The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers get the NFL season started in a matchup of complete opposites.

Carolina's bandwagon has no more room. The Panthers won an encouraging six games last year—including four of their last six—Cam Newton is a year older and the defense is much improved.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOz6JHe-qFY

The Bucs' outlook isn't so optimistic.

Just one year removed from winning 10 games, the Bucs took a major step back in 2011, going 4-12.

But just because these squads are seemingly moving in completely different directions, expect a barn-burner on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.