The
2020 season was the
Carolina Panthers' 26th in the
National Football League (NFL) and their first under
head coachMatt Rhule. The offseason saw several notable departures; quarterback
Cam Newton was released after the Panthers were unable to find a team willing to trade for him, while linebacker
Luke Kuechly announced his retirement on January 14, 2020. On December 21, 2020 the Panthers parted ways with general manager
Marty Hurney after a total of 19 seasons with the organization.
With a loss to the
Vikings in week 12, the Panthers secured their third consecutive non-winning season. After losing their first two games and winning the next three, the Panthers suffered a five-game losing streak before beating the Lions in week 11 and losing to the Vikings before their bye week. After their week 15 loss to the Packers, Carolina was eliminated from the playoffs for the third consecutive season. With the loss to the
Saints in week 17, the Panthers matched their
5–11 record from the previous season.
In the Panthers' home opener, they came close to beating the Las Vegas Raiders until a Raiders touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter. The Panthers, facing a 4th and 1 near midfield, gave the ball to FB
Alexander Armah who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, resulting in a turnover on downs; they were criticized for not giving the ball to McCaffrey. The Panthers lost 30–34 and started off the season 0–1.
Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Two: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Carolina traveled down south to Tampa Bay to face their new quarterback,
Tom Brady. It was a scoreless first half for the Panthers while Tampa Bay managed to score 21 points. In the third
Christian McCaffrey put points up on the board for Carolina. He again scored another touchdown early in the fourth decreasing the lead to seven. Soon after he left the game with a sprained ankle. Tampa Bay and Carolina then both scored field goals.
Leonard Fournette ran up the field 46 yards for a Bucs touchdown. The Buccaneers defeat the Panthers 31–17. With this loss, the Panthers suffered their second consecutive 0–2 start.
Week 3: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week Three: Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
The Panthers were able to hold off the Chargers and defeat them 21–16, improving to 1–2. With this win they snapped a 10-game losing streak dating back to week 9 of
last season.[3]
Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Four: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Cardinals
0
7
7
7
21
Panthers
14
7
7
3
31
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Panthers started the game off with scoring two touchdowns by
Mike Davis and
Teddy Bridgewater in the first quarter. In the second Arizona's
Patrick Peterson intercepted a pass intended for
Ian Thomas.
Kyler Murray threw a three-yard pass to
Jordan Thomas resulting in a Cardinals touchdown. Kyler Murray fumbles the ball in the third quarter and it was recovered by Carolina. The Panthers score with another Ian Thomas touchdown. Arizona answers back with a touchdown.
Joey Slye kicks a field goal for Carolina, and
Chase Edmonds scores a touchdown for Arizona in the fourth. Panthers win 31–21 and improve to 2–2.
Ahead of this matchup, the Panthers announced that they would be deploying robotic technology to disinfect areas around their stadium and locker room as an effort to keep fans and players safe from
COVID-19.[4]
Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Five: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
It was another close one for the Panthers but they ended up losing to Saints 24–27 after Joey Slye missed a tying field goal, and fall to 3–4. This was quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater's first return to New Orleans since leaving the team via free agency during the offseason.
Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Eight: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
6
10
3
6
25
Panthers
7
7
3
0
17
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
In the final minutes of the game, the Panthers had a 27–21 lead over Minnesota. However, Kirk Cousins threw the game-winning touchdown with 46 seconds left.
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Fourteen: Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
6
7
12
7
32
Panthers
0
7
3
17
27
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
^
abNew Orleans finished ahead of Seattle based on conference record.
^
abChicago finished and clinched the 7th and final playoff spot ahead of Arizona based on better win percentage in common games (against Detroit, the NY Giants, Carolina, and the LA Rams, Chicago finished 3–2, while Arizona finished 1–4).
^
abSan Francisco finished ahead of the NY Giants based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Dallas (see below).
^
abNY Giants won tiebreaker over Dallas based on division record.
^
abCarolina finished ahead of Detroit 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.
The
2020 season was the
Carolina Panthers' 26th in the
National Football League (NFL) and their first under
head coachMatt Rhule. The offseason saw several notable departures; quarterback
Cam Newton was released after the Panthers were unable to find a team willing to trade for him, while linebacker
Luke Kuechly announced his retirement on January 14, 2020. On December 21, 2020 the Panthers parted ways with general manager
Marty Hurney after a total of 19 seasons with the organization.
With a loss to the
Vikings in week 12, the Panthers secured their third consecutive non-winning season. After losing their first two games and winning the next three, the Panthers suffered a five-game losing streak before beating the Lions in week 11 and losing to the Vikings before their bye week. After their week 15 loss to the Packers, Carolina was eliminated from the playoffs for the third consecutive season. With the loss to the
Saints in week 17, the Panthers matched their
5–11 record from the previous season.
In the Panthers' home opener, they came close to beating the Las Vegas Raiders until a Raiders touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter. The Panthers, facing a 4th and 1 near midfield, gave the ball to FB
Alexander Armah who was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, resulting in a turnover on downs; they were criticized for not giving the ball to McCaffrey. The Panthers lost 30–34 and started off the season 0–1.
Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Two: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Carolina traveled down south to Tampa Bay to face their new quarterback,
Tom Brady. It was a scoreless first half for the Panthers while Tampa Bay managed to score 21 points. In the third
Christian McCaffrey put points up on the board for Carolina. He again scored another touchdown early in the fourth decreasing the lead to seven. Soon after he left the game with a sprained ankle. Tampa Bay and Carolina then both scored field goals.
Leonard Fournette ran up the field 46 yards for a Bucs touchdown. The Buccaneers defeat the Panthers 31–17. With this loss, the Panthers suffered their second consecutive 0–2 start.
Week 3: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week Three: Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
The Panthers were able to hold off the Chargers and defeat them 21–16, improving to 1–2. With this win they snapped a 10-game losing streak dating back to week 9 of
last season.[3]
Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Four: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Cardinals
0
7
7
7
21
Panthers
14
7
7
3
31
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
The Panthers started the game off with scoring two touchdowns by
Mike Davis and
Teddy Bridgewater in the first quarter. In the second Arizona's
Patrick Peterson intercepted a pass intended for
Ian Thomas.
Kyler Murray threw a three-yard pass to
Jordan Thomas resulting in a Cardinals touchdown. Kyler Murray fumbles the ball in the third quarter and it was recovered by Carolina. The Panthers score with another Ian Thomas touchdown. Arizona answers back with a touchdown.
Joey Slye kicks a field goal for Carolina, and
Chase Edmonds scores a touchdown for Arizona in the fourth. Panthers win 31–21 and improve to 2–2.
Ahead of this matchup, the Panthers announced that they would be deploying robotic technology to disinfect areas around their stadium and locker room as an effort to keep fans and players safe from
COVID-19.[4]
Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Five: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
It was another close one for the Panthers but they ended up losing to Saints 24–27 after Joey Slye missed a tying field goal, and fall to 3–4. This was quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater's first return to New Orleans since leaving the team via free agency during the offseason.
Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Eight: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
6
10
3
6
25
Panthers
7
7
3
0
17
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
In the final minutes of the game, the Panthers had a 27–21 lead over Minnesota. However, Kirk Cousins threw the game-winning touchdown with 46 seconds left.
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Week Fourteen: Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
6
7
12
7
32
Panthers
0
7
3
17
27
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
^
abNew Orleans finished ahead of Seattle based on conference record.
^
abChicago finished and clinched the 7th and final playoff spot ahead of Arizona based on better win percentage in common games (against Detroit, the NY Giants, Carolina, and the LA Rams, Chicago finished 3–2, while Arizona finished 1–4).
^
abSan Francisco finished ahead of the NY Giants based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Dallas (see below).
^
abNY Giants won tiebreaker over Dallas based on division record.
^
abCarolina finished ahead of Detroit 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.