It’s been six years since the Carolina Panthers playoff chances became a playoff berth, with the Tar Heel State’s lone professional football franchise finding themselves mired in mediocrity ever since.
Last year’s 2-15 campaign that saw head coach Frank Reich get canned midseason was probably the low point for the club, though first-year head coach Dave Canales will soon find out for real when Carolina kicks off the 2024 regular season against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 8.
Given the fact that oddsmakers at Bet365 North Carolina are giving the Panthers the longest NFC title odds of any franchise (at +12500) with a preseason win total over/under of 4.5, it’s safe to say that it could be another long fall in the Tar Heel State.
With our North Carolina sports betting mind, BetCarolina.com assessed the Panthers’ schedule to determine which stretch of the season could be the team’s toughest, breaking it all down based on the following criteria:
1 pt – Divisional Opponent
1 pt – Road Game
1 pt – Primetime Game (TNF, SNF, MNF)
2 pt – Short Week
2 pt – Team #11-20 on ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings
3 pt – Team #1-10 on ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings
Hardest Stretch of Carolina Panthers’ 2024 Regular Season
Week | Opponent | Points |
|---|---|---|
12 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 3 |
13 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 |
14 | at Philadelphia Eagles | 4 |
What’s Carolina’s Toughest Stretch of the NFL Season?
In a year where Carolina plays teams like the Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders on the road and the Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals at home, it’s worth considering which stretches are the team’s toughest.
That’s where the run from Week 12-14 comes in, as Canales’ first year as an NFL head coach kicks into overdrive as Carolina plays the two-time defending Super Bowl champs at home before hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC South clash in Week 13.
From there, Carolina hits the road to play the talented Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14, potentially serving as a make-or-break stretch for the young team, with a roster that’s built around former No. 1 pick Bryce Young at quarterback and a host of youthful players at various skill positions on both sides of the ball.
Regardless, Canales and the Panthers will look to turn the page on a year to forget in Charlotte this fall, as Carolina looks to take a step towards respectability when they head to the Crescent City to play the Saints in Week 1 this September.
Stayed tuned with BetCarolina.com for our continued coverage of the Panthers this season and our best North Carolina sportsbook promos for you to enjoy.
USA Today photo by Bob Donnan.
