2019 Carolina Panthers season

Last updated

2019 Carolina Panthers season
Owner David Tepper
General manager Marty Hurney
Head coach Ron Rivera (fired on December 3; 5–7 record)
Perry Fewell (interim, 0–4 record)
Home stadium Bank of America Stadium
Results
Record5–11
Division place4th NFC South
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers ILB Luke Kuechly
RB Christian McCaffrey
G Trai Turner (alternate)
All-Pros RB, Flex Christian McCaffrey (1st team)
ILB Luke Kuechly (2nd team)
Uniform
Carolina panthers uniforms.png

The 2019 season was the Carolina Panthers' 25th in the National Football League (NFL), and their ninth and last under head coach Ron Rivera. The Panthers played in London as part of the NFL International Series for the first time in franchise history. [1] This for first time since 2004 Thomas Davis was not on the opening day roster and for first time since 2006 Ryan Kalil was not on the opening roster.

Contents

Despite suffering their first 0–2 start since 2013, they had a 5–3 record coming into week 10 of the season. However, their futility from the previous year repeated itself. They suffered an eight-game losing streak (their worst since 2001, where they finished 1–15) to end the season badly with a 5–11 record. Not only were they unable to improve upon their 7–9 record from the previous season, but they were also mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the second consecutive season and for the third time in the past four seasons after losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 in 2015 (they finished the season with a 15–1 record) after a 20–40 loss to division rivals Atlanta Falcons coming into Week 14 of the season. After a Week 4 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 6, 2019, head coach Ron Rivera surpassed John Fox to become the franchise's winningest head coach of all time. However on December 3, two days after a loss to the Washington Redskins, Rivera was fired after nearly nine seasons as head coach and due to new ownership wanting a change within the organization. [2] [3] Cam Newton suffered a season-ending foot injury after playing in the first 2 weeks of the season, and was replaced by rookie quarterbacks Will Grier and Kyle Allen. On October 7, Kyle Allen became the first undrafted quarterback to win their first 4 starts since Kurt Warner did so during the St. Louis Rams' 1999 Super Bowl-winning season.

The 2019 season marked the end of an era for the Panthers franchise. In addition to it being Rivera's final season in Carolina, it was also linebacker Luke Kuechly's final season in the NFL, as he retired following the conclusion of the season. [4] It was also the final season of Cam Newton's first tenure in Carolina; he would re-sign with the team during the 2021 season.

NFL draft

2019 Carolina Panthers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
116 Brian Burns *  OLB Florida State
237 Greg Little   OT Ole Miss
3100 Will Grier   QB West Virginia
4115 Christian Miller  OLB Alabama
5154 Jordan Scarlett   RB Florida
6212 Dennis Daley   OT South Carolina
7237 Terry Godwin   WR Georgia
      Made roster        Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

Staff

2019 Carolina Panthers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Final roster

2019 Carolina Panthers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 14 reserve, 10 practice squad

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 8at Chicago Bears W 23–131–0 Soldier Field Recap
2August 16 Buffalo Bills L 14–271–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
3August 22at New England Patriots L 3–101–2 Gillette Stadium Recap
4August 29 Pittsburgh Steelers W 25–192–2Bank of America Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1 September 8 Los Angeles Rams L 27–300–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
2 September 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–200–2Bank of America Stadium Recap
3 September 22at Arizona Cardinals W 38–201–2 State Farm Stadium Recap
4 September 29at Houston Texans W 16–102–2 NRG Stadium Recap
5 October 6 Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–273–2Bank of America Stadium Recap
6 October 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 37–264–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London) Recap
7 Bye
8 October 27at San Francisco 49ers L 13–514–3 Levi's Stadium Recap
9 November 3 Tennessee Titans W 30–205–3Bank of America Stadium Recap
10 November 10at Green Bay Packers L 16–245–4 Lambeau Field Recap
11 November 17 Atlanta Falcons L 3–295–5Bank of America Stadium Recap
12 November 24at New Orleans Saints L 31–345–6 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
13 December 1 Washington Redskins L 21–295–7Bank of America Stadium Recap
14 December 8at Atlanta Falcons L 20–405–8 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
15 December 15 Seattle Seahawks L 24–305–9Bank of America Stadium Recap
16 December 22at Indianapolis Colts L 6–385–10 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
17 December 29 New Orleans Saints L 10–425–11Bank of America Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week One: Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Rams01310730
Panthers03101427

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

It was a scoreless first quarter in the Panthers' home opener against the Los Angeles Rams. In the second, the Rams scored 13 points, but with two seconds to go in the half, Joey Slye made a field goal for Carolina. Early in the third, the Rams made another field goal. The Panthers answered back with a Christian McCaffrey touchdown plus a Slye field goal, making it 16–10. Towards the end of the third, the Rams scored a touchdown. Carolina followed with another field goal. At the beginning of the fourth, Carolina blocked a Rams punt and recovered it at the 5-yard line. They went on to score, making it a three-point game. Soon after, James Bradberry intercepted the ball, but they ended up having to punt it away. The Rams scored again to increase their lead to 10, before intercepting the ball from Carolina. With less than two minutes to go, Alexander Armah scored a touchdown for Carolina. Despite this, the Panthers still fell short and lost 30–27 to go 0–1.

Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Two: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Buccaneers377320
Panthers363214

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

For the first time since 2013, the Panthers started the season 0–2.

Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals

Week Three: Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers014141038
Cardinals7310020

at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

In Week 3, Carolina traveled to Arizona for their first road trip of the season and both teams looking for their first win. This was also Kyle Allen's first start of the season at QB. The Cardinals were first on the board with a Larry Fitzgerald touchdown, before Curtis Samuel tied the scores with a touchdown for Carolina early in the second quarter. In the last two minutes of the half, Arizona retook the lead via a field goal, before Kyle Allen threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to D. J. Moore to give the Panthers a 14–10 lead at halftime. Arizona started off with the ball in the second half, and capping a 75-yard drive, Kyler Murray completed a 3-yard pass to David Johnson for a touchdown. However, their lead was brief, as Allen threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. The Cardinals reduced their deficit to a single point on their next series, as Zane Gonzalez made a 47-yard field goal. Ray-Ray McCloud was only able to return the ensuing kickoff to the Panthers 16, but a pair of runs from Christian McCaffrey, first for eight yards and then for 76 yards, put the Panthers up by eight points going into the final period, following a Kyler Murray interception on Arizona's next possession. In the fourth quarter, Greg Olsen picked up another 3-yard touchdown catch and Joey Slye added a 36-yard field goal to give the Panthers a 38–20 win, improving them to 1–2. This game would give the Panthers franchise all-time win number 200, with both regular season and playoff record at 200-203-1 at that point.

Week 4: at Houston Texans

Week Four: Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers370616
Texans037010

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

The Panthers defeat Houston 16–10 on the road and improve to 2–2.

Week 5: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week Five: Jacksonville Jaguars at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Jaguars7107327
Panthers1477634

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

The Panthers get their third straight win, improving to 3-2. This regular season win was Ron Rivera's 74th, surpassing John Fox for the most regular season wins in franchise history with a record of 74-60-1 at that point. [6]

Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL London Games

Week Six: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers107101037
Buccaneers0731626

at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

Game information

The Panthers played in London for the first time as part of the NFL International Series. The Panthers get their fourth straight win, improving to 4-2.

Week 8: at San Francisco 49ers

Week Eight: Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers3010013
49ers1413141051

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

The 49ers blow out the Panthers 51-13, and they fall to 4–3.

Week 9: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week Nine: Tennessee Titans at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Titans0071320
Panthers0177630

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 10: at Green Bay Packers

Week Ten: Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers730616
Packers7710024

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST/3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 32 °F (0 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,090
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week Eleven: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons10106329
Panthers00033

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: November 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 73,106
  • Referee: Adrian Hill
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

Week Twelve: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers699731
Saints14314334

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 13: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Thirteen: Washington Redskins at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redskins3931429
Panthers1400721

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 71,504
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons

Week Fourteen: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers01001020
Falcons310171040

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: TBD (retractable roof stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,592
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Seahawks1373730
Panthers0731424

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts

Week Sixteen: Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers03306
Colts14731438

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: December 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 61,845
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week Seventeen: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Saints14217042
Panthers037010

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 29
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,203
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber and Lindsay Czarniak
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

Division

NFC South
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(3) New Orleans Saints 1330.8135–19–3458341W3
Atlanta Falcons 790.4384–26–6381399W4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 790.4382–45–7458449L2
Carolina Panthers 5110.3131–52–10340470L8

Conference

#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1 [a] San Francisco 49ers West1330.8135–110–2.504.466W2
2 [a] [b] Green Bay Packers North1330.8136–010–2.453.428W5
3 [a] [b] New Orleans Saints South1330.8135–19–3.486.459W3
4 Philadelphia Eagles East970.5635–17–5.455.417W4
Wild Cards
5 Seattle Seahawks West1150.6883–38–4.531.463L2
6 Minnesota Vikings North1060.6252–47–5.477.356L2
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Los Angeles Rams West970.5633–37–5.535.438W1
8 [c] Chicago Bears North880.5004–27–5.508.383W1
9 [c] Dallas Cowboys East880.5005–17–5.479.316W1
10 [d] Atlanta Falcons South790.4384–26–6.545.518W4
11 [d] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South790.4382–45–7.500.384L2
12 Arizona Cardinals West5101.3441–53–8–1.529.375L1
13 Carolina Panthers South5110.3131–52–10.549.469L8
14 New York Giants East4120.2502–43–9.473.281L1
15 Detroit Lions North3121.2190–62–9–1.506.375L9
16 Washington Redskins East3130.1880–62–10.502.281L4
Tiebreakers [e]
  1. 1 2 3 San Francisco finished ahead of Green Bay and New Orleans based on head-to-head sweep, claiming the No. 1 seed.
  2. 1 2 Green Bay claimed the No. 2 seed over New Orleans based on conference record.
  3. 1 2 Chicago finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
  4. 1 2 Atlanta finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on division record.
  5. 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.

References

  1. Gordon, Grant. "NFL announces matchups for international games". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  2. Schad, Tom (December 3, 2019). "Carolina Panthers fire coach Ron Rivera after nearly 9 years". USA Today . Gannett Co., Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  3. "Panthers eliminated from playoffs in 40-20 loss to Atlanta". CBS 17 . Nexstar Media Group. Associated Press. December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  4. "Panthers LB Luke Kuechly announces retirement at 28". ESPN.com . ESPN Internet Ventures. January 14, 2020. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  5. "NFL announces list of 32 compensatory draft choices". NFL. February 22, 2019.
  6. Marks, Brendan (October 6, 2019). "'I'm just very fortunate.' Emotional Ron Rivera becomes winningest coach in team history". The Charlotte Observer . The McClatchy Company. Retrieved October 6, 2019.