​Before you take predictions for the 2026 NFL season seriously, remember that no one truly knows what will unfold once the games begin. Last summer, the Seattle Seahawks carried some of the worst odds to win the Super Bowl, and few people considered them genuine contenders. Yet, the outcome surprised many.
So, even though the Carolina Panthers may appear far from competitive right now, it would be unwise to dismiss them. According to Stacey Mickles at Touchdown Wire, the reigning NFC South champions are among four Super Bowl sleeper teams in the conference. Mickles writes that the Panthers emerged from relative obscurity last year to not only win their division but also secure a playoff berth and push the Los Angeles Rams to the brink. He notes that Bryce Young stepped forward as the leader of this squad, displaying the traits we saw from him at Alabama. While the defense showed flashes at times, it was the Panthers’ offense that carried the team, and it wouldn’t be shocking if they repeat as division winners and make some noise in the process.
The Panthers may have finished with only eight wins, and their offensive output last season left room for improvement, but quarterback Bryce Young has continued to develop under center. The defense could evolve into one of the league’s better units, potentially benefiting from competing in what could be one of football’s weaker divisions. Realistically, Carolina’s ceiling might be the divisional round, a modest step up from this past January when they nearly toppled the stacked Rams in the wild-card round.
That said, in the NFL, anything can happen, and you should never count anyone out in July. For more Panthers insights, follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers named Super Bowl sleeper for 2026 season, enhanced for better SEO.