The difficulty of the Panthers’ schedule for the upcoming season is commonly noted as relatively easy. This is largely due to the fact that the best record in their division last year was held by the Buccaneers, who won only eight games.
With Tom Brady’s retirement, the NFC South is now considered the most wide open division in football. The Panthers will look to capitalize on this and reach the postseason for the first time since 2017. With that being said, let’s take a look at which sections of their schedule will prove to be the most difficult as they attempt to do so. We’ll break the season down into quarters, starting with the most challenging portion of the schedule.
(1) First Quarter, Weeks 1-4
The Panthers have had a tendency over the last half-decade to start off strong and then hit a wall as the season progresses. This schedule has potential for the opposite, as they’ll face their toughest stretch of the season right out of the gate. They begin on the road in Atlanta before heading home to take on the Saints. Then they’ll travel across the country to take on the Seahawks, followed by a matchup against the Vikings in Carolina.
These teams combined for a stout 36-32 record last season, with all of them securing at least seven wins. The defense will have their hands full as they try to stop the likes of Bijan Robinson, Chris Olave, DK Metcalf, Justin Jefferson and more. To make things a little tougher, it’ll be the first few tests for a completely reworked roster and coaching staff.
An ideal schedule would give everyone some time to grow accustomed to this new group. Instead, they begin with two key divisional matchups, followed by two of last year’s playoff teams. One positive note is that the Panthers went 4-1 in games against these teams last year. It’s a challenging start to a new era, but a chance to prove that a corner has been turned in Carolina.
(2) Third Quarter, Weeks 10-13
The third section of the season may not look that difficult on paper, but certain aspects make it especially challenging. It starts with a Thursday Night Football game against the Bears, followed by a home game against the Cowboys. Afterwards they head to Nashville to face the Titans before traveling once again to take on the the Buccaneers.
These teams combined for a record of 30-38 last season, heavily affected by the Bears’ 3-13 season. The Bears have improved since then, notably adding a couple of former Panthers. The short week, primetime lights and recent history between the two teams will make this a major matchup. They then have 10 days to prepare for what many expect to be a strong Cowboys team.
The Titans and Buccaneers aren’t supposed to be top tier teams this year, but will have the advantage of their home crowds. Tampa will also be led by Baker Mayfield, who might have something to prove when he faces the Panthers. Each game in this run is winnable, but it won’t be an easy stretch.
(3) Fourth Quarter, Weeks 14-18
With three divisional battles and a potential playoff race winding down, this last leg of the season won’t be easy by any means. It begins with a road game against the Saints, followed by two home matchups against the Falcons and Packers. The following week they’ll head to Jacksonville for a New Years Eve game before closing out the season in Carolina against Tampa Bay.
These five teams combined for a 39-46 record last year, and three of them have had quarterback changes in the offseason. The bright side here is that the Panthers will have already faced each divisional opponent once. They’ll have a bigger folder on each team and an idea of what to expect. Unless all four NFC South teams stay competitive, there’s also a good chance one will be fading out of the playoff picture by this point.
Most importantly, the team will have had 12 games to gel by this point. Bryce Young will be well into his rookie season, and everyone will have had time to settle in. None of these teams are slouches, but the door will be open for a strong run to close out the year.
(4) Second Quarter, Weeks 5-9
At a glimpse, this may look like a tough stretch of games for the Panthers. They start out on the road against two dark horse teams in the Lions and Dolphins. Then they return to Carolina to face the Texans and Colts, both of whom are also likely going to be led by rookie quarterbacks.
While each schedule section has tough opponents, this group has the most upside for Carolina. These teams combined for a record of only 25-41-2 last year, largely due to the struggles of Houston and Indy. Those teams have brought in some solid pieces, but not nearly as many as the Panthers have.
Additionally, it now seems as though the Dolphins will be without star cornerback Jalen Ramsey for that week six faceoff. On top of all that, the Panthers’ bye week falls right in the middle of this stint, meaning they’ll get some needed rest. Should they pull off an upset on the road and take care of business at home, Carolina could realistically go 3-1 in this stretch.
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Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
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