1996 Carolina Panthers season
| 1996 Carolina Panthers season | |
|---|---|
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|
| Head coach | Dom Capers |
| General manager | Bill Polian |
| Owner | Jerry Richardson |
| Home field | Ericsson Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1st NFC West |
| Playoff finish |
Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 26–17 Lost Conference Championship (Packers) 30–13 |
The 1996 Carolina Panthers season was the second season for the team in the National Football League. They improved upon their 7–9 record in 1995, and made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
The Panthers would be a huge surprise, as it would turn out, as the Panthers won their last seven games of the season to finish the season with a 12–4 record. The result was that the Panthers won the NFC West, and had a first round bye in the 1996 NFL Playoffs. The Panthers would then beat the Dallas Cowboys 26–17 before falling 30–13 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
The Panthers did not return to the playoffs until 2003.
Unrestricted free agents signed:
Unrestricted free agents lost:
Kerry Collins started for the Panthers and threw two touchdowns while John Kasay booted five field goals as the Falcons were crushed 29–6.
Acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Steve Beuerlein did not throw a single pass, instead rushing three times for a net loss of ten yards; Kerry Collins handled the quarterbacking duties, throwing for 171 yards and one pick while Jim Everett threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. This game, though, was a battle of field goals; following an 84-yard Winslow Oliver punt return touchdown John Kasay provided the rest of Carolina's offense with five field goals, two of them 51-yarders, for a 22–20 Panthers win.
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