Carolina Panthers 2018 schedule release: Games, dates and times
The Carolina Panthers are looking to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in team history. What do we make of their 2018 schedule?
They are one of the tougher teams in the National Football League to get a gauge on. Just go back to the third year of head coach Ron Rivera’s tenure with the Carolina Panthers. Off a 7-9 year, the club overcame a 1-3 start to finish 12-4 and win the NFC South in 2013. That was followed by another division title but with a 7-8-1 mark.
In ’15, the Panthers won their first 14 games, finished 15-1 and reached Super Bowl 50. But Rivera and company fell hard the following season with a 6-10 showing. Of course, Carolina was back in the playoffs this past year with an 11-5 record and a wild-card invite.
Home: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions
So what about this upcoming season? Who knows, but here is the Panthers’ complete schedule, week-by-week:
Week 1: vs. Cowboys – 4:25 p.m. ET
Week 2: at Falcons – 1 p.m. ET
Week 3: vs. Bengals – 1 p.m. ET
Week 4: BYE
Week 5: vs. Giants – 1 p.m. ET
Week 6: at Redskins – 1 p.m. ET
Week 7: at Eagles – 1 p.m. ET
Week 8: vs. Ravens – 1 p.m. ET
Week 9: vs. Buccaneers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 10: at Steelers – 8:20 p.m. ET (Thursday)
Week 11: at Lions- 1 p.m. ET
Week 12: vs. Seahawks- 1 p.m. ET
Week 13: at Buccaneers – 1 p.m. ET
Week 14: at Browns – 1 p.m. ET
Week 15: vs. Saints – 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Week 16: vs. Falcons – 1 p.m. ET
Week 17: at Saints – 1 p.m. ET
This has been an extremely busy organization this offseason. Gone are veterans such as running back Jonathan Stewart and defensive linemen Charles Johnson and Star Lotulelei. Stewart is now a member of the New York Giants while Lotulelei signed with the Buffalo Bills. The Panthers traded for wide receiver Torrey Smith, signed defensive tackle Dontari Poe and added defensive backs, Ross Cockrell and Da’Norris Searcy.
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Perhaps the Carolina Panthers’ biggest loss this offseason was guard Andrew Norwell. The talented performer inked a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is a huge loss for a club that finished fourth in the league in rushing this past season. It makes for a huge void on the offensive line.