The Carolina Panthers have been given a wild prediction from ESPN ahead of the new NFL season.
The Carolina Panthers were one of the surprise teams from last season, finishing the year with a record of 8-9.
Due to the NFC South being weak all around, Carolina was able to get into the playoffs. To their credit, the Panthers did put up a fight against the Los Angeles Rams, but the team fell short of winning a playoff game.
Now heading into the 2026 season, the Panthers are looking to build off this success. Quarterback Bryce Young returns under center, and the team is going to need him to step up even more.
Young has been the center of inconsistency since entering the NFL, but the Panthers are hopeful for the upcoming year. Head coach Dave Canales has backed Young as his starter, giving more confidence to the signal-caller.
But while the Panthers feel good about their chances this season, there are some who doubt them. Given that the Panthers now have a first-place schedule, getting back to the playoffs could be even tougher this time around.
ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder put together a bold prediction for every team, with the Panthers coming in hot. Walder has Carolina missing the playoffs, finishing last in the NFC South this season.
"The Panthers will finish last in the NFC South. I remain mostly a nonbeliever in Young (and the Panthers, clearly, are unconvinced considering they haven't extended him), and the offensive line has some serious questions between injuries and newcomers. Even though the Panthers brought in some defensive reinforcements in free agency, I could see this year going quite poorly for Carolina," Walder wrote.
The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons should be improved from last season, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could bounce back after a late-season collapse. Carolina will need to make sure that they take care of business whenever they play division games, helping out their case.
ESPN gives Carolina just a 13.9 percent chance to win the division, showing fairly low odds. But nobody believed in this team a year ago, and they were able to silence all doubters.
This season could be a little different sinc the won't surprise anyone this time around. But the Panthers have the talent to get back to the playoffs, and the experience from a year ago should only help fuel them moving forward.
Carolina will kick off the new 2026 season vs the Chicago Bears, giving itself an opportunity to test themselves against a playoff team from last year.
