Ranking the Panthers' 2026 opponents from hardest to easiest
With a first-place schedule comes first-place competition. Here's how the Panthers' 2026 opponents rank by their win projections . .
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Life atop an NFL division seems pretty good . . .
perhaps until you see some of your contemporaries line up in front of you. Albeit by a wild three-way tiebreaker, the Carolina Panthers captured their first NFC South crown in a decade last season. And as a result, they'll be heading into this season with a first-place schedule—meaning they'll have to play a few fellow first-place teams.
That effect already appears evident, as the Panthers—per the projected win totals for 2026—will begin the campaign with the third-toughest slate in the entire league. So, who makes up for that stiff competition? And are there any "soft spots" on Carolina's road to a possible title defense?