By Mark Bergin, WRAL senior mulitplatform producer

The NFL released its 2024 regular-season schedule on Wednesday.

The Carolina Panthers have eight games at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte during the upcoming season.

The Panthers’ schedule also includes the Nov. 10 game against the New York Giants in Munich, Germany, where they will be considered the “home” team.

However, the Panthers are the only team in the league without a prime time game in the 2024 regular season even with first-year head coach Dave Canales and second-year quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

It is possible, with flexible scheduling, that the Panthers could get flexed into a national television window.

The Panthers are tied for the third-easiest schedule in the NFL (opponents had a .467 winning percentage in 2023). Most sportsbooks have the Panthers’ over/under win total at 4.5 games.

Here’s a look at each of the Panthers’ matchups during the 2024 regular season.

Week 1: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints / Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

Dave Canales is set to make his head coaching debut for the Panthers.

The Panthers lost to the Saints both times in the 2023 season. The opposite happened in 2022.

Both teams struggled to rush the passer in the 2023 season. The Panthers finished with the fewest sacks in the NFL (27), and the Saints had the 29th-fewest (34).

Carolina trailed so often in 2023 that other teams didn’t need to pass as much after establishing a lead.

Defensively, the Saints are hoping that free agent edge rusher Chase Young can pair well with 14-year veteran defensive lineman Cameron Jordan.

Offensively, look for the Saints to try to get quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara to regroup. Chris Olave is a promising young receiver entering his third NFL season.

Week 2: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Sept. 15, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: CBS

The Panthers’ home opener for the 2024 season comes as the Jim Harbaugh era gets underway for LA

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert enters his fifth season.

At the running back position, Gus Edwards takes over for Austin Ekeler.

Ekeler signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency.

​​Edwards, 28, finished the 2023 season with 13 touchdowns playing for coach Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John, in Baltimore.

Edwards is also familiar with new Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who held the same position in Baltimore from 2019-2022.

Roman’s offenses are known for running the ball.

The Chargers should be able to run the ball effectively around a revamped offensive line.

In the NFL Draft, the Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick. Plus, the Chargers signed former Panthers center Bradley Bozeman to a one-year deal.

Week 3: Carolina Panthers at Las Vegas Raiders / Sunday, Sept. 22, at 4:05 p.m.

TV: CBS

Stopping the Raiders up front will be vital considering the presence of edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who will be joined by defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.

Wilkins agreed to a four-year, $110 million deal with $84.75 million guaranteed to leave the Miami Dolphins for the Raiders.

Free-agent quarterback Gardner Minshew will likely start for the Raiders at quarterback.

Minshew has two great pass-catching options: Wide receiver Davante Adams is among the NFL’s best, and the team selected Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The selection of Bowers comes a year after the Raiders selected Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer in the second round. Bowers and Mayer could be a formidable tight end duo.

Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Sept. 29, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

The Bengals should be much improved as star quarterback Joe Burrow returns to health. A wrist injury in Week 11 forced Burrow to miss the end of the 2023 season.

Plus, the Bengals should have an improved offensive line to keep Burrow upright with the selection of Georgia’s Amarius Mims with the 18th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are as good as a tandem in the NFL.

The Bengals will have a new starting running back with Joe Mixon now a member of the Houston Texans. Cincinnati signed former Colts running back Zack Moss.

Week 5: Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears / Sunday, Oct. 6, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

This game marks the second time the Panthers and Bears have played since the trade for the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, which Carolina used to select Bryce Young.

It’s among the most lopsided trades in NFL history.

For those scoring at home:

The Bears received:

🏈 WR DJ Moore

🏈 2023 first-round pick (OT Darnell Wright)

🏈 2023 second-round pick (CB Tyrique Stevenson)

🏈 2024 first-round pick (QB Caleb Williams)

🏈 2025 second-round pick

The Panthers received:

🏈 2023 No. 1 pick (Bryce Young)

Last season, the Bears squeaked by the Panthers 16-13 on Nov. 10, 2023, in a Thursday Night Football game between Young and undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent.

Young versus 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams may provide a glimpse of what could have been for the Panthers.

Week 6: Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Oct. 13, at 4:25 p.m.

TV: FOX

The Panthers will get their first look at the revamped Falcons with new quarterback Kirk Cousins and new coach Raheem Morris.

Cousins will help try to guide a Falcons offense with talented skill position players. It includes receiver Drake London, running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier and tight end Kyle Pitts.

Week 7: Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders / Sunday, Oct. 20, at 4:05 p.m.

TV: CBS

The Commanders are truly starting fresh in 2024 with new ownership (group led by Josh Harris), a new general manager (Adam Peters), a new head coach (Dan Quinn) and new quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Running back Austin Ekeler comes over from the Chargers, and veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner is expected to fortify Quinn’s defense.

Week 8: Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos / Sunday, Oct. 27, at 4:25 p.m.

TV: CBS

It’s unclear which quarterback Sean Payton will start at this point in the season with Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson and rookie quarterback Bo Nix on the roster.

The Broncos’ offense features wide receiver Courtland Sutton and North Carolina running back Javonte Williams.

Week 9: New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: CBS

Last season, New Orleans swept the season series for the first time since 2020.

We’ll see how the two teams fare in their second matchup of the 2024 season.

Week 10: New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Nov. 10, at 9:30 a.m. (Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany)

TV: NFL Network

A lot will be made about the Panthers playing an international game for the first time since 2019. In that game, Carolina defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 37-26 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

This time, the Panthers will play against recently traded Brian Burns, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2019.

In 2022, several reports indicated the Panthers turned down two first-round picks in a trade offer for Burns. The Panthers’ front office believed they could work out a long-term deal with Burns, but the two sides were never able to agree to a price. The Panthers wound up trading Burns to the Giants with a fifth-round pick in exchange for a second-rounder (No. 39), fifth-rounder (No. 141) and fifth-rounder (2025).

If Burns stays healthy, he will get the opportunity to play against his former team.

Week 11: Bye Week

Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Nov. 24, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: CBS

The Panthers will host the back-to-back Super Bowl champions led by head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.

Plus, there is also the possibility Taylor Swift attends the game and Swift mania sweeps the Queen City.

Swift’s “Eras Tour” is scheduled for Nov. 23 in Toronto. However, Swift isn’t scheduled to perform again until Dec. 6 in Vancouver.

Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Dec. 1, at 4:05 p.m.

TV: FOX

Dave Canales is set to coach against his former team for the first time. Canales served as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2023.

Plus, the Panthers will play against former quarterback Baker Mayfield, who enters the 2024 season as the Buccaneers’ starter.

Slowing down wide receiver Mike Evans is always a challenge. While the Panthers limited Evans to three catches for 22 yards on Jan. 7, Evans had seven catches for 162 yards and a touchdown on Dec. 3.

Week 14: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles / Sunday, Dec. 8, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

This is not the same Eagles team that played in Super Bowl LVII.

The Eagles now have running back Saquon Barkley. However, star center Jason Kelce has retired.

After Philadelphia’s defense regressed in 2023, the team’s first two draft picks were cornerbacks: Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell (22nd) and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean (40th).

Jalen Hurts is still among the NFC’s best quarterbacks. Plus, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are as good a tandem as there is in the NFL.

Week 15: Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Dec. 15, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

The Cowboys will run it back with head coach Mike McCarthy, who has had tremendous regular season success but has struggled in the playoffs.

Quarterback Dak Prescott is entering the final year of his contract. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is among the NFL’s best receivers.

Defensively, the Cowboys will have to regroup having lost defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who left to become the head coach of the Commanders.

Edge rusher Micah Parsons is as talented as any player in the NFL.

Week 16: Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers / Sunday, Dec. 22, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

Quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to be healthy again.

He’ll have a new target in Ohio State rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., whose father was a Hall of Fame receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.

Week 17: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Sunday, Dec. 29, at 1:00 p.m.

TV: CBS

Canales returns to Tampa for the first time. It will be interesting to see what kind of reception – if any – Canales gets.

This game and the regular season finale could have huge implications on the NFC South race.

Week 18: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons / TBD

TV: To be announced

Dare I say it? Could rookie quarterback Michael Penix start this late in the season for the Falcons?

There was general confusion when the Falcons selected Penix with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft after the team awarded Cousins a massive contract earlier in the offseason.

Carolina Panthers’ 2024 preseason schedule

The Panthers’ three preseason games were also announced with the schedule release.

There will be two road games, both in the Northeast: the New England Patriots (preseason Week 1) and at the Buffalo Bills (preseason Week 3).

The New York Jets will travel to Charlotte for preseason Week 2.

Source: wralsportsfan.com