If you're frantically refreshing your apps or yelling at your smart speaker to find out what time is carolina panthers game, I've got some news that might sting a little. Honestly, there isn't a game today. Or tomorrow. Or even next week.
The Carolina Panthers' surprisingly wild 2025-2026 season officially hit a brick wall on January 10. They played their hearts out at Bank of America Stadium, but they ended up losing a nail-biter to the Los Angeles Rams, 34–31, in the NFC Wild Card round.
Because of that loss, the Panthers are officially out of the playoffs. While the rest of the NFL is gearing up for the Divisional Round this weekend, the guys in Charlotte are basically already packing their lockers and looking at real estate in the offseason.
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Why You Can't Find the Carolina Panthers Game Time
It's kinda confusing because "Panthers" are actually playing today—just not the ones you’re thinking of. If you see a "Panthers" game listed for Friday, January 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST, that’s actually the Florida Panthers taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL.
I know, it’s a bit of a tease for football fans.
In the NFL world, the schedule has moved on without Carolina. Since they were eliminated, the Divisional Round matchups are set for January 17 and 18, featuring teams like the Seahawks, Broncos, and Bears. The Panthers’ season is "in the books," as they say.
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What Really Happened With the Panthers This Season?
Looking back, this season was a total roller coaster. Nobody expected much from a team that went 5–12 the year before. But Dave Canales somehow squeezed an 8–9 record out of this roster, which was actually enough to win the NFC South.
Yeah, you read that right.
They won the division with a losing record. It was only the fifth time in NFL history that’s happened. They were part of a bizarre three-way tie with the Falcons and Buccaneers, but they held the tiebreaker.
The Highlights That Defined the Season
- The Rookie Sensation: Tetairoa McMillan was basically a cheat code. He finished with over 1,100 yards, breaking the franchise rookie record.
- Bryce Young’s Growth: He didn't turn into Patrick Mahomes overnight, but he looked way more comfortable in Canales’s West Coast system.
- The Wild Card Heartbreak: Leading the Rams late in the fourth quarter only to lose on a last-second field goal... that one is going to haunt fans all summer.
When Do They Play Again?
Since there’s no what time is carolina panthers game to worry about for the rest of January, fans are looking toward the 2026 season. We don't have the exact kickoff times yet—the NFL usually releases the full schedule in May—but we do know who they’re playing.
Because they won the division, their 2026 schedule is going to be significantly harder. They’ll be hosting heavy hitters like the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium.
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2026 Home Opponents
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Seattle Seahawks
- Denver Broncos
Moving Forward into the 2026 Offseason
The "game time" for Panthers fans now shifts to the front office. Dan Morgan has a lot of work to do to prove this playoff appearance wasn't just a fluke in a weak division.
If you're looking for football to watch this weekend to fill the void, you’ve got the Bills at Broncos on Saturday at 4:30 PM ET and the Rams (the team that beat Carolina) taking on the Bears on Sunday at 6:30 PM ET.
The best thing to do now is keep an eye on the NFL Draft prep. The Panthers actually have some draft capital to work with this time around, and with McMillan looking like a cornerstone, the focus will likely shift to beefing up the offensive line and finding more help for the pass rush.
Stay tuned for the official schedule release in May to find out the exact date and time for the 2026 season opener.