The 2023 season is the Carolina Panthers' 29th in the National Football League (NFL), their third under the leadership of general managerScott Fitterer and their only under head coachFrank Reich. The Panthers started 0–6 for the first time since 1998 after losing to the Miami Dolphins in Week 6. Following the team's Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, not only did the Panthers fail to improve upon their 7–10 record from 2022, but they also fired Reich and named Chris Tabor as interim head coach.[1] Reich's firing marks the third firing of a head coach in five years and the second firing in as many years for the franchise. Following a Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season.[2]
The team acquired the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Chicago Bears in a trade involving wide receiver D. J. Moore,[3] which they used to draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.[4] Young is just the third quarterback drafted by the Panthers in the first round, following Kerry Collins in 1995, and Cam Newton in 2011 (also taken first overall).
In Week 17, they were shut out 26–0 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, their first shutout loss since Week 12 of the 2002 season; they secured the NFL's worst record in 2023 with this loss and gave the Bears the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.[5]
^ abCarolina acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears in exchange for wide receiver D. J. Moore, the No. 9 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in the 2023 draft, a first-round pick in 2024, and a second-round pick in 2025.
^San Francisco traded second, third, and fourth-round selections and a 2024 fifth-round selection to Carolina in exchange for running back Christian McCaffrey.
^ abCarolina traded a sixth-round selection to New England in exchange for cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
^Carolina traded a seventh-round selection and a 2024 sixth-round selection to Jacksonville in exchange for wide receiver Laviska Shenault.
In the Panther's opening drive, they came close to scoring, but when they went for it on the fourth, Atlanta stopped them. On their next drive, after two penalties, rookie Bryce Young's pass was intercepted by the Falcons' Jessie Bates. The Falcons score. Carolina gets the ball back, and Young passes it to Hayden Hurst, who ties the game at 7. The Panthers only score three points in the second half, while Atlanta scores 17. Carolina loses 10–24 and starts the season 0–1.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 2: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
In the Panthers' home opener, both Carolina and New Orleans scored a field goal in the first quarter. In the second, the Saints scored another field goal. Later, Vonn Bell intercepted the ball from Derek Carr. As the Panthers approach the end zone, Bryce Young is sacked, and the ball is knocked out of his hands. New Orleans recovers the ball. Carolina ties it in the third. The Saints follow with a touchdown. In the fourth, the Panthers kicked another field goal. With 3:14 to go, New Orleans scores a touchdown. The Panthers try to come back at the end with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but it was not enough. The Saints beat the Panthers 20–17, and Carolina starts off the season 0–2. This loss gave the Panthers their fourth 0–2 start in five seasons.
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 3: Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
On the Vikings' opening drive, as they were about to score, Sam Franklin intercepted the ball and scored a 99-yard pick-six. In the beginning of the second, Eddy Piñeiro made a field goal, giving Carolina a 10–0 lead. Minnesota decreased the lead with a Justin Jefferson touchdown. At the end of the half, Kirk Cousins threw another interception to Carolina's Kamu Grugier-Hill. Piñeiro made another field goal, giving Carolina a 13–7 lead at the half. In the third, Bryce Young lost the ball on a strip sack and Minnesota's D.J. Wonnum recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Vikings a one-point lead. The Vikings would add another touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Cousins to Jefferson, and Minnesota's defense held on in the fourth quarter to secure a 21–13 victory.
With the loss, Carolina dropped to 0–4.
Week 5: at Detroit Lions
Week 5: Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
It was a scoreless first quarter for both Carolina and Houston. In the second quarter, Houston scored with a touchdown. With less than two minutes to go in the half, Bryce Young passes it to Tommy Tremble for a touchdown but the PAT is no good. Early in the third, Eddy Piñeiro kicked a field goal giving the Panthers a two-point lead. Houston fumbles the ball and it is recovered by the Panthers. Piñeiro makes another field goal. Texans follow with a touchdown but the attempt for a two-point conversion is no good. With three seconds to go in the game, Piñeiro kicks the game winning field goal and Panthers win 15–13. They improve to 1–6.
Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 9: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Colts
0
20
0
7
27
Panthers
0
3
7
3
13
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
In Carolina's second drive of the game, Ihmir Smith-Marsette scores a 79-yard punt return touchdown. Chicago follows with a field goal. At the top of the second, Eddy Piñeiro kicks a field goal. The Bears scored at the end of the second, giving Carolina a 10–9 lead at the half. Chicago is the first to score in the second half with a touchdown by former Panther, D'Onta Foreman. Panthers kick another field goal early in the fourth. The Bears defeat Carolina 16–13, and the Panthers fall to 1–8.
Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 11: Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Cowboys
7
10
0
16
33
Panthers
0
3
7
0
10
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
^ abcSan Francisco finished ahead of Dallas and Detroit based on conference record.
^ abDallas finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
^ abTampa Bay finished ahead of New Orleans based on common record. (Tampa Bay is 8–4 against Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis, while New Orleans is 6–6 against the same teams.)
^ abcGreen Bay and Seattle finished ahead of New Orleans based on conference record.
^ abGreen Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on strength of victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^ abMinnesota finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Chicago (see below).
^ abMinnesota finished ahead of Chicago based on common record. (Minnesota is 5–7 against Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Kansas City, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans, Denver, Las Vegas, and Detroit, while Chicago is 4–8 against the same teams.)
^ abChicago finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory.
^ abWashington finished ahead of Arizona based on head-to-head victory.
^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.