CHARLOTTE - The national spotlight will shine on the Carolina Panthers in the preseason as their stadium prepares for the national spotlight.
A promising finish to the 2011 regular season directed by NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Cam Newton propelled the Panthers to a nationally televised game on NBC against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in the preseason's third week on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 8 p.m.
Carolina will conclude the preseason slate the next week (Aug. 29-30) with another road game, at the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Bank of America Stadium gets ready to host the Democratic National Convention the following week.
The Panthers will open their four-game preseason the week of Aug. 9-13 with a home game against the Houston Texans, the defending AFC South Champions. Then the week of Aug. 16-19, Carolina will host the Miami Dolphins at Bank of America Stadium.
With the exception of the Week 3 game at the New York Jets, the exact dates and times of the remaining preseason games are still to be determined. All three of those games will be televised on the Panthers Television Network.
| DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME | TV |
| Sat. | Aug. 11 | vs. HOUSTON TEXANS | Bank of America Stadium | 7:00 p.m. | Panthers TV |
| Fri. | Aug. 17 | vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS | Bank of America Stadium | 8:00 p.m. | Panthers TV |
| Sun. | Aug. 26 | at New York Jets | MetLife Stadium | 8:00 p.m. | NBC |
| Thu. | Aug. 30 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | 7:00 p.m. | Panthers TV |
PRESEASON SCHEDULE NOTES
• This marks the seventh time in 18 seasons that the Panthers' preseason schedule has been comprised of all AFC opponents. Carolina has never played just NFC teams in the preseason.
• The opener against the Texans will be the first preseason meeting between the teams. Houston is the NFL's youngest franchise, having debuted in 2002. There are nine opponents that the Panthers have never faced in the preseason.
• The Panthers and Dolphins did not square off in the preseason until 2006, but this will mark the fourth time they have faced each other in the last seven seasons.
• The Panthers and Jets have played just once previously in the preseason, a 9-3 victory by New York to open the 2010 schedule.
• The Panthers and Steelers continue their preseason partnership, matching up for the 10th consecutive year in the finale and 14th time in 18 seasons overall.
• The Panthers are 31-38 in the preseason. Carolina finished at least .500 in the preseason in each of its four playoff seasons.
