CHARLOTTE, N.C. – There are still questions about the strength of quarterback Cam Newton's surgically-repaired shoulder, but there’s no question the Carolina Panthers are more talented and deeper than they were a year ago.

The Super Bowl Hangover appears to be over, too.

The Christian McCaffrey Era is beginning, and the first-round pick out of Stanford has added an element to the offense that should take some pressure off of Newton. The defense should return to top-10 form with the addition of end Julius Peppers and safety Mike Adams.

I predicted the Panthers would go 10-6 when the schedule came out in April. Here’s my revised game-by-game prediction:

Cam Newton's health will go a long way in determining how the Panthers' 2017 season goes. Chuck Burton/Associated Press

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET

It seems fitting that the Panthers begin their rebound from a disastrous 2016 season in the stadium where they began their tumble into disaster last year. The good news is the Denver Broncos won’t be at Levi’s Stadium when the Panthers return to the site of their Super Bowl 50 loss at the end of the 2015 season. The 49ers, in a rebuilding mode, aren’t close to Super Bowl form. Record: 1-0

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17, vs. Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET

The Bills have former Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott as their head coach, former assistant general manager Brandon Beane as their general manager and a few former Panthers players. What they don’t have is the overall firepower to beat Carolina in its home opener. Record: 2-0.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 24, vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET

Saints quarterback Drew Brees will be wishing he had a weapon like McCaffrey. The way the Saints have played defense the past three years, the former Stanford star will have a field day. Record: 3-0

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1, at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. ET

Tom Brady has a record of 120-21 at home. Newton is 23-24-1 on the road. You didn’t really think the Panthers were on the way to another 14-0 start as they were in 2015, did you? Not here. Record: 3-1

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 8, at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET

I had this one marked as a loss for Carolina in April. But the Lions haven’t had consecutive winning seasons since 1994-95, and the odds say that will continue. Record: 4-1

Week 6: Thursday, Oct. 12, vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:25 p.m. ET (CBS/NFL Amazon)

These teams met in a prime-time game during Week 6 of the 2015 season, and the Panthers rolled 27-16. Short weeks haven’t traditionally been good for the road team. Record: 5-1

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 22, at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET

The reunion tour for Peppers begins. Peppers left the Panthers after the 2009 season to go to Chicago, where he had 37.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl three times in four years. He was 3-0 against Carolina during that span. He’ll be 1-0 against the Bears this time around. Record: 6-1

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 29, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET

Hard knocks, Episode No. 223. OK, so the show only went through training camp. But the Panthers will take some hard knocks from a much-improved Tampa Bay defense in this one. Record: 6-2

ESPN Stats & Information

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 5, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET

The Panthers can tell the Falcons all about the Super Bowl Hangover. It’s real. Record: 7-2

Week 10: Monday, Nov. 13, vs. Miami Dolphins, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN MNF)

The Mike Shula reunion tour begins and ends here. You can bet ESPN will have a full segment on how the Carolina offensive coordinator used to sit in the stands as his legendary dad, Don Shula, led the Dolphins to a couple of Super Bowl victories. Record: 8-2

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 19

Bye

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26, at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET

My favorite all-time Panthers’ memory occurred against the Jets. It was a 1995 game at Clemson, and linebacker Sam Mills intercepted a Bubby Brister shovel pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to give Carolina its first-ever victory. The Jets still make those kinds of mistakes. Record: 9-2

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3, at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET

Carolina corners James Bradberry and Daryl Worley have grown up a lot since being abused by Brees in the Louisiana Superdome a year ago. But Brees is still Brees, particularly at home. Record: 9-3

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10, vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

Who knows how last season would have gone for Carolina had Kelvin Benjamin not been called for an illegal block that negated a 56-yard Fozzy Whittaker touchdown catch. That would have given the Panthers a 15-point lead in the second quarter. Instead, it started a spiral toward a 2-5 start. Record: 10-3

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17, vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET

The Peppers reunion tour continues against the team he spent the past three seasons playing outside linebacker for. But this isn’t the Bears, and Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers. Record: 10-4

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 24, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET

Cam Newton’s shoulder, which bothered him during a late-season loss to the Bucs a year ago, should be at full strength by now. So Tampa Bay can’t count on three more interceptions. Record: 11-4

Week 17: Dec. 31, at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET

Making a prediction here: Julio Jones won’t have 300 yards receiving like he did the last time these teams met in Atlanta. But the Falcons will still win, and this one could decide the NFC South title. Record: 11-5