The Carolina Panthers are set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Week 3 preseason matchup on Friday night. This is the final opportunity for Matt Rhule and the coaching staff to evaluate the team. With the season quickly approaching, the Panthers will be finalizing the roster soon after this game against the Steelers.

Carolina is a very young team that's hoping to steadily improve through the next couple of years. To do that, the offensive line and defense must step up their play. The offensive line has a tough challenge on Friday night as they face an elite Steelers defense. Meanwhile, the Panthers' defense will have a challenge of their own as they hope to slow down the opposing offense.

The Panthers have two rookies who could take the league by storm one day. For that reason, we could witness two prospects shine once again, giving something the Panthers can look forward to in the future. With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Panthers' preseason matchup against the Steelers.

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4. Panthers offensive line holds their own

The Steelers arguably have the best front seven in football, so much so that even their rotation players are legitimate. This is the perfect challenge for Carolina's offensive line before entering the regular season. If they can prove themselves against Pittsburgh, the Carolina Panthers will have plenty of positive momentum for their Week 1 matchup.

3. The defense shows up

The Carolina Panthers have a young core on the defensive side of the ball. They actually played much better than anticipated last season, which bodes well for their development in 2021. They have the potential to be a surprise top 10 unit this year. Look for the Panthers' defense to impress as they aim to wreak havoc on the Steelers' offense.

2. Chuba Hubbard makes a case to be the main backup

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Chuba Hubbard has been a bright spot in the backfield this offseason, even though the starting role clearly belongs to Christian McCaffrey. Hubbard should receive plenty of carries in the final preseason game, as he could earn himself the immediate backup role. If that's the case, Chuba Hubbard could be in for a surprisingly good year, as the coaching staff might look to give McCaffrey a break a bit more often. Keep an eye on Hubbard, as his performance could dictate the final roster spots in the Panthers' backfield.

1. Terrace Marshall Jr. shines once again

Terrace Marshall Jr. seems to be hitting his stride as the season approaches. With DJ Moore and Robby Anderson working on the outside, Marshall has the opportunity to be the main slot receiver in Carolina's offense. He is in direct competition with David Moore for the main slot role, but based on his performance so far, this seems to be Marshall's job to lose. This is a big preseason game for the rookie wide receiver, so we should be in store for another spectacular performance. Look for Terrace Marshall Jr. to make some noise on Friday night.