Breaking News: NFL expert warns Panthers face daunting run-in that could break 2025 season
The Carolina Panthers may find themselves in serious trouble come the latter half of the 2025 NFL season, according to a leading league analyst. With a daunting series of matchups looming in the final weeks, one expert has warned that the team’s postseason hopes could be hanging by a thread unless they build momentum early and avoid costly slip-ups before the toughest stretch begins.
In a recent segment on NFL Network, veteran analyst Mark Williamson broke down the Panthers’ full 2025 schedule, highlighting a treacherous final run-in that includes road games against multiple playoff-caliber opponents and matchups with division rivals fighting for seeding. “If Carolina doesn’t stack wins early,” Williamson explained, “they could be staring down the barrel of a collapse when it matters most.”
The Panthers’ final six games include clashes with the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs—three teams expected to be in Super Bowl contention. What’s more, Carolina will face the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons late in the season, both of whom could be in the thick of the NFC South title race. The stretch also features a cold-weather trip to Green Bay in mid-December, where the Panthers have historically struggled.
While every NFL season comes with its share of difficult stretches, the timing of these games could prove especially problematic for a Carolina squad that is still rebuilding under head coach Dave Canales. The Panthers are entering year two of their post-rebuild phase, with young quarterback Bryce Young looking to take a significant leap forward. However, a brutal late-season gauntlet could test the team’s depth, conditioning, and confidence—particularly if injuries begin to pile up.
“If they’re not at least two games above .500 by Week 11, it might be too much to overcome,” Williamson said. “You need to be at your strongest physically and mentally going into that final month. And for a young roster like Carolina’s, that’s a major concern.”
There is some optimism around the team’s early schedule, which features more winnable games against rebuilding franchises like the Titans, Commanders, and Raiders. Those matchups will be crucial for the Panthers to build momentum and confidence. But the real test, according to experts, comes after their Week 12 bye—when every game could feel like a playoff battle.
Panthers fans remain hopeful that offseason additions, including key upgrades on the offensive line and in the secondary, will give the team the durability and balance needed to weather the storm. Still, the road ahead is undeniably challenging, and the pressure will be on Canales and his coaching staff to prepare their squad for the intensity and stakes of the closing weeks.
In the high-stakes world of the NFL, it’s not just how a team starts—it’s how they finish. And for the Carolina Panthers, finishing strong might be the only way to salvage what could be a make-or-break 2025 campaign.
