The 2012 season was the Carolina Panthers' 18th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Ron Rivera. A day after the Panthers' loss to the Dallas Cowboys, general manager Marty Hurney was fired.[1] Until a new general manager was hired (that hire eventually being Dave Gettleman), director of football operations Brandon Beane served as interim general manager.[2] In a statistical rarity, the team lost the first 13 of their game-opening coin tosses, an event with a 1 in 8,192 probability. In the 13th 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.
2012 draft class
The Panthers did not have a 3rd round selection.[a]
The Carolina Panthers on offense against the Denver Broncos in week 10 of the season
NOTES
^[a] The team traded its third-round selection to the Chicago Bears in exchange for TE Greg Olsen.
^[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 a 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.
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
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
Period
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
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Game information
First quarter
CAR – Greg Olsen 17-yard pass from Cam Newton (Justin Medlock kick), 11:45. Panthers 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 2:29.
ATL – Roddy White 49-yard pass from Matt Ryan (Matt Bryant kick), 0:26. Tied 7–7. Drive: 3 plays, 77 yards, 1:30.
Second quarter
ATL – Matt Bryant 41-yard field goal, 13:11. Falcons 10–7. Drive: 6 plays, 7 yards, 2:05.
CAR – DeAngelo Williams 13-yard run (Justin Medlock kick), 8:44. Panthers 14–10. Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 4:27.
ATL – Roddy White 14-yard pass from Matt Ryan (Matt Bryant kick), 1:49. Falcons 17–14. Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 3:40.
Third quarter
ATL – Michael Turner 60-yard pass from Matt Ryan, (Matt Bryant kick), 10:17. Falcons 24–14. Drive: 3 plays, 72 yards, 1:37.
CAR – Cam Newton 4-yard run (Justin Medlock kick), 3:16. Falcons 24–21. Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 7:01.
Fourth quarter
CAR –Kealoha Pilares 36-yard pass from Cam Newton (Justin Medlock kick), 7:55. Panthers 28–24. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 3:23.
ATL – Matt Bryant 33-yard field goal, 4:57. Panthers 28–27. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 2:58.
ATL – Matt Bryant 40-yard field goal, 0:05. Falcons 30–28. Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards, 0:54.
Top passers
CAR – Cam Newton – 15/24, 212 yards, 2 TD
ATL – Matt Ryan – 25/40, 369 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
CAR – Cam Newton – 9 rushes, 86 yards, TD
ATL – Michael Turner – 13 rushes, 103 yards
Top receivers
CAR – Greg Olsen – 6 receptions, 89 yards, TD
ATL – Roddy White – 8 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TD
With their 5th straight loss to the Falcons, the Panthers fell to 1–3. Also, for the first time the team lost a game after Newton did not record a turnover.
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Five: Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
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
With the win, the Panthers improved to 2–6. The team also improves to 7–1 in games where Newton does not turn the ball over. Because this was the Redskins' last home game before the 2012 election, the Redskins Rule incorrectly predicted that Mitt Romney would win the election, or Barack Obama would win the election while losing the popular vote.
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Ten: Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
7
10
7
12
36
Panthers
7
0
0
7
14
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
TB – Vincent Jackson 24-yard pass from Josh Freeman (Josh Freeman-Vincent Jackson pass), 0:12. Tied 21–21. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 0:50.
Overtime
TB – Dallas Clark 15-yard pass from Josh Freeman, 10:40. Buccaneers 27–21. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:20.
Top passers
TB – Josh Freeman – 25/46, 248 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
CAR – Cam Newton – 16/29, 252 yards, TD
Top rushers
TB – Doug Martin – 24 rushes, 138 yards
CAR – Jonathan Stewart – 15 rushes, 43 yards, TD
Top receivers
TB – Vincent Jackson – 6 receptions, 94 yards, TD
CAR – Brandon LaFell – 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 2–8. Also, QB Cam Newton suffered 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
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3–9 securing them their 3rd straight losing season. They also dropped in records to 0–2 against the AFC West and 8–3 when Newton does not turn the ball over.
Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
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 upset 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
With the win the Panthers finished 7–9, good enough for 2nd place in the NFC South, and swept the Saints for the first time since 2008. Also, the team improved to 3–16 in games when Newton had 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.
^Reed, Steve (October 22, 2012). "Panthers GM Hurney fired after team's 1–5 start". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
^"Bears defeat Lions to maintain NFC North lead". Newsday. Retrieved October 23, 2012. 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
^"Carolina Panthers ask fans to help decide disastrous coin toss call". Metro. December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
^"Panthers introduce refined logo". Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
External links
Official website
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Carolina Panthers
Founded in 1995
Based and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina
