Who do you want the Panthers to face in Week 1?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers — Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images

How do you want Carolina to start the 2025 season?

The 2025 regular season schedule for the Carolina Panthers will be announced as part of a three-hour special on NFL Network tonight starting at 8:00 PM ET. The Panthers have opened the last two seasons on the road, but opened the 2018-2022 seasons at home. So there is no real telling if the Panthers will be at home or away in Week 1 of the 2025 season.

What we can tell is that we all want the Panthers to open the season with a win instead of with their fourth consecutive opening day loss. We can also safely assume that the game will be a 1:00 PM ET kickoff. They may see a prime time game this season, but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that’s going to happen Week 1.

With that in mind, let’s talk about who you want the Panthers to see in Week 1. First, here’s a reminder of the teams that Carolina will face:

Panthers’ 2025 opponents:

Home

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What kind of team should the Panthers kickoff against?

The real question here is ‘how do you want the Panthers to start?’ There are highly consequential divisional games, tough match ups, and nonconference opponents who will all affect the Panthers’ standing in the league a little bit differently.

Personally, I’d love to start the season in Jacksonville.

I don’t need a statement win against a divisional opponent or a big test like what the Bills could provide. The Panthers know they have a long way to go before they have “arrived”, but they are still a strong contender—on paper—for the NFC South title. A playoff season would be huge for team and fan morale. I want a game that they can reasonably win, probably learn a lot from, but with low post season stakes.

Week 1 needs to be all about testing the team without closing doors, even emotional ones.

That’s the Jacksonville Jaguars to a T. They are a young team that is also trying to figure themselves out. They are an AFC opponent who will have the least effect on the Panthers standing in the NFC South. They would be, in effect, a live fire preseason game to give the Panthers a leg up towards what would inevitably be an NFC South opponent in Week 2.

Plus, you know, there’s the whole superstition thing. The Panthers have opened against the Jaguars twice in franchise history. Those were the 2003 and 2015 seasons. The Panthers won’t face the Jaguars again until 2027, so I’d rather not wait another two years before the team has a shot at losing in the Super Bowl.

Now it’s your turn. Head down to the comments and tell us which opponent you want the Panthers to open the season against and why.