Panthers reporter predicts another positive step forward in 2026

The NFL has released schedules for all 32 teams for upcoming season. In the case of the Carolina Panthers, they'll be facing a far more-difficult slate of opponents than they did last year, and will be put to the test in defending their first division title in a decade.

That being said, this team should be ready for higher expectations and greater challenges. Their roster has steadily improved a great deal since the 2023 campaign and proved they can hang with the best of them in 2025.

Predictions are now pouring in from every corner of the internet. The most popular ones for the Panthers have them going 9-8, including from our team here at PanthersWire. Joe Person at The Athletic also has Carolina going 9-8 and winning the NFC South again.

Person writes:

"Before we talk about the ’26 season, let’s first point out that I correctly picked the Panthers to go 8-9 after last year’s schedule release and offered this comment: “But if another game or two breaks right, the long playoff drought could be over.” Canales and general manager Dan Morgan have the Panthers headed in the right direction, and they’ll take another step this season, winning the division for the second year in a row — this time with a winning record."

On paper, Carolina's defense has taken a big step forward after going from dead-last to the middle of the pack. If they can keep off-ball linebacker Trevin Wallace and safety Nick Scott from costing them huge gains on a regular basis, this will be a very difficult unit to score against.