CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers' 2025 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Wednesday.
The Panthers are back in prime time ("Monday Night Football") after being left out in 2024. They're also in line, with the league's fifth-easiest schedule, to potentially be a contender in the weak NFC South if they can get off to a winning start for only the second time in the past six seasons.
They'll have the luxury of having the same head coach (Dave Canales), general manager (Dan Morgan) and quarterback (Bryce Young) for the first time since 2019. And they have a potential No. 1 receiver in first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, taken No. 8 overall.
Here's what's in store for the Panthers:
Panthers 2025 regular-season schedule
Week 1: Sept. 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 2: Sept. 14 at Arizona Cardinals
Week 3: Sept. 21 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 4: Sept. 28 at New England Patriots
Week 5: Oct. 5 vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 6: Oct. 12 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 7: Oct. 19 at New York Jets
Week 8: Oct. 26 vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 9: Nov. 2 at Green Bay Packers
Week 10: Nov. 9 vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 11: Nov. 16 at Falcons
Week 12: Nov. 24 at San Francisco 49ers (MNF)
Week 13: Nov. 30 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 14: Dec. 7 BYE
Week 15: Dec.14 at Saints
Week 16: Dec. 21 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 17: TBD vs. Seattle Seahawks*
Week 18: TBD at Buccaneers*
*Date for Weeks 17 and 18 are to be determined
Strength of schedule: The Panthers are tied for the fifth easiest schedule in the league (opponents had a 0.457 winning percentage in 2024).
Over/Under: 6.5 wins
Biggest takeaway
The Panthers finally are made for prime time again -- sort of. It's only one game, a Week 12 MNF matchup against the San Francisco 49ers and former Carolina star running back Christian McCaffrey. But after being the only team in the NFL without a prime-time game last season, and having only three over the previous six seasons, one seems like a lot. This game is a sign that things may be on the upswing for Young and an organization that's had seven straight losing seasons.
Circle this date
No waiting around: the season opener at Jacksonville. You have two quarterbacks taken with the No. 1 pick of the draft, Trevor Lawrence in 2021 and Young in 2023. You have the Etienne brothers -- Panthers' rookie Travis Etienne and Jaguars' Travis Etienne Jr. -- at running back. It's also the debut of two top-10 picks, receiver/wide receiver Travis Hunter, whom the Jags traded up to select No. 2 to draft, and Carolina's McMillan. Then there are the two teams trying to bounce back from bad seasons, Jacksonville at 4-13 and Carolina at 5-12.
Key stretch
It would be easy to say the first four games, with three on the road and Carolina's string of poor starts. But let's go Weeks 5-9 with the Dolphins, Cowboys, Jets and Bills, followed by a road game at Green Bay. The only potential breather is the Jets. Get through those with a 3-2 record and it could set them on a path to be a factor late in the season with three of the last four games against NFC South opponents.
Bold prediction
The Panthers will defeat Tampa Bay in Weeks 16 and 18 to win the NFC South with an 8-9 record. OK, so the string of losing seasons would not end at seven. But eight wins would be one more than any season since 2017 and look great compared to Carolina's 5.1 average the past seven years.
What does the schedule mean for Bryce Young's success?
The fifth-easiest schedule gives Young and a team that was a cumulative 2-18 to start the past three seasons a chance. A strong start against the Jags and Lawrence will be important. It may also help erase memories of Young's statistically horrific 0-2 start last season that led to his benching and his 0-3 start to his rookie season.