The 2018 season is the Carolina Panthers' 24th in the National Football League and their eighth under head coachRon Rivera. This will be the team's first season without former assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason and former offensive coordinator Mike Shula, who became the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator of the New York Giants. The Panthers will try to improve upon their 11–5 record where they lost to the New Orleans Saints 26–31 in the Wild Card Round last year.[1]
The Panthers traded wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's third-round selection (85th overall) and the seventh-round selection they acquired from the LA Chargers (234th overall).
The Panthers traded their fourth-round selection (123rd overall) and punter Kasey Redfern to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's seventh-round selection in 2017 and punter Andy Lee.
Staff
On August 24, 2018, Tom Glick, COO of Manchester City, was hired as the Panthers team president.[2]
Networks and times from Weeks 7–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling, for the exceptions of Week 10 (Thursday Night Football) and Week 15 (Monday Night Football).
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week One: Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
In the Panthers' home opener against the Dallas Cowboys both teams were scoreless in the first quarter. In the second, Cam Newton rushed in for a touchdown to score the first points of the game. Graham Gano later scored a field goal to further the Panthers' lead to 10–0. Both teams were again scoreless in the third quarter. Alexander Armah scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the extra point attempt was no good when the ball slipped out of Michael Palardy's hands. The Cowboys later put points on the board with an Ezekiel Elliott touchdown run followed by a two-point conversion by quarterback Dak Prescott, decreasing the Panthers' lead to eight points. The Panthers managed to hold off the Cowboys by forcing a fumble off Prescott in the Cowboys' last offensive drive, winning 16–8.
The Bengals were the first to score in the game but the Panthers answered back with a Cam Newton touchdown. Late in the first quarter Andy Dalton threw a pass intended for John Ross but it was intercepted by Donte Jackson. Early in the second Devin Funchess scored a touchdown with a Graham Gano field goal, and Carolina took the lead. Dalton was sacked by Efe Obada, the ball fumbled and was recovered by Carolina but the call was reversed and the Bengals soon tied the game at 14. Carolina took back the lead with a C.J. Anderson touchdown. In the third Dalton was picked off again with an Obada interception. Newton scored again. Cincinnati soon followed with another touchdown decreasing the Panthers' lead by seven. With less than four minutes to go in the game, another Dalton pass intended for Ross was once again intercepted by Jackson. Gano kicked a field goal making the score 31–21. In the last few seconds of the game Dalton threw a pass intended for Tyler Eifert in the end zone but was picked by Luke Kuechly. The Panthers won and improved to 2–1.
Week 5: vs. New York Giants
Week Five: New York Giants at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Giants
0
0
0
0
0
Panthers
0
0
0
0
0
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
^ abNew Orleans finished ahead of LA Rams based on head-to-head victory.
^ abcAtlanta finished ahead of Washington based on head-to-head victory. Atlanta finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head sweep. Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head victory.
^ abNY Giants finished ahead of Tampa Bay 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.
