Our preseason schedule is set! #KeepPounding
More Info » https://t.co/hZVqJtQ9rM pic.twitter.com/qwIKRFQgIS
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 10, 2017
While Monday wasn’t the announcement of the 2017 regular season schedule like many fans have been anticipating, but it was the announcement of all of the 32 NFL teams preseason schedule. In an odd occurrence, all four of the Carolina Panthers preseason opponent are AFC opponents.
In their first preseason game of 2017, the Panthers will host the Houston Texans. Last season, the Texans won the AFC South for the second straight season with a 9-7 record. Houston defeated the Oakland Raiders in the wild-card round 27-14 before losing 34-16 in the AFC Divisional Round to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots.
In Week 2 of the preseason, the Panthers will travel to Music City U.S.A. as they will play the Tennessee Titans. Like the Texans, the Titans also finished with a 9-7 record in the AFC South, but the Texans won the division because of their 5-1 divisional record. Last season, the Panthers defeated the Titans 26-16 in Week 2 of the preseason.
Carolina will stay on the road in Week 3 of the preseason as they will travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars. After entering the last season with high expectations, the Jaguars finished the 2016 season with a 3-13 record and last in the AFC South. Carolina is 3-4 all-time in preseason games versus Jacksonville.
In their final preseason contest of 2017, the Panthers will return to Charlotte to host the Steelers. In 2016, the Steelers won the AFC North with an 11-5 record and made it to the AFC Championship before losing to the Patriots. Week 4 will be the 15th consecutive season the Panthers and Steelers end the preseason against one another. In their last preseason meeting, the Panthers defeated the Steelers 18-6.
Exact and times will be given at a later date. The NFL regular season schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Follow Antwan on Twitter @antwanstaley
