Carolina Panthers announce schedule for 2022 season

The Carolina Panthers have officially announced their schedule for the 2022 season. Coming off of a 5-12 finish this past year, they are hopeful their offseason moves will lead to better results.

Whether they can achieve that feat is another story, as the Panthers face one of the more difficult schedules in the league. Aside from having to face Buccaneers and Saints twice, Carolina also has contests against the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, who faced each other in last season’s Super Bowl. In total, they will play seven games against teams who made the playoffs in 2021, including the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.

Other notable opponents include the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos, which added quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, respectively, to their rosters this offseason. Below is the full 2022 schedule for the Carolina Panthers:

Preseason Week 1 TBD – at Washington Football Team

Preseason Week 2 TBD – at New England Patriots

Preseason Week 3 TBD – vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 1 (Sept. 11) – vs. Cleveland Browns, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 2 (Sept. 18) – at New York Giants, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 3 (Sept. 25) – vs. New Orleans Saints, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 4 (Oct. 2) – vs. Arizona Cardinals, FOX, 4:05 p.m.

Week 5 (Oct. 9) – vs. San Francisco 49ers, CBS, 4:05 p.m.

Week 6 (Oct. 16) – at Los Angeles Rams, FOX, 4:05 p.m.

Week 7 (Oct. 23) – vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 8 (Oct. 30) – at Atlanta Falcons, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 9 (Nov. 6) – at Cincinnati Bengals, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 10 (Nov. 10) – vs. Atlanta Falcons (TNF), Amazon, 8:15 p.m.

Week 11 (Nov. 20) – at Baltimore Ravens, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 12 (Nov. 27) – vs. Denver Broncos, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 13 (Dec. 4) – bye

Week 14 (Dec. 11) – at Seattle Seahawks

Week 15 (Dec. 18) – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, CBS, 1 p.m.

Week 16 (Dec. 24) – vs. Detroit Lions, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 17 (Jan. 1) – at Tampa Buccaneers, FOX, 1 p.m.

Week 18 (TBD) – at New Orleans Saints, TBD

Carolina got off to a hot 3-0 start in 2021 with victories against the Jets, Saints and Texans. However, injuries would eventually derail their season as star running back Christian McCaffrey appeared in just seven games. It was the second straight year he missed more than half of the season, and his health will be a major concern entering 2022.

After starting three different quarterbacks this past season, the Panthers opted to draft Ole Miss signal caller Matt Corral in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He joins a roster that already includes quarterbacks Sam Darnold, last year’s starter, and PJ Walker. Carolina also drafted NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu sixth overall, and added Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith in the fourth.

In free agency, Carolina’s biggest splash was signing safety Xavier Woods to a three-year, $15.75 million deal. Last season with the Vikings, he set career highs across the board with 108 tackles, three interceptions, 10 passes defended and two forced fumbles.

With new pieces in place, the Panthers will aim to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.