The 2012Carolina Panthersseason was the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League and the second under head coach Ron Rivera. A day after the Panthers loss to Dallas, general manager Marty Hurney was fired.[1] Until a new general manager was hired (that hire eventually being Dave Gettleman), Panthers director of football operations Brandon Beane handled GM operations.[2] In a statistical rarity, the team lost the first 13 of their coin tosses, an event with a 1 in 8,192 probability. In the thirteenth game, the Panthers asked fans on Facebook to make the call, but the vote ended in a 50/50 tie.[3]
Logo change
On January 30, 2012, the Panthers unveiled an updated version of the team's logo, the team's first logo change since the Panthers entered the NFL in 1995.[4] The new logo would subsequently be added to the team's uniforms, around the stadium and on merchandise.
^[b] The Panthers finished with the same record and strength of schedule as the Miami Dolphins. This selection is the 9th, based on a coin toss at the NFL Scouting Combine won by Miami in March.
^[c] The Panthers finished with the same record and strength of schedule as the Miami Dolphins. This selection is the 40th, based on a coin toss at the NFL Scouting Combine in March won by the Miami Dolphins.
^[d] The team traded its sixth-round selection (#180) and their third-round selection in 2013 to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their fourth-round selection (#103).
^{e } The Panthers received one compensatory pick for the 207 pick overall.
Season Summary
Looking to improve off of an 6–10 season from rookie coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers got off to a tough start. The Panthers began the season with a dismal 2–8 record through their first 10 games. The Panthers played competitively throughout most games the entire season with an exception of a 36–7 loss to the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants where the Panthers fell to a 20–0 deficit early in the game and could not recover. Many would turn to a victory on November 26 in a prime time match up against the struggling Philadelphia Eagles as the turning point in the season for the Panthers. With that win on Monday Night Football, the Panthers would go on to win 5 of their remaining 6 games, rattling off 4 victories in a row to finish the season, with one victory coming against the NFC's #1 seed Atlanta Falcons, the first win in the series for the Panthers since the 2009 season.
CAR – Steve Smith 7 REC, 106 YDS Brandon LaFell 3 REC, 65 YDS, 1 TD Louis Murphy 3 REC, 63 YDS
TB – Vincent Jackson 4 REC, 47 YDS Doug Martin 4 REC, 23 YDS Mike Williams 2 REC, 12 YDS, 1 TD
Top tacklers
CAR –
TB –
The Panthers started the season at 0–1 picking up their 4th straight regular season opening loss. Also, the team dropped to 0–11 in games where starting QB Cam Newton turns the ball over as he was picked off twice.
Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Two: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Mike Martz and Kristina Pink
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
NO –
CAR –
Top rushers
NO –
CAR –
Top receivers
NO –
CAR –
Top tacklers
NO –
CAR –
With the win, the Panthers improved to 1–1, snapping their 4-game losing streak against the Saints. Also, the team improved to 1–11 in games where Newton has at least 1 turnover.
Week 3: vs. New York Giants
Week Three: New York Giants at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Giants
10
10
6
10
36
Panthers
0
0
7
0
7
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
With the huge loss on Thursday Night Football, the Panthers fell to 1–2. The team also dropped to 1–12 in games where Cam Newton has at least 1 turnover.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Four: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
ATL- Matt Bryant, 33-yard field goal, 5:00 (CAR 28–27)
ATL- Matt Bryant, 40-yard field goal, 0:05 (ATL 30–28)
Top passers
CAR –
ATL –
Top rushers
CAR –
ATL –
Top receivers
CAR –
ATL –
Top tacklers
CAR –
ATL –
With their 5th straight loss to the Falcons, the Panthers fell to 1–3. Also for the first time ever the team also loses a game after Newton doesn't have a turnover as that record fell to 6–1.
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Seahawks
3
3
7
3
16
Panthers
0
3
7
2
12
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TB –
CAR –
Top rushers
TB –
CAR –
Top receivers
TB –
CAR –
Top tacklers
TB –
CAR –
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 2–8. Also, QB Cam Newton suffers being swept by all 3 division rival teams as the team dropped to 7–2 in games where he does not have a turnover.
Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week Twelve: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Mike Martz and Kristina Pink
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
CAR –
KC –
Top rushers
CAR –
KC –
Top receivers
CAR –
KC –
Top tacklers
CAR –
KC –
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3–9 securing them their 3rd straight losing season and also the team dropped in records to 0–2 against the AFC West and then to a record of 8–3 when Newton does not turn the ball over.
Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
0
0
7
13
20
Panthers
7
9
7
7
30
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
With the surprising win, the Panthers improved to 4–9 and snapped their 5-game losing streak to the Falcons. Also, the team improved to 9–3 in games where Newton does not have a turnover.
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
Week Fifteen: Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
With the win, the Panthers improved to 6–9 and 2–16 when Newton turns the ball over at least once. Also, the team finished the season 2–2 against the AFC West.
Week 17: at New Orleans Saints
Week Seventeen: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Mike Martz and Krista Voda
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
CAR –
NO –
Top rushers
CAR –
NO –
Top receivers
CAR –
NO –
Top tacklers
CAR –
NO –
With the win the Panthers finished 7–9 and good enough for 2nd place in the NFC South, sweeping the Saints for the first time since 2008. Also, the team improved to 3–16 in games when Newton has a turnover. Also, Newton was one touchdown shy of being a 4th QB to have at least 20 passing touchdowns in his first 2 seasons as his total record of passing touchdowns stood at 19 while his rushing touchdowns stood at 8 leaving him with a failed improvement finishing with 27 total touchdowns.
^"Bears defeat Lions to maintain NFC North lead". Newsday. Retrieved 2012-10-23. Brandon Beane, the team's director of football operations, will handle day-to-day football matters until a new GM is hired, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.d
