One of the most pleasant surprises of the NFL season so far is the Carolina Panthers' offense. After finishing near the bottom of the league for several years in a row, expectations were low coming into the 2026 campaign.
But through four games, the Panthers have upset all of them—as they currently lead the league
in passing yards while ranking fourth in total and scoring offense. Things could be better on defense, though.Overall, Zachary Pereles at CBS Sports believes Carolina deserves a 'B' grade for the first month of the season. Pereles writes:
Bryce Young leads the NFL in passing yards. It's not just the counting stats, either. He's sixth in EPA per dropback and seventh in yards per attempt. He has taken a gigantic leap forward in every aspect,
though it hasn't been against the world's best competition. Regardless, Carolina should be thrilled. The defense has been less thrilling. If we take out a Week 2 game against the Cooper Rush-led Falcons, Carolina has a -0.15 defensive EPA per play, which would rank 29th. Without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, it could get worse before it gets better, too.
The competition is about to get a whole lot tougher, though. Beginning with Week 6's road game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Panthers are about to embark on the hardest portion of their regular-season schedule.
After Philly, it's a home game against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that's falling apart, then back on the road to face the Green Bay Packers on a short week for Thursday Night Football. Next, they'll face the Denver Broncos and their elite defense, followed by the New Orleans Saints (who have won five of the last six matchups), then back home to face two-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
While the schedule is daunting, the real danger lies within the division. Since quarterback Michael Penix's return to the lineup, the Atlanta Falcons have had the most productive offense in the league—and they already had the NFL's best run defense and a top-three pressure rate. The Falcons' roster is more talented overall, especially with the Panthers banged up as they are.
For now, these teams are tied at the top of the NFC South—but the Panthers hold the tiebreaker, for now . . .
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers earn strong grade for their 1st month of the 2026 season
