2005 Carolina Panthers season
| 2005 Carolina Panthers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | John Fox |
| General manager | Marty Hurney |
| Owner | Jerry Richardson |
| Home field | Bank of America Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC South |
| Playoff finish |
Won Wild Card Playoffs (Giants) 23–0 Won Divisional Playoffs (Bears) 29–21 Lost Conference Championship (Seahawks) 34–14 |
The 2005 Carolina Panthers season was the 11th season for the team in the National Football League. They improved on their 7–9 record from 2004, going 11–5, and made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. They eventually fell to the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks 34–14 in the NFC Championship Game.
The Panthers forced five turnovers, limited the Giants to only 109 yards of total offense, and became the first club to shut out a home playoff team since the Los Angeles Rams shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1979 NFC Championship Game. Although the Giants entered the game with Pro Bowler Tiki Barber starting at running back, the Panthers running game, featuring DeShaun Foster and Nick Goings, outgained the Giants 223 yards to 41 on the ground. Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith caught 10 passes for 84 yards and scored two touchdowns, a 22-yard reception and a 12-yard run, while kicker John Kasay added three field goals and Foster rushed for 151 yards. Meanwhile, quarterback Eli Manning threw three interceptions in his first playoff start.
After the first five possessions of the game ended with punts, Carolina drove 77 yards in 12 plays and scored with Jake Delhomme's 22-yard touchdown pass to Smith. On Carolina's next possession, they were forced to punt, but New York safety Gibril Wilson muffed the kick and Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley recovered the ball at the Giants 15-yard line, setting up a 31-yard Kasay field goal to increase the lead to 10–0.
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