Strength of Schedule

[PleaseCutStewart]

On 5/4/2026 at 3:08 PM, 45catfan said:

I mean, literally our division are the most winnable games. 

Lions-L

Bears-L

If Burrow and Jackson are healthy-L's

Seattle-L

Denver-L

Vikings-W (if we catch them early in the schedule)

Packers-L (depends which Love shows up)

Pittsburgh-Rogers-L, other QB,-W

Cleveland-Depends on QB play-L (again depends on when we play them)

Philly-L

Even if we go 4-2 in the division, this is looking rough.

 

Damn, you must have no faith in this team.

We will probably be favored over the Bengals (and maybe the Browns) and slight underdogs (3 points or less) to the Bears, Broncos, & Steelers.

Bengals can't play D, Broncos are gonna hardcore regression to the mean next year, Steelers are mediocre at best, Browns are young with no QB, Packers are Jekyll & Hyde, Bears were pretty flukey with an insane turnover margin + 4th Q comebacks. Lamar seems to be wearing down + no Harbaugh for Ravens.

While it looks bad on paper, I think our schedule last year was just as bad. Having to play the 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, Bills, Packers, Jaguars, and Pats were rough.

[cranky]

On 5/4/2026 at 3:32 PM, scratched said:

We were 8-9, LOL.. That's how it turned out. And we had the Jets, Jags, Dolphins, and Cardinals on the schedule. 

And the Rams, Seattle, Patriots, Green Bay, Jaguars and the Bills who all made the playoffs and in case you forgot, Seattle and the Patriots played in the SB. By any measure, that's pretty brutal.

Edited Tuesday at 08:29 PM by cranky

[cranky]

On 5/4/2026 at 3:33 PM, mrcompletely11 said:

non div

Away games - GB (L) Yes I remember last year, Browns (w depending on time of year)  Steelers (L)  Philly (L)  Sota(I honestly have no idea)

 

1-4 on the road

Home Bears (L)  Lions (L unless Wilks comes back) Bengals (L) Seattle (L) Broncos (1)

 

0-5   Call it 2-3 if stuff bounces our way at home   So we are 3ish and 10 out of division.   Even if we split with everyone thats still 7ish wins and that is brutal

 

            

Bears W

Lions L

Bengals L

Seattle L

Broncos L

Green Bay W

Browns W

Steelers W

Philly W

4-2 in the division

Panthers go 9-8 and win the division again.

Bucs lose to Dallas and the Chargers

Atlanta loses to KC and the Commanders

NO loses to NY but beats the Raiders

 

Edited Tuesday at 09:19 PM by cranky

[Davidson Deac II]

Fwiw, our schedule was middle of the pack last year.  Mainly because our division was so bad.  Against teams that made the playoffs, we were 2-4.  Not great, but not horrible.  With a below average defense, and an offense that had the youngest group of pass catchers and pass throwers in the NFL, its probably slightly better than expected.  

One thing I would like to see this year is that we don't start the season in a hole.  It would be nice to be at least 2-2 after the first 4 games.  

[Chief Keek]

Looks like the Panthers will have a top 10 pick next season. 

[mrcompletely11]

12 minutes ago, Chief Keek said:

Looks like the Panthers will have a top 10 pick next season. 

Would that come with a new coach?

[Chief Keek]

1 minute ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Would that come with a new coach?

It shouldn't but you never know with Tepper. The obvious answer is still meandering around the team somehow and being considered for an extension. 

[mrcompletely11]

1 minute ago, Chief Keek said:

It shouldn't but you never know with Tepper. The obvious answer is still meandering around the team somehow and being considered for an extension. 

I would give DC one more year with a new qb but that throws the timeline way off.    I think if the offense goes kaput again, and we end up in the top 10 you have to get a new guy in with another qb.  What that does for Morgan I havent a clue

[strato]

I think Morgan has done a real good job on what he has been allowed to oversee.  I say that thinking he is not allowed to change QBs. 
I think he should stay.  
 

If Phillips has another season ending injury that could hurt him. 
 

Canales I am not certain about. Usually a HC that cedes playcalling is under fire but I don’t feel like he is.  
 

To my mind I just cannot  blame anyone that is shackled to Bryce Young for not succeeding.  That is being set up to fail right there.  

[SmokinwithWilly]

2 hours ago, strato said:

I think Morgan has done a real good job on what he has been allowed to oversee.  I say that thinking he is not allowed to change QBs. 
I think he should stay.  
 

If Phillips has another season ending injury that could hurt him. 
 

Canales I am not certain about. Usually a HC that cedes playcalling is under fire but I don’t feel like he is.  
 

To my mind I just cannot  blame anyone that is shackled to Bryce Young for not succeeding.  That is being set up to fail right there.  

I've been saying this for quite a while. There a pattern involved in all the transactions and camp/season activity that doesn't make sense unless you factor in than the GM/coach have been overruled from above. 

I remember that during the hiring process it was widely rumored that Bryce had to be the guy as part of the hiring process and him staying there was a condition. Whether that's true or not, who knows for certain, but it does fall in line with a lot of the moves we've made regarding our QB room over the last 3 off seasons. 

[strato]

11 minutes ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

I've been saying this for quite a while. There a pattern involved in all the transactions and camp/season activity that doesn't make sense unless you factor in than the GM/coach have been overruled from above. 

I remember that during the hiring process it was widely rumored that Bryce had to be the guy as part of the hiring process and him staying there was a condition. Whether that's true or not, who knows for certain, but it does fall in line with a lot of the moves we've made regarding our QB room over the last 3 off seasons. 

It seemed obvious from the start.  Reich was fired because he pushed back on the QB. Wanted Bryce to sit behind Andy. Pretty sure. 
Where I differ from a lot of people is that I never felt like Canales’ situation was dependent on successfully developing Bryce. I thought that was unreasonable and if he failed with Bryce it should be on Bryce and not on Canales, and he should get a chance with another QB.
But that is not as good a bet as thinking the both of them were hired with the condition that Bryce had to be given every opportunity.  That seems a given. 
 

I tell you, if Canales can make Bryce into even an average starter he is a miracle worker and should be in the QB coaching HOF.