Carolina Panthers schedule: Games, dates, TV channels, predictions for 2026 season
Tom VieraThe Carolina Panthers surprised in 2025 as a playoff team, but will they build on that success in 2026 or was it just a flash in the pan?
Carolina finally exceeded seven wins for the first time since 2017 and reached the postseason. They still finished below .500 at 8-9, but it was enough to win the NFC South title for the first time in a decade.
The team hit the reset button before the 2024 season, hiring Dan Morgan as general manager. They are three years removed from finishing with a league-worst 2-15 record in 2023. With three offseasons of roster building the Panthers hope to continue to make strides in a weaker division.
Quarterback Bryce Young enters his fourth NFL season looking to take another significant leap in 2026, and he's looking to land a contract extension beyond 2027. It will be a pivotal season as the Panthers have quietly improved their roster around him.
This year will be Young's third with head coach Dave Canales. The decision to hire the former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator could continue to pay dividends as the franchise hopes Canales can continue to unlock the former No. 1 overall pick's potential.
Can Carolina "Keep Pounding" and continue its ascension in 2026? Here’s a look at the schedule for Young and the Panthers in 2026.
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Carolina Panthers schedule 2026
- Week 1: Sept. 13, vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 2: Sept. 20, at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 3: Sept. 27, at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 4: Oct. 4, vs. Detroit Lions, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
- Week 5: BYE
- Week 6: Oct. 18, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 7: Oct. 25, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 8: Oct. 29, at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video ("Thursday Night Football")
- Week 9: Nov. 8, vs. Denver Broncos, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 10: Nov. 15, at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 11: Nov. 22, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 12: Nov. 30, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
- Week 13: Dec. 6, at Minnesota Vikings, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 14: Dec. 13, vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 15: Dec. 20, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 16: Date TBD, at Pittsburgh Steelers, Time TBD
- Week 17: Jan. 3, vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 18: Date TBD, vs. Atlanta Falcons, Time TBD
Panthers record prediction 2026
Record prediction: 7-10
The Panthers snuck into the postseason despite a losing record (8-9) and needing help on the final day of the regular season to win the NFC South. They were bounced in the wild-card round by the Los Angeles Rams, but the eight regular-season wins were the most by the franchise since 2017, a move in the right direction with Bryce Young and head coach Dave Canales.
The NFC South finally saw a change after four seasons with the Buccaneers at the top, but it's hard to argue that Tampa Bay isn't still the team to beat in the division. Carolina has some momentum with Young and his top wide receiver, reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, but the defense has some question marks behind the pillars of Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn. The unit still has significant weaknesses, ranking 24th in ESPN's pass-rush win-rate metric and 32nd in run-stop win rate.
As a result of finishing first in the NFC South last season, the Panthers will face fellow division winners the Eagles, Broncos and Seahawks. Carolina has the third-hardest strength-of-schedule overall, according to Sharp Football Analysis. If they can find a way to sweep the Saints and Falcons they will be in a position to compete with the Buccaneers for the division title again. However, the rest of their opponents are daunting outside of a road clash against the Browns.
Panthers 2026 home opponents
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Seattle Seahawks
Panthers 2026 away opponents
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cleveland Browns
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl 61 odds
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