Schedule Release

At 7:00 PM yesterday (April 19th) we found out the when and where the Carolina Panthers will be playing for the 2011 season (well that is if there is a 2011 season). There has been a large response to the fact that the Carolina Panthers have the #1 hardest schedule out of all 32 teams (ranked by NFL.com) even though the team was the worst team in the league.

I think the thing that I am most shocked about at this point is the fact that this is considered "new" news to so many. The schedule was released yesterday, but the opponents have been set for some time now. We knew we were going to be playing the NFC North, the AFC South, and obviously the NFC South we just didn't know what Sunday we were playing each team.

Regardless, we know that this upcoming year is going to be a tough one. Without the CBA in place the draft has limited options and is hurting the free agency markets, not to mention we have a new coaching staff with not a lot of time to "get on the same page". At this point the thing that will help the Carolina Panthers the most is getting a new CBA agreement in place as soon as possible!

For those of you that have not seen the schedule for the upcoming year, here it is:

** I have listed the 2010 record in the () after each team, all teams that made the playoffs last year are in RED , and I have put the teams in BLUE that were under .500 last season.

Sunday, September 11th 4:15 EST @ Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
Sunday, September 18th 1:00 EST vs Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl Champions)
Sunday, September 25th 1:00 EST vs Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
Sunday, October 2nd 1:00 EST @ Chicago Bears (11-5)
Sunday, October 9th 1:00 EST vs New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Sunday, October 16th 1:00 EST @ Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
Sunday, October 23rd 1:00 EST vs Washington Redskins (6-10)
Sunday, October 30th 1:00 EST vs Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
Week 9: BYE
Sunday, November 13th 1:00 EST vs Tennessee Titans (6-10)
Sunday, November 20th 1:00 EST @ Detroit Lions (6-10)
Sunday, November 27th 1:00 EST @ Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Sunday, December 4th 1:00 EST @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)
Sunday, December 11th 1:00 EST vs Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, December 18th 1:00 EST @ Houston Texans (6-10)
Saturday, December 24th (CHRISTMAS EVE) 1:00 EST vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, January 1st 1:00 EST @ New Orleans

As you can see we have 7 games total against teams under .500 and 7 games against last season playoff teams (4 of which are divisional games). I have been known to be a optimist, but I do not see this as being the hardest schedule in the NFL. I see it as an opportunity to prove the doubters.

Here is to hoping that we do not make a stupid decision with the first pick (aka picking a QB). See you in a couple weeks.

GO PANTHERS!