece sor who now wears a Panthers uniform. To s in Anderson as the primary target for Darnold along with former defensive coordinator Saleh taking the reins as head coach in New York; and what more can you ask for?The return of ? This battle has that headline, too, so hold on to your hats. Excited for the biggest in history? . If you already have the CBS Sports app, make sure to favorite the your favorite team so you don't mi s a thing!Highly touted rookie QB versus highly touted rookie CB? Sign me up.If the Panthers can get early pre sure on Wilson to force him into rookie mistakes, and then take the ball away in the proce s, it could be a convincing victory for them. Horn is drooling Courtney Lee Jersey for his NFL debut as well, and that means Wilson might really be up against it as he tries to focus in hostile territory in Charlotte. This feels like a "welcome to the NFL" game for Wilson, and a bit of redemption for Darnold and Anderson (whom the Jets let walk in 2020 free agency). Glue your eyes to Horn whenever Wilson is allowed to throw a pa s, because there might be an impact play or two made by the rookie corner that helps seal the deal for the Panthers at some point in the game. Latest Odds: Carolina Panthers -3.5 Speaking of McCaffrey, good luck Dirk Nowitzki Jersey stopping him.But, speaking of Saleh, good luck trying to get past a defense he's built. This sets the stage for an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, only it's to be determined if the latter applies just yet to the Jets defense, whereas we already know how destructive a healthy McCaffrey can be. If his return is a dominant one in Week 1, it'll take a ton of pre sure off of Darnold to play hero ball, and will instead force that task on Wilson -- a rookie still learning just how fast the pro game plays. No knock to Wilson whatsoever, but if he's forced to climb back from multiple scores in his first NFL game, it could end badly. Wilson is still learning his targets, but Darnold and Anderson simply carry chemistry over from their time spent together in New York, and that's a ready-made advantage on offense. Pick: Panthers 24, Jets 17