The Carolina Panthers have been given a telling win total entering the new NFL season.
The Carolina Panthers are looking to get themselves back to the playoffs this year after winning the NFC South in 2025.
Carolina finished the season with a record of 8-9, which was good enough to get into the postseason. Due to the NFC South's struggles, the Panthers took advantage of the situation, winning the division in a tiebreaker scenario.
But now the Panthers will try to build off everything, hoping for better results this time around. Quarterback Bryce Young showed some flashes last season, but the organization is going to need him to keep developing into a true starter in this league.
Young's inconsistency at times has held the Panthers back, but the coaching staff has been impressed by how he's looked in camp so far. Carolina will go as far as Young can take them this season, with the former first overall pick trying to redeem the narrative around his career.
However, there aren't many people who are looking at them as true contenders in the NFC, or even the NFC South. Carolina could use this as fuel, but the Panthers just may not have the talent to keep up with the other teams.
ESPN has given the Panthers a projected win total of 6.7, despite them making the playoffs a year ago. Additionally, Carolina is being given a 13.9 percent chance to win the NFC South and just a 17.3 percent chance to make the playoffs.
While the NFC South has historically been average, this season could see a slight swing. The Atlanta Falcons should be better than they were a year ago, with either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. giving them more consistent quarterback play.
The New Orleans Saints should look stronger with second-year starter Tyler Shough trying to build on the success that he saw a year ago. And finally, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could bounce back from a late-season collapse in 2025, restoring themselves as the frontrunners for the division.
The Panthers do have some reasons for optimism, and the experience gained from last season should help. But overall, this team may regress this coming year, and if that were to take place, big changes could be coming all over the organization.
Carolina will kick off its new season at home against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 on Sept. 13, setting up a matchup between two playoff teams from a year ago.
