The 2026 NFL schedule is here, and the Carolina Panthers are set for a season filled with redemption, primetime glory, and a highly anticipated rematch. Head coach Dave Canales will get another shot at his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in what promises to be a pivotal Week 17 showdown. The NFL released the full slate Thursday night, and Panthers fans have plenty to look forward to.
Canales, a longtime Seahawks assistant, knows firsthand the sting of falling short against his old squad. In a critical 2025 regular-season matchup at Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers had a chance to clinch the NFC South title. Instead, they stumbled badly in the third quarter, losing 27-10. The offense managed just 139 total yards, and two second-half turnovers—including a fumble by running back Chuba Hubbard—turned a tight 3-3 game into a rout. Quarterback Bryce Young, who recently earned a fifth season on his rookie contract, threw for only 54 yards, and rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan was held to a single catch for five yards.
"Give a lot of credit to the Seahawks, coming out here, playing tough all day, coming up with some big conversions," Canales said after that game. "We didn't do anything."
This time, the stakes are just as high. Canales, who often credits former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for shaping his coaching career, will be eager to flip the script. The Panthers host Seattle again in Week 17, and with four of their final five games at home, the stage is set for a strong finish.
Beyond the rematch, the Panthers are stepping into the national spotlight. After just one primetime game last season, Carolina will feature in three this year—their most since 2016, the year after their Super Bowl run. The primetime slate kicks off in Week 4 with a Sunday Night Football showdown against the Detroit Lions. It will be the Panthers' first taste of the bright lights in a game that could set the tone for their season.
The Panthers open their campaign at home against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 13, and with a playoff berth secured last season for the first time since 2017, expectations are higher than ever. Whether it's redemption against Seattle or proving themselves on the national stage, Carolina is ready to make 2026 a season to remember.