The Green Bay Packers (4-3) will welcome the Carolina Panthers (3-3) to Lambeau Field for a key matchup in the NFC playoff race on "Thursday Night Football" to open Week 8. Both teams are coming off frustrating and/or disappointing losses, so shaking off a defeat and playing better football will be the priority for both the Packers and Panthers on a short week.
Thursday night will represent the second time the two teams have played at Lambeau Field in the last two seasons, with the Packers now attempting to avenge an unexpected loss at home to the Panthers last November.
Here's a closer look at the Panthers entering Week 8:
Last week
After winning back-to-back games, the Panthers suffered one of the worst losses of the 2026 season on Sunday, falling 43-13
at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Panthers trailed 33-6 at the half, lost the turnover battle 4-0, allowed a defensive touchdown and gave up 258 rushing yards. Quarterback Bryce Young was sacked five times and had three of the offense's four turnovers, including two interceptions. This will be a game the Panthers want to flush fast and move on, so maybe playing immediately on Thursday night is a benefit. Remember, the Panthers lost 40-6 at home to the Buffalo Bills just one week before coming to Lambeau Field and beating the Packers last November. It's a week-to-week league. The Packers should expect the best from the Panthers, who have wins over the Lions and Falcons already this season.
Newcomers
This year's Panthers look a lot different than the 2025 team. There are currently five newcomers operating as preferred starters on Elijah Evero's defense, including edge rusher Jaelen Phillips, linebackers Devin Lloyd and Bobby Okereke and rookies Lee Hunter (nose tackle, second round), Will Lee III (cornerback, fourth round) and Zakee Wheatley (safety, fifth round). The Carolina offense will trot out former Packers draft pick Rasheed Walker at left tackle, and A.J. Dillon is a backup running back. First-round pick Monroe Freeling will likely start at right tackle, and Luke Fortner, a former Saint, is the starting center. Veteran tight end Darren Waller is a pass-catching threat for Bryce Young. If Young is injured, former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is the new backup.
Quarterback play
Last week was a disaster, but Bryce Young is having an otherwise excellent season. He's thrown 12 touchdown passes and four interceptions while averaging 7.5 yards per attempt. Per PFF, Young has been an elite passer off play-action and when throwing 20 or more yards down the field. He has nine "big time throws" on balls thrown at least 20 air yards. The Panthers have allowed him to be under pressure on 44.2 percent of his dropbacks, so the Packers defensive front will likely have a big say in the outcome. While not of prototypical size, Young is a fearless thrower and a good athlete in and out of the pocket. Dave Canales has him playing good football over the last two seasons. Last year, Young was asked to throw the ball only 20 times in the win over the Packers, so it's possible a run-heavy game plan is coming to Green Bay again on Thursday night.
Injury situation
The Panthers are a hurting football team entering a short week. Right tackle Taylor Moton is the new starter on injured reserve. Others on injured reserve include receiver Xavier Legette, cornerback Jaycee Horn, cornerback Mike Jackson, running back Jonathan Brooks, edge rusher Nic Scourton, offensive lineman Brady Christensen and receiver Chris Brazzell II. A few injuries to watch this week: starting guard Damien Lewis and edge rusher Jaelen Phillips did not participate during Monday's walk-through. Phillips didn't play last week because of a hamstring injury.
Players to know
WR Tetairoa McMillan: The 2025 first-round pick is one of the NFL's great young wide receivers. McMillan is averaging 2.22 yards per route run and has 511 receiving yards in six games. He's a physical mismatch for most corners, but he also gets open a lot.
RB Chuba Hubbard: Four days after facing Jahmyr Gibbs on 29 run attempts, the Packers defense will get a matchup with Hubbard, who has two games with over 100 yards rushing. He's averaging over 3.0 yards after first contact and has forced 19 missed tackles and 12 runs of at least 10 yards.
LB Devin Lloyd: The veteran linebacker leads the team in stops (15), and he also has 11 pressures as a blitzer and two picks in coverage. An All-Pro last season, Lloyd can affect the game against the run, in coverage and as a rusher.
K Ryan Fitzgerald: He made the game-winner at Lambeau Field last season. Fitzgerald is having a wild season in 2026, having made all 11 of his field goal attempts but also missing five of 17 extra points. Go figure. It could be a weird kicking game on Thursday night.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Panthers: 5 things to know about Green Bay's Week 8 opponent
