Tag: Carolina Panthers

Panthers claim NFC South, crash playoffs with losing record again

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the first time in a decade, the Carolina Panthers are NFC South champions. For the first time in NFL history, the Panthers are the only franchise to make the postseason with a losing record twice.

Carolina learned its fate on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints, sparing the Panthers due to a three-way tiebreaker among 8-9 teams. The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday and Atlanta decided the division title among the three teams atop the NFC South, which went to Carolina by virtue of the best head-to-head record.

“The neighborhood is crazy. We were yelling from our couch, as a family,” Canales said of his experience Sunday as a Falcons’ fan. “Walked outside where we normally ride bikes and walk the dogs and there were just neighbors in the front yards. Really excited.”

One of 14 teams who have more football to play beyond the regular season, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Sunday night he hasn’t heard when Carolina might play next weekend. But he’ll have that information before the end of the night and begin plotting his first playoff plan as a head coach after turning around a franchise that went 5-12 last season and 2-15 in 2023 before he was hired.

“We will go right back to work,” Canales said.

The Panthers also made the playoffs with a losing record — 7-8-1 — in 2014. They followed that up with a 15-1 mark in 2015, their last division championship season.

Carolina has only reached the playoff once since then, following an 11-5, second-place finish in 2017.

But Canales said record is insignificant starting Monday, when every playoff team is on equal footing at 0-0. As division champions, the Panthers will host an NFC wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams or San Francisco 49ers.

“The familiarity gives a level of confidence in terms of what we’re up against,” he said.

Carolina played the 49ers and Rams in consecutive weeks, losing at San Francisco (20-9) on Nov. 24 and beating the Rams (31-28) six days later.

–Field Level Media

Panthers use turnovers to knock Rams from perch atop NFC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bryce Young threw three touchdown passes and the Carolina Panthers forced Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford into three turnovers in 31-28 victory that ended the Rams’ six-game winning streak on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.

The Panthers were efficient on fourth-down plays in the second half and the defense came up with a huge stop when it appeared the NFC-best Rams might be ready to regain the lead.

After Los Angeles reached the Carolina 17-yard line, a delay of game penalty came before Derrick Brown forced a Stafford fumble on a sack and recovered the ball with 2:25 remaining.

Stafford entered the game with two interceptions all season and then threw two in the first quarter. The first was tipped and picked off in the end zone and the next snatched by Mike Jackson and returned 48 yards for a touchdown.

Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards, helping the Panthers (7-6) recover from a loss Monday night at San Francisco. Running back Chuba Hubbard gained 83 yards on 17 carries and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass for the team’s first points in the first quarter.

Stafford completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams and set an NFL record in the first quarter with 28 TD passes without an interception going back to Week 4. That run ended when he threw a pair of picks in a span of three passes.

Davante Adams had two TD receptions for Los Angeles, Xavier Smith caught three passes for 82 yards and Blake Corum led the Rams’ rushing attack with 81 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

The Rams (9-3) went ahead 28-24 with 9:58 remaining on Kyren Williams’ 7-yard run.

Carolina needed six plays to regain the lead, with Young hitting Tatairoa McMillan for a 43-yard touchdown on fourth-and-2 with 6:34 remaining.

The Panthers earlier took a lead on the first possession of the third quarter when Young hooked up with Jalen Cooker for a 33-yard touchdown play on fourth-and-3.

The Rams recovered from their early woes for a 21-17 halftime lead. Los Angeles didn’t punt in the first half, with three touchdowns and Stafford’s two interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Panthers down Falcons in OT on career day for Bryce Young

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ryan Fitzgerald drilled a game-winning 28-yard field goal with 5:10 left in overtime on Sunday to help the visiting Carolina Panthers rally for a 30-27 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Bryce Young threw for a career-high 448 yards and passed for three touchdowns for Carolina (6-5), which trailed by 14 points in the first half. Tetairoa McMillan had 130 receiving yards and two scores for the Panthers, who swept the season series for the first time since 2013.

Michael Penix Jr. threw for 175 yards before exiting in the third quarter with a knee injury. Kirk Cousins threw for 48 yards in relief for Atlanta (3-7), which dropped its fifth straight. Drake London had 119 receiving yards and Bijan Robinson totaled 104 rushing yards and two scores for the reeling Falcons.

After Atlanta began overtime with a three-and-out, Young’s 54-yard pass to Tommy Tremble set up Fitzgerald’s game-winner.

Carolina trailed by 11 at halftime but found the end zone early in the third quarter as Young hit Xavier Legette for a 36-yard score. The Panthers’ two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving their deficit at 21-16.

Fitzgerald’s 34-yard kick pulled the visitors within two with 58 seconds left in the third.

The Falcons punted on their next two drives, while Young tripped attempting a handoff on fourth-and-1 to turn the ball over on downs at the Panthers’ 39-yard line at the 3:04 mark of the fourth.

Zane Gonzalez drilled a 52-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 24-19 lead with 2:43 remaining.

Young completed passes to Ja’Tavion Sanders, Brycen Tremayne and Rico Dowdle to set up his 12-yard throw to McMillan for the go-ahead score with 1:08 left. Jalen Coker caught the ensuing two-point conversion.

Cousins’ pair of 11-yard completions to David Sills V and Robinson led to Gonzalez’s game-tying 45-yarder with 16 seconds left.

Young’s 7-yard touchdown pass to McMillan gave Carolina a 7-0 lead with 5:25 left in the opening quarter. Robinson broke through three potential Carolina tacklers to knot the score with his 4-yard touchdown rush.

Robinson’s 1-yard rushing score gave the Falcons a 14-7 lead at the 7:52 mark of the second quarter.

Atlanta doubled its lead with 1:41 left in the first half when Tyler Allgeier bulled his way for a 1-yard touchdown rush.

Fitzgerald’s 29-yarder with 25 seconds on the clock trimmed Carolina’s halftime deficit to 21-10.

–Field Level Media

Tyler Shough, defense get Saints past Panthers 17-7

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Tyler Shough threw two touchdown passes in his first NFL victory as a starter and the New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 17-7 on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte to end a four-game losing streak.

The Saints (2-8) held Carolina (5-5) to 175 yards of total offense.

Shough, making his second NFL start, completed 19 of 27 passes for 282 yards, with scoring strikes to Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. Alvin Kamara gained 83 yards on 22 carries.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 17 of 25 passes for 124 yards and an interception, while Rico Dowdle, who had been one of the league’s most productive running backs in recent weeks, was held to 53 yards on 18 carries with a TD. Young was sacked twice.

The Saints’ Alontae Taylor intercepted Young with 13 minutes remaining, putting the ball at the Carolina 43-yard line. The Saints needed just five plays to get into the end zone on Shough’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Johnson for a 17-7 lead.

The Saints’ only previous victory came more than a month ago at home against the New York Giants.

The tide turned quickly on the Panthers, who were booed as they left the field at halftime, just a week after the team’s upset victory at Green Bay. New Orleans held a 236-83 advantage in total yards by the break. Young had 54 passing yards in the first half.

Both teams scored on their first possessions of the game.

The Panthers went 67 yards in 12 plays with Dowdle running in from 5 yards out. Even that drive had a near mishap, with an interception overturned because of a roughing-the-passer penalty.

The Saints then covered 78 yards in 10 plays but settled for Blake Grupe’s 21-yard field goal.

The Saints’ first touchdown came when Shough hooked up with Olave for a 62-yard play with 9:21 left in the second quarter, pushing the Saints to a 10-7 advantage.

A scoreless third quarter included Carolina kicker Ryan Fitzgerald’s partially blocked 48-yard field goal attempt. The Panthers kept possession because the ball traveled beyond the line of scrimmage and was touched by a New Orleans player.

But the Panthers didn’t convert on the good fortune when Young fumbled the ball on a hand off after reaching the Saints’ 19-yard line.

–Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson (2) tackles New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (10) during a game at MetLife Stadium, Oct 19, 2025, East Rutherford, NJ, USA.

Panthers beat hapless Jets for third straight win

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The Carolina Panthers scored the game’s only touchdown on a Bryce Young pass before he left with an injury during a 13-6 victory against the winless New York Jets on Sunday afternoon at East Rutherford, N.J.

Carolina’s defense shined, limiting the Jets (0-7) to 220 yards of total offense and benefited from Jaycee Horn’s two interceptions.

Backup quarterbacks played most of the second half for both teams.

Ryan Fitzgerald kicked two field goals as the Panthers (4-3) won their third game in a row. They lost their first three road games of the season.

Young didn’t finish the game because of an ankle injury sustained late in the third quarter on a sack, so he was replaced by Andy Dalton. Young was 15-for-25 passing for 138 yards.

Dalton completed 4 of 7 passes for 60 yards, including a clinching 33-yard, third-down pass to Xavier Legette (nine receptions, 92 yards) before Carolina ran out the clock.

New York backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, playing in the second half, went 10-for-22 passing for 126 yards and two interceptions. Jets starting quarterback Justin Fields was pulled after the first half, when he was 6 of 12 for 46 yards.

Nick Folk kicked field goals of 34 and 47 yards for the Jets.

The Panthers had a dilemma at running back, with Chuba Hubbard returning from a two-game injury absence and starting in place of Rico Dowdle, who averaged 194.5 yards per game the previous two weeks. The two alternated series, with Dowdle picking up 79 yards on 17 carries while Hubbard had 31 yards on 14 attempts.

The Panthers opened the second half with a 10-play possession that ended with Fitzgerald’s 29-yard field goal for a 13-3 lead.

After Folk’s second field goal, the Jets forced a Carolina punt and regained possession at their own 28 with 4:41 to play. Horn intercepted a Taylor pass for the second time, but New York got the ball back at the 2:49 mark.

The Jets were held to 97 yards of total offense in the first half. Their only points of the half came on Folk’s first field goal to tie the score in the second quarter. That scoring opportunity was set up after the Panthers were stopped on a fourth-and-1 play at their own 49-yard line.

Fitzgerald’s 30-yard field goal opened the scoring at the end of a 13-play drive in the first quarter.

The Panthers went ahead on Young’s 3-yard pass to Legette with 1:11 to play in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) exits the field during the third quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Panthers QB Bryce Young (ankle) ruled out vs. Jets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was ruled out for the rest of Sunday afternoon’s game against the New York Jets at East Rutherford, N.J., with a right ankle injury.

Young, who threw a second-quarter pass for the game’s only touchdown through three quarters, completed 15 of 25 passes for 138 yards. He was injured on a third-quarter sack by Jets defensive tackle Jowon Briggs.

Veteran QB Andy Dalton replaced Young.

The Panthers led 13-3 going to the fourth quarter.

The Jets also made a second-half quarterback move, benching Justin Fields in favor of Tyrod Taylor.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Carolina Panthers helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the pregame at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Panthers fire employee for insensitive post about Charlie Kirk

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The Carolina Panthers fired an employee in their communications department following an insensitive social media post about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Charlotte Observer reported Thursday.

Football communications coordinator Charlie Rock made the post on Instagram a few hours after Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University.

“Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it …” read the post, which included a photo of Kirk and a reference to the song “Protect Ya Neck” by the Wu-Tang Clan, per the report.

The Panthers released a statement Thursday on X.

“The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers. We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.”

The newspaper’s efforts to reach Rock were not immediately successful.

–Field Level Media

November 5, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) is tackled by New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Former Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow signing with Panthers

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The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms on Sunday night with former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, a South Carolina native.

Renfrow, 29, was out of the NFL last season after being released by the Raiders on March 13, 2024.

He made the Pro Bowl with 103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021 but played a diminished role the next two seasons with a combined 61 catches for 585 yards and two scores in 27 games.

Renfrow has 269 catches for 2,884 yards and 17 TDs in 73 games (23 starts) since the Raiders drafted him in the fifth round in 2019 out of Clemson, where he helped the Tigers win national championships in the 2016 and 2018 seasons.

The Panthers’ depth at wide receiver includes veteran Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker, 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette and the No. 8 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, Tetairoa McMillan.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver David Moore (83) takes the field during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers WR David Moore reaches 1-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers welcomed back wide receiver David Moore on a one-year contract Tuesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the Panthers.

Moore, 30, had 32 catches for 351 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games (five starts) last season, his first in Carolina.

Head coach Dave Canales knows Moore from their mutual stints in Seattle and Tampa Bay.

Moore has totaled 115 receptions for 1,608 yards and 17 TDs in 74 career games (19 starts) with the Seahawks (2017-20), Denver Broncos (2021), Green Bay Packers (2021), Buccaneers (2023) and Panthers.

–Field Level Media