Anyone else counting down the days?
The 2025 NFL regular season is just weeks away, and it is set to be a big season for the Carolina Panthers.
Can Bryce Young take that next step? And can the Panthers build on last season’s 5-12 record?
Time for some predictions.
Week 1 @ Jacksonville Jaguars – Win
Jacksonville struggled last season, going 4-12. They may have drafted ‘the unicorn’ Travis Hunter, but that is not enough.
Similarly to Dave Canales last season, new Jags head coach Liam Coen is in his first-year after one season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Like Canales, Coen will need time to get this franchise on the right tracks.
Week 2 @ Arizona Cardinals – Win
Arizona had an average year last season finishing 8-9, losing five of their last seven games. They had a solid draft and good free agent signings. I expect more out of Jonathan Gannon’s third season.
However Carolina beat Arizona 36-30 in overtime during that final seven-game stretch last season. Chuba Hubbard had a monster game and Bryce Young played well. Another performance like that and Carolina should leave Glendale victorious.
Week 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons – Win
The Panthers and Falcons have split wins every year since the Falcons won both games in 2019. Not much has been able to split the sides in recent years and I do not think much does right now. I will split the record once more, giving the Panthers the edge at home.
Week 4 @ New England Patriots – Win
A 4-0 to start the season, am I crazy? Perhaps. But why not? These are four winnable games.
Like Jacksonville, the Patriots went 4-12 last season and have a new head coach. I expect a significant improvement in New England this year but if the Panthers are indeed 3-0, they should be confident enough to win.
Week 5 vs. Miami Dolphins – Loss
This is where things get real for Carolina. The Dolphins had it rough last year and people are down on them again. I think they deserve better than that.
Tua Tagovailoa needs to stay healthy and Tyreek Hill needs to focus on his career instead of his off-field dramas. If they can be the 11-6 team they were in 2023, they should have no problem. The Dolphins beat the Panthers 42-21 that year.
Week 6 vs. Dallas Cowboys – Loss
The Panthers were on an impressive five-game run when they welcomed a 5-8 Dallas team in Week 15 last year. Even with Dak Prescott out for the season the Panthers lost 30-14. If they play well in 2025 with Prescott heathy, this should be a win for the visiting Cowboys.
Week 7 @ New York Jets – Win
I pray this is a win. The Jets are awful. Another first-year head coach in Aaron Glenn comes in after a poor 2024 season led by Aaron Rodgers. Justin Fields replaces Rodgers, but I am unconvinced.
Week 8 vs. Buffalo Bills – Loss
The toughest game of the season. Not much hope.
I would be ecstatic with a similar performance to Kansas City and Philadelphia last season by making them sweat and needing a field goal or overtime to win. Doubtful.
Week 9 @ Green Bay Packers – Loss
Another one of the toughest games. On the road at Lambeau Field, difficult place to go. Add another loss.
Week 10 vs. New Orleans Saints – Win
The consensus is that the Saints are going to suck this season. I sincerely hope so. I always fancy us against a divisional rival at home.
Week 11 @ Atlanta Falcons – Loss
See Week 3. I believe we will split wins against the Falcons, winning at home and losing in Atlanta.
Week 12 @ San Francisco 49ers (Monday Night Football) – Loss
The Panthers’ first Primetime game since Week 10, 2023. Like the Dolphins and Cowboys, a very good team that underperformed last year that people are down on.
With a healthy team, especially Christian McCaffery, the 49ers should beat us in their own stadium. The stadium we lost Super Bowl 50 in.
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams – Loss
Last season was a good one for the Rams, winning the NFC West with a 10-7 record. They can be a hit-and-miss team year-on-year, so while last year was a good one, will 2025 be a bad one? Time will tell.
They have a very well-run team with a great head coach. Also a top veteran quarterback, a veteran and young wide receiver tandem, a good young running back and an extremely talented young defensive line.
Week 14 – Bye
Week 15 @ New Orleans Saints – Win
Should I give the Saints the benefit of the doubt and give them the win in their own stadium? Maybe they won’t be as bad as people think… Nahhh!
Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Win
A tough one. The Buccaneers have won our terrible division four years in a row. We have not beat them since Week 7 in 2022 at home.
With this being a home tie, I will be bias.
Week 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks – Loss
Seattle finished second in the NFC West last year behind the Rams with the same 10-7 record, winning six of their final eight games but missed out on the playoffs.
Head coach Mike Macdonald is in his second year and has a new quarterbacks. Ex-Panther Sam Darnold, who had a breakout year last season with the Minnesota Vikings, replaces Geno Smith. It will be a close one, but the Panthers lose.
Week 18 @ Tampa Buccaneers – Loss
I cannot see us doing the double over Tampa Bay, we would be lucky to win one. We have not beat the Buccaneers on the road since Week 6, 2019 – and that was in London. The last win at Raymond James Stadium came in Week 8, 2017.
Regular season record 8-9
Eight wins will not be enough to win the division or make the playoffs, but it does stand as another healthy year of progression.
Dave Canales and Dan Morgan came into a two-win team after 2023. The three additional wins last season was satisfactory with Bryce Young taking a big leap towards the end of the season.
Another three wins with Young being more consistent for a full 17 games would serve as another year steadily progressing towards the future, with eyes on a big 2026 campaign and beyond.
