The Carolina Panthers are on the brink. They have managed just three wins this season, even though most expected this squad to make huge strides. Injuries haven't helped, but the pressure on head coach Dave Canales is growing.
Some fans are unhappy with Canales' happy-go-lucky approach, believing a sterner hand is needed. They were fine with it when things were going well, but that isn't the case right now.
Canales won't change. The Panthers don't expect him to, and standing pat at the trade deadline was the clearest sign yet that they genuinely believe this season can be salvaged.
Time is running out, so the Panthers have to get out of their slump quickly. With that in mind, we looked at how the next four games could go.
Predicting the Carolina Panthers' next four games after their 3-5 start to the 2026 season
Carolina Panthers at Saints - Week 10
The Panthers are still leading the NFC South, if you can believe that. If Canales wants to keep this a fact, then winning on the road against the New Orleans Saints is imperative.
New Orleans hasn't lived up to its preseason hype. There were real complications early on, but they have now won two of their last three games. This could be a problem, and their home crowd can make a significant difference when they have something to cheer for.
Prediction: Win (4-5)
This is a must-win for the Panthers. They have to come through, and even though it won't be easy, getting some big players back healthy could make all the difference in a fine-margin situation.
Carolina Panthers vs. Ravens - Week 11
The Baltimore Ravens would have been a difficult proposition to overcome once upon a time. They still have a lot of talent, but without quarterback Lamar Jackson under center, the landscape changes considerably.
Jackson has endured a luckless run on the injury front this season, and backup Tyler Huntley is also on injured reserve. The Ravens traded for Jacoby Brissett, who is a dependable veteran. But this looks like a prime opportunity for the Panthers if they can keep dominant running back Derrick Henry from dictating proceedings.
Prediction: Win (5-5)
The Panthers have urgency, and not having to deal with Jackson could be the inspiration they need to add another win to the column.
Carolina Panthers at Buccaneers - Week 12
The Panthers will be looking for revenge when they travel to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. They were humbled by their NFC South rival earlier this season, who came away with a win despite quarterback Baker Mayfield barely throwing the football. This was also the game that got defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero fired.
Tampa Bay is back in the hunt after a horrible start to the season. Running back Bucky Irving is sensational, and the blitz-heavy defense Todd Bowles implemented knows how to cause Carolina's protection untold problems.
Prediction: Loss (5-6)
This will be another stern challenge the Panthers must be ready for. But even though they might be much stronger in their second meeting with the Buccaneers, the result might be the same.
Carolina Panthers at Vikings - Week 13
The Minnesota Vikings are not a tricky team to figure out. Their Brian Flores-led defense is elite and an absolute nightmare to counteract. Their offense has been the complete opposite: an abomination clearly holding the team back.
Minnesota recognized the need for change, bringing Kirk Cousins back via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders. It's a full-circle moment for the signal-caller and the organization, who went their separate ways during the 2025 offseason but now find themselves back together.
Prediction: Loss (5-7)
Cousins played pretty well for Las Vegas this season. If he brings that form to the Vikings in a scheme he already knows, this will be a tough task for the Panthers.
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