3 nationally-televised games on Panthers 2014 schedule

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three nationally‐televised games and six contests against playoff teams from a year ago highlight the Carolina Panthers 2014 schedule announced Wednesday by the National Football League, according to a news release from the football team.

Two of the three nationally televised games are from renovated Bank of America Stadium with an NBC Sunday night contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 21, and a Thursday night matchup against NFC South Division rival New Orleans on NFL Network on October 30.

The Panthers other nationally‐televised contest is at Philadelphia on ESPN Monday Night Football on Nov. 10.

The games against playoff opponents from a year ago come at Cincinnati (Oct. 12), at Green Bay (Oct. 19), at home against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 26), versus New Orleans (Oct. 30), at Philadelphia (Nov. 10) on five consecutive weeks before a rematch against the Saints at New Orleans on Dec. 7.

The Panthers contest against the Seahawks marks the third consecutive year Carolina has hosted Seattle.

Carolina also plays the NFC North Minnesota Vikings for the third time in four years.

“Once again we knew it was going to be a challenging schedule regardless of the order of the games,” said Carolina Head Coach Ron Rivera. “It is important that we be ready because we are playing two teams with new head coaches to start the season and preparing for the uncertainties of a new staff can be difficult.”

For the second time in three years, the Panthers will open the season at Tampa Bay against a new head coach and will close the schedule at Atlanta for the second consecutive season.

In 2012, Carolina lost the season opener at Tampa Bay, which was debuting under Greg Schiano, and now plays the Bucs in their first game under Lovie Smith.

The Panthers enter the season as defending NFC South champions after compiling a 12‐4 mark a year ago before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional playoffs.

2014 SCHEDULE

Friday July 25 FAN FEST 6:30 pm

@ BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM

PRESEASON

Friday Aug 8 BUFFALO BILLS 7:30 pm Panthers TV

Sunday Aug 17 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 8:00 pm FOX

Friday Aug 22 @ New England Patriots 7:30 pm Panthers TV

Thursday Aug 28 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 7:30 pm Panthers TV

REGULAR SEASON

Sunday Sept 7 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4:25 pm FOX

Sunday Sept 14 DETROIT LIONS 1:00 pm FOX

Sunday Sept 21 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8:30 pm NBC

Sunday Sept 28 @ Baltimore Ravens 1:00 pm CBS

Sunday Oct 5 CHICAGO BEARS 1:00 pm* FOX

Sunday Oct 12 @ Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 pm* FOX

Sunday Oct 19 @ Green Bay Packers 1:00 pm* FOX

Sunday Oct 26 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:00 pm* FOX

Thursday Oct 30 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 8:25 pm NFLN

Monday Nov 10 @ Philadelphia Eagles 8:30 pm ESPN

Sunday Nov 16 ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00* pm FOX

Sunday Nov 23 BYE

Sunday Nov 30 @ Minnesota Vikings 1:00*pm FOX

Sunday Dec 7 @ New Orleans Saints 1:00*pm FOX

Sunday Dec 14 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1:00*pm FOX

Sunday Dec 21 CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00* pm CBS

Sunday Dec 28 @ Atlanta Falcons 1:00*pm FOX

All times are Eastern Standard Time

For more information on the Panthers, click here.

WSOC