Panthers schedule 2024: Dates & times for all 17 games, strength of schedule, final record prediction

Good news for Panthers fans: the 2024 season probably can't go as poorly as 2023.

A year that began with the selection of QB Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick quickly went haywire, with first-year coach Frank Reich fired by November and GM Scott Fitterer fired at the end of the season. Carolina won just two games, and Young didn't prove much of anything while playing with a subpar supporting cast.

Adding insult to injury was the fact the Panthers didn't possess their own first-round pick, which ended up at the top of the draft. 

There are still reasons for hope in Carolina. The Panthers have a rising young head coach in Dave Canales, and new GM Dan Morgan took steps to add weapons for Young by trading for Diontae Johnson and drafting RB Jonathan Brooks and WR Xavier Legette. 

The Panthers aren't necessarily looking for playoff success in 2024, but they are looking for more than two wins and tangible progress from their potential franchise quarterback. 

Here is a complete breakdown of the Panthers' 2024 schedule, including dates, start times, and analysis for their slate of games.

Carolina Panthers schedule 2024

The Panthers' full schedule will be announced Wednesday, May 15 as part of the NFL's schedule release. Their opponents for the 2024 NFL season will be as follows:

• Home: Bengals, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons, Giants, Saints
• Away: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Commanders, Eagles, Falcons, Raiders, Saints

Panthers strength of schedule

Carolina had the sixth-easiest strength of schedule in 2023, largely due to a rough all-around year for the NFC South in 2022, but it didn't matter much. The Panthers still only won two games, taking down the AFC South champion Texans in October before picking up a win over the Falcons in December.

The Panthers naturally don't project to have a very tough schedule in 2024, as they are tied with the Bears for the third-easiest schedule based on opponent 2023 win percentage. The only two teams with an easier slate are the Falcons and Saints, and that's largely because they each face Carolina twice. 

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Panthers prediction 2024

Panthers Super Bowl odds courtesy BetMGM (+25000)

Toughest tests: The Chiefs, Bengals, and Cowboys all come to Charlotte this season, which won't be an easy task for a Panthers team that figures to experience plenty of growing pains. 

Carolina's road slate is much softer, though trips to Philadelphia and New Orleans don't figure to be easy for this squad.

Biggest breaks: Road games are always a challenge, so it helps that the Panthers' road slate includes the Commanders, Broncos, and Raiders. Carolina also welcomes the Cardinals and Giants to Charlotte in 2024.

Bottom line: The Panthers should look more competitive with a more competent offense around Young and a promising offensive mind in the head coaching role. A relatively soft schedule will likely allow Carolina to capitalize a bit and win two or three more games than last season.

Ultimately, playoff contention doesn't seem likely regardless of what the schedule looks like. Young looked lightyears away from being able to consistently win against the top QBs in the NFL, and the Panthers face Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow (among others) this season. 

2024 will be all about progress for Carolina, and progress doesn't necessarily mean meaningful games in late December or January after the kind of season this franchise had a year ago.

Record prediction: 5-12