CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 2024 NFL schedule was released on Wednesday, giving football fans a view of what's to come in the upcoming season.
The Carolina Panthers enter the 2024 regular season with something to prove after a dismal 2-15 campaign last year. New head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan have their hands full when it comes to turning around a franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs in over five years.
Canales was hired with the goal of helping second-year quarterback Bryce Young play like you'd expect for a No. 1 overall draft pick, and Morgan traded into the first round of this year's draft to select play-making wide receiver Xavier Legette from South Carolina.
The Panthers are featured in zero primetime games this season. The only game lined up to be nationally televised so far is Carolina's contest with the New York Giants in Munich, Germany on Nov. 10.
Carolina Panthers 2024 schedule
Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. - at New Orleans Saints
New Orleans finished last season 9-8 and just missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Quarterback Derek Carr returns and the team drafted offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga in the first round. The Saints struggled to protect Carr last year, ranking 28th in pass block win rate, according to ESPN.
The Saints swept the Panthers in 2023 with a 20-17 win in Week 2 and a 28-6 win in Week 14. Carolina's last win over New Orleans came on the final day of the 2022 regular season when Eddy Piñeiro nailed a last-second field goal.
Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. - vs Los Angeles Chargers
New head coach Jim Harbaugh was brought in to maximize Justin Herbert's talent. The Chargers made big changes during the offseason, letting numerous veterans walk in free agency, including wide receiver Mike Williams. Veteran receiver Keenan Allen was traded to Chicago for a fourth-round pick, too.
The Panthers have not faced the Chargers since 2020. Carolina won that contest 21-16. The Panthers have only lost to the Chargers once in the seven times the teams have played each other -- a 17-6 loss in 2004.
Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4:05 p.m. - at Las Vegas Raiders
Another team still trying to figure out the quarterback position. The Raiders hired Antonio Pierce as head coach after a somewhat successful stint as the interim. Las Vegas signed journeyman quarterback Gardner Minshew and he seems to be the guy at this point. Defensively, Maxx Crosby is a menace off the edge and could be the difference in their playoff chances.
Similar to their AFC West counterpart, the Panthers and Raiders have not faced off since 2020, when Las Vegas won 34-30 on opening day.
Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. - vs Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow missed a good portion of last season with a wrist injury. He'll be back, plus the Bengals still have receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who have been at the center of trade rumors for what feels like an eternity. The Bengals used the franchise tag on Higgins for this season and he remains the only player who was tagged that didn't get a contract extension.
These two cats last played in 2022 with the Bengals winning 42-21. Carolina's only tie in franchise history came against Cincinnati in 2014, a 37-37 deadlock.
Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. - at Chicago Bears
Talk about a referendum game. Carolina traded the farm for the rights to last year's No. 1 pick and Bryce Young. In exchange, the Bears took two first-round picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore. One of those picks became No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, plus they drafted Washington receiver Rome Odunze in the first round. Regardless of the outcome, Panthers fans can't help but look at Chicago's young roster and wonder what could've been.
Carolina last faced Chicago on Thursday Night Football in 2023, with the Bears winning 16-13. The Bears have won the last three matchups with the Panthers.
Sunday, Oct. 13 at 4:25 p.m. - vs Atlanta Falcons
The dirty birds made a big splash in free agency, signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. They also made a surprise move on draft night, taking Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the top 10. New head coach Raheem Morris was in the mix for Carolina's job until he accepted the Atlanta opening.
One of the Panthers only two wins in 2023 came against the Falcons. Carolina converted a field goal as time expired to beat the Falcons 9-7 in Week 15.
Sunday, Oct. 20 at 4:05 p.m. - at Washington Commanders
New head coach Dan Quinn will bring his defensive acumen to a team that struggled to slow down anyone last season. The Commanders were dead last in total defense. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has fans excited, with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury praising the rookie after just a few days of minicamp.
The Panthers have never played the Commanders. The last time Carolina faced the Washington franchise in 2021, the team was known as the Washington Football Team. Washington won that game 27-21.
Sunday, Oct. 27 at 4:25 p.m. - at Denver Broncos
Denver was so desperate to get rid of Russell Wilson they're willing to pay $85 million over the next two years so he isn't on their team. They drafted Oregon's Bo Nix in the first round, but it's unclear if he'll start or sit during his rookie campaign. They signed Lions receiver Josh Reynolds in free agency but didn't make too many major moves other than the Wilson decision.
The 2015 Super Bowl matchup last played in 2022, with the Panthers winning that meeting 23-10.
Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. - vs Saints
Sunday, Nov. 10 at 9:30 a.m. ET -- New York Giants (game will be played in Munich, Germany)
Carolina will travel to Munich to play the New York Giants on Nov. 10 as part of the league's international games. Carolina is one of eight franchises with home marketing rights in Germany, and this marks the team's first game in the country. Carolina's only played in Europe once, defeating Tampa Bay 37-26 in 2019. This game is technically a home game for the Panthers, meaning they'll have eight games at Bank of America Stadium this fall.
The Giants and Panthers last played in 2022, with New York winning 19-16.
Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. - vs Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are back. What else needs to be said? Oh, and maybe, just maybe, Taylor Swift will show up to watch.
Kansas City has won the last three meetings between these teams, the most recent of which happened in 2020 when the Chiefs squeezed by 33-31.
Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4:05 p.m. - vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback Baker Mayfield shocked the world by leading the Bucs to the playoffs last fall. The big question will be how they replace Canales, who is now Carolina's head coach. Veteran receiver Mike Evans signed a two-year contract extension after another strong season in 2023.
Tampa Bay swept the Panthers in 2023, including a 9-0 shutout in Week 18. Carolina's last win over the Buccaneers came in 2022 when the Panthers upset Tom Brady.
Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. - at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles started strong last year before falling apart down the stretch. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been a fantasy machine and the tush push is unstoppable. However, the Eagles must replace retired center Jason Kelce.
Philadelphia won the last contest between these two teams, 21-18 in 2021.
Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. - vs Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys were quiet in free agency, avoiding any more splash signings. With Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb back, the Cowboys' offense will again be tough to stop. Dallas crushed the Panthers 33-10 last year, sacking Bryce Young seven times.
Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. - vs Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback Kyler Murray got a lot of help in the draft, with Arizona taking Ohio State star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Jonathan Gannon enters his second season as the team's head coach, but Arizona still has plenty of holes as it tries to rebuild the roster.
Arizona won the last matchup between these two teams 26-16 in 2022.
Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. - at Buccaneers
Week 18 - at Falcons (date and time TBD)
Locked On is the leading podcast network for local sports and is owned by WCNC Charlotte's parent company TEGNA.
Listen to Locked On here.
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.