The Carolina Panthers were one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 NFL season, winning the NFC South for the first time since 2015 and making the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Now, the Panthers look to make the next step in their development under third-year coach Dave Canales and fourth-year quarterback Bryce Young. Carolina still had a losing record last year at 8-9, which marked the eighth-straight season with a record under-.500.
For the Panthers to enter the conversation with the rest of the NFL contenders, Bryce Young will need to find more consistency in the passing game. Last year was Young's best in three years in the NFL, but he still hasn't found the level of some of the elite quarterbacks.
All four NFC South teams believe they have a chance to win the division next year, which should make the division race interesting once again.
Here is a complete breakdown of the Panthers' 2026 schedule, including dates, start times and analysis for all 17 games.
Carolina Panthers schedule 2026
Home opponents: Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, Bears, Lions, Ravens, Bengals, Broncos, Seahawks
Away opponents: Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Steelers, Eagles
Every NFL team's 2026 opponents are predetermined. Panthers' full 2026 NFL schedule with dates, times and TV networks will be updated below when the NFL schedule is announced at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 14.
Week Date Opponent Kickoff time (ET) TV channel
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Panthers strength of schedule
In 2025, the Panthers got the benefit of playing some of the worst teams in the league along with being in the weakest division in the NFL. All four NFC South teams finished below-.500, and Carolina also faced teams like the Jets, Cardinals, and Dolphins. However, the Panthers did have to play the entire NFC West division, which featured three playoff teams.
The Panthers will face a tougher task in 2026, as they have the 10th-toughest schedule in the NFL based on 2025 records. Carolina opponents combined to produce a .521 winning percentage last year, and the Panthers get the short end of the stick by drawing three more first-place teams from 2026.
Toughest tests: Carolina's toughest tests will be on the road against the Packers and Eagles. Going to Lambeau Field is always a battle, as the Packers are consistently a contender, while the Eagles' talent makes them a tough matchup in Philadelphia.
Additionally, the Panthers' brutal home schedule includes games against the Seahawks, Broncos and Bears, who served as three of the top four seeds in last year's playoffs.
Biggest breaks: The Panthers benefit from being in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. Carolina won the NFC South last year despite having a losing record at 8-9, and the team will have six games in the division during the year.
Besides the division contests, the Panthers' biggest break will probably be a road game against the Browns, who are once again in rebuild mode.
Panthers record prediction
Over/under win total: 7.5
Bottom line: While the Panthers took a step forward in 2025 by winning the division at 8-9, Carolina faces a steeper hill to climb in 2026. The Panthers will need to take advantage of a weak division, as they have five games against teams that won their division last year.
Carolina should be good enough to once again compete for a playoff spot, especially in the NFC South, but it will be difficult for the Panthers to get to double-digit wins for the first time since 2017.
Record prediction: 7-10