The '''2016 Carolina Panthers season''' is the franchise's 22nd season in the [[National Football League]] and the sixth under [[List of Carolina Panthers head coaches|head coach]] [[Ron Rivera]]. It will also be the team's 20th season at [[Bank of America Stadium]]. The [[2015 Carolina Panthers season|previous year]], the Panthers achieved their highest win total in franchise history with a 15–1 record. They entered the 2016 season as the defending [[National Football Conference|NFC]] champions.
The '''2016 Carolina Panthers season''' is the franchise's 22nd season in the [[National Football League]] and the sixth under [[List of Carolina Panthers head coaches|head coach]] [[Ron Rivera]]. It will also be the team's 20th season at [[Bank of America Stadium]]. The [[2015 Carolina Panthers season|previous year]], the Panthers achieved their highest win total in franchise history with a 15–1 record. They entered the 2016 season as the defending [[National Football Conference|NFC]] champions. The Panthers failed to return to their Super Bowl form and were eliminated from playoff contention on December 11th after the Falcons and Buccaneers both won, despite a win earlier in the day.
The 2016 Carolina Panthers season is the franchise's 22nd season in the National Football League and the sixth under head coachRon Rivera. It will also be the team's 20th season at Bank of America Stadium. The previous year, the Panthers achieved their highest win total in franchise history with a 15–1 record. They entered the 2016 season as the defending NFC champions. The Panthers failed to return to their Super Bowl form and were eliminated from playoff contention on December 11th after the Falcons and Buccaneers both won, despite a win earlier in the day.
The Panthers blew a 17–7 lead in a fourth quarter which saw the Broncos put up 14 points. Down 21–20, Graham Gano attempted a potential game winning 50 yard kick but the ball flew wide left, handing the Panthers a 0–1 start to the season.[2]
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Two: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
In their home opener, the Panthers looked to win their first game of the season. Carolina went into the fourth quarter with a twenty-one point lead over the 49ers. With about eight minutes left to go in the game, San Francisco managed to get within seven of tying the game. Carolina ended up scoring three more times before the game finished and won 46–27, improving to 1–1 on the year.
Week 3: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week Three: Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Vikings
2
6
8
6
22
Panthers
10
0
0
0
10
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Panthers' fourteen home game winning streak came to an end after losing to Minnesota. They fell to 1–2 as Cam Newton was sacked eight times by the Minnesota defense and threw three picks.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Four: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
It was not Carolina's day as the defense had a very hard time putting pressure on Matt Ryan, who threw for 500 yards and four touchdowns, one of them to Julio Jones, who had a monster game, catching 12 passes for 300 yards. It was another rough day for Newton, who left the game with a concussion in the fourth quarter, allowing backup QB Derek Anderson into action. Anderson threw both a pair of touchdowns and interceptions as the Panthers would drop to 1-3.
Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Five: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Buccaneers
3
3
8
3
17
Panthers
0
0
14
0
14
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
After being held scoreless in the first half, the Panthers scored two touchdowns in the third quarter. Tampa Bay followed up with a touchdown to tie the game. Late in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers made a field goal to win 17-14. With the loss the Panthers fall to 1–4.
Week 6: at New Orleans Saints
Week Six: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
With Cam Newton returning from a concussion, the Panthers urged a late comeback and tied the game 38-38, but New Orleans kicker Garrett Headley hit the game winner to seal the 41-38 victory for the Saints. With the loss the Panthers drop to 1-5, their worst record since 2012.
The Panthers returned from their bye week for a rematch of the previous year's NFC Championship game in which the Panthers defeated the Cardinals 49-15. The Panthers went up 24-7 before halftime and maintained their lead to win the game 30-20, giving them their second win of the season and a 2-5 record.
Week 9: at Los Angeles Rams
Week Nine: Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
After the Panthers went into the fourth quarter with a seven point lead, Graham Gano kicks a field goal making it 10–0. Then the Rams make a field goal and the Panthers make another. With less than two minutes left in the game, Los Angeles scores seven points. The Panthers manage to win 13–10 improving to 3–5.
Week 10: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week Ten: Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Chiefs
0
3
0
17
20
Panthers
3
14
0
0
17
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Panthers went into the fourth quarter with a 17–3 lead over the Chiefs but things changed when Cairo Santos kicked a field goal, and Eric Berry had a pick six. Santos makes another field goal, tying the game at 17. In the Panthers' last possession of the game, the ball was stripped out of Kelvin Benjamin's hands and Kansas City gets the ball back. Santos makes the game winning field goal for the Chiefs, and the Panthers fall to 3–6.
Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Eleven: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
3
0
0
17
20
Panthers
3
17
3
0
23
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
After their embarrassing 17 point comeback loss four days prior, the Panthers hosted the New Orleans Saints in a Thursday Night 'Color Rush' Matchup. Just like in the Chiefs game, the Panthers went into the fourth quarter holding New Orleans to only three points. They had a 23–3 lead but the Saints managed to rally and get within three with 5:11 left in the game. Late in the fourth quarter star linebacker Luke Kuechly left the game and was evaluated for a concussion. The Panthers were able to hold off New Orleans and win 23–20, improving to 4–6.
Week 12: at Oakland Raiders
Week Twelve: Carolina Panthers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Carolina had a rough start in the first half, only scoring seven points, and went into halftime seventeen points behind Oakland. They turned things around and had an explosive third quarter scoring eighteen points giving them a one point lead over the Raiders. In the fourth quarter the Panthers went on to score seven but the Raiders answered back tying the game. In their last possession of the game the ball was taken from Cam Newton giving Oakland the ball back. Carolina could not hold on as Oakland kicked a field goal winning the game. They fall to 4–7.
Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Thirteen: Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
^ abDetroit finished ahead of Tampa Bay for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents—Detroit's cumulative record against Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New Orleans was 3–2, while Tampa Bay's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
^ abNew Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
