2017 Carolina Panthers season

The 2017 season was the Carolina Panthers' 23rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their seventh under head coach Ron Rivera. During the offseason, the team's notable free agent signings included Matt Kalil, Captain Munnerlyn and veteran Julius Peppers. Peppers previously spent his first eight seasons with the Panthers, appearing in Super Bowl XXXVIII with them. On July 17, 2017, the team announced Dave Gettleman had been relieved as general manager. His predecessor, Marty Hurney, was hired as interim general manager a day later. For the first time since 2011, the Panthers did not play the Seattle Seahawks during the regular season. The Panthers rebounded after a disappointing 2016 campaign, where they were the defending NFC champions but finished 6–10 and last in the NFC South. 2017 saw the Panthers qualify for the playoffs with an 11–5 record. However, they lost to the Saints 31–26 in the Wild Card round.

The Panthers would not make the playoffs again until 2025. However, this remains the most recent winning season for the Panthers.

Notes

• The Panthers traded their third-round selection (No. 72 overall) and defensive end Kony Ealy to the New England Patriots for New England's second-round selection (No. 64 overall).

Owner – Jerry Richardson general manager – Marty Hurney (Interim) Senior executive scout – Don Gregory Director of player personnel – Mark Koncz Director of team administration – Rob Rogers Director of pro scouting – Matt Allen Director of college scouting – Jeff Morrow Director of college scouting – Eric Stokes National scout – Mike Szabo Director of football operations – Bryan Porter Assistant director of football operations – Mike Anderson Director of player development – Mark Carrier Executive assistant to the head coach – Linda O'Hora Head coaches

Head coach – Ron Rivera Offensive coaches

Offensive coordinator – Mike Shula Quarterbacks – Ken Dorsey Assistant quarterbacks – Cameron Turner Running backs – Jim Skipper Wide receivers – Lance Taylor Assistant wide receivers – Jerricho Cotchery Tight ends – Pete Hoener Running game coordinator – John Matsko Offensive line – Ray Brown | | | Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Steve Wilks Defensive line – Eric Washington Assistant defensive line – Sam Mills III Linebackers – Al Holcomb Secondary – Curtis Fuller Defensive backs/nickels – Jeff Imamura Assistant defensive backs/safeties – Richard Rodgers Sr. Special teams coaches

Special teams coordinator – Thomas McGaughey Assistant special teams – Chase Blackburn Strength and conditioning

Strength and conditioning – Joe Kenn Assistant strength and conditioning – Jason Benguche |

40 Alex Armah FB 34 Cameron Artis-Payne 22 Christian McCaffrey 28 Jonathan Stewart 43 Fozzy Whittaker Wide receivers (WR)

11 Brenton Bersin 12 Kaelin Clay 14 Mose Frazier 17 Devin Funchess 19 Russell Shepard Tight ends (TE)

84 Ed Dickson 82 Chris Manhertz 88 Greg Olsen | | Offensive linemen (OL) 75 Matt Kalil T 67 Ryan Kalil C 69 Tyler Larsen C 72 Taylor Moton T 68 Andrew Norwell G 65 Amini Silatolu G 70 Trai Turner G 73 Greg Van Roten G 60 Daryl Williams T Defensive linemen (DL)

97 Mario Addison DE 92 Vernon Butler DT 91 Bryan Cox DE 96 Wes Horton DE 95 Charles Johnson DE 98 Star Lotulelei DT 93 Kyle Love DT 77 Zach Moore DE 90 Julius Peppers DE 99 Kawann Short DT | | Linebackers (LB) 58 Thomas Davis OLB 57 Andrew Gachkar OLB 53 Ben Jacobs OLB 59 Luke Kuechly MLB 55 David Mayo MLB 54 Shaq Thompson OLB Defensive backs (DB)

29 Mike Adams SS 24 James Bradberry CB 31 Jairus Byrd SS 20 Kurt Coleman FS 23 LaDarius Gunter CB 42 Colin Jones FS 41 Captain Munnerlyn CB 27 Kevon Seymour CB 26 Daryl Worley CB Special teams (ST)

 9 Graham Gano K 44 J. J. Jansen LS  5 Michael Palardy P | | Practice squad 16 Rasheed Bailey WR 85 Evan Baylis TE 49 Richie Brown LB 76 Blaine Clausell T  8 Austin Duke WR 15 Jamaal Jones WR 71 Efe Obada DE (Int.) 25 Damian Parms SS 33 Zack Sanchez CB 37 Dezmen Southward SS 86 Kent Taylor TE Reserve

18 Damiere Byrd WR (IR) 36 Demetrious Cox SS (IR) 35 Corn Elder CB (IR) 71 Dan France T (IR) 94 Daeshon Hall DE (IR) 79 Drew Iddings DT (IR) 12 Charles Johnson WR (IR) 32 Cole Luke CB (IR) 52 Jared Norris OLB (IR)  2 Fred Ross WR (IR) 10 Curtis Samuel WR (IR) 80 Scott Simonson TE (IR) 74 John Theus T (IR) 21 Teddy Williams CB (IR) 61 David Yankey G (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 15 reserve, 11 practice squad |

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

The Panthers started off their season by making their first return to Levi's Stadium since losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Late in the first quarter Cam Newton threw a 40-yard touchdown to Russell Sheppard followed by a Graham Gano field goal. The Panthers scored six more points in the second quarter with two field goals. In the third Jonathan Stewart scored a touchdown, followed by another Gano field goal. With 3:14 left to go in the third quarter, Gano made his third field goal of the day making the score 23–0. Robbie Gould's kick with thirteen seconds to go gave the 49ers their first points of the game. Neither the Panthers or 49ers scored in the fourth quarter, resulting in Carolina defeating San Francisco 23–3. They improved to 1–0.

In the Panthers home opener, Carolina's defense allowed only three points for the second straight week, and Graham Gano converted three field goals as the Panthers held on to defeat the Buffalo Bills 9–3 to remain undefeated. With seconds remaining in the game, Tyrod Taylor's 4th-and-11 pass sailed off diving rookie Zay Jones' fingertips, costing them the game winning touchdown. The Panthers improved to 2–0.

The Saints were too much for the Panthers as they handed them their first loss of the season, 34–13. The Panthers fell to 2–1.

In the first quarter, both Carolina and New England managed to only kick field goals. New England scored the first touchdown in the second quarter. Carolina answered with a touchdown by Fozzy Whittaker which tied the game again. The Patriots later scored with another Stephen Gostkowski field goal. Devin Funchess caught a ten-yard pass from Newton to give the Panthers a 17–13 lead. With four seconds remaining in the half Gostkowski kicked a 58-yard field goal, making the halftime score 17–16. Carolina had the only score in the third quarter with a Funchess touchdown but Gano missed the extra point. The Panthers started the fourth quarter with Cam Newton rushing for a touchdown, increasing the lead to 30–16. New England managed to score twice, tying the game at 30. With seconds left, Graham Gano kicked the game winning field goal. The Panthers won 33–30 (their first win in Foxborough since 1995) and improved to 3–1, which would also be their record against the Patriots since losing to them in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.

Carolina and Detroit were tied with 3 points apiece at the end of the first quarter. Early in the second, the Lions scored a touchdown, making the score 3–10. The Panthers answered back with a Christian McCaffery touchdown, tying the game again. Devin Funchess scored a touchdown towards the end of the quarter, giving the Panthers a 17–10 lead. The Panthers started the second half with Cam Newton throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin. Gano later made a 44-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27–10 going into the fourth quarter. Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown a pass to Fells, cutting the Panthers lead to 27–17. The Lions scored again with another Fells touchdown. The Panthers held on and won 27–24, improving to 4–1.

On Thursday Night Football, both teams wore their Color Rush uniforms. The Eagles beat the Panthers 28–23, and Carolina fell to 4–2.

The Panthers lost for a second straight week by managing to score only one field goal in Chicago. The Bears beat Carolina 17–3, and they fell to 4–3.

The Panthers bounced back after a two-week losing streak, and beat their division rivals 17–3. Carolina improved to 5–3.

This was the Panthers' first game without wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who was traded to Buffalo days earlier. In this game, neither team scored in the same quarter. The Falcons were the only team to score in the first quarter, and led 10–0 going into the second. It was vice versa in the second, as Carolina scored two touchdowns for a four-point lead at the half. Atlanta was scoreless again in the third but Carolina scored on two Graham Gano field goals, making it 20–10. Atlanta had the only score of the fourth quarter, but Carolina survived and won 20–17. Their record improved to 6–3.

In this Monday Night Football game, the Panthers beat the Dolphins 45–21 and improved to 7–3.

In the first quarter Carolina and New York scored only a field goal each. In the second quarter, Cam Newton scored a 1-yard touchdown but Graham Gano missed the extra point. Gano redeemed himself with another field goal, giving the Panthers a nine-point lead. Robby Anderson caught a 33-yard pass from Josh McCown, plus the extra point from Chandler Catanzaro, and Carolina led, 12–10. In the third New York scored a touchdown, and Jets led by 17–12. But Carolina answered with a Jonathan Stewart touchdown and took an 18–17 lead. Early in the fourth Catanzaro kicked a field goal, putting the Jets back on top, 20–18. Later the Panthers blitzed McCown and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Luke Kuechly who recovered it for a 34-yard touchdown. The Jets punted after their next drive fizzled and Kaelin Clay returned it 60 yards, making the score 32–20. Jermaine Kearse scored a touchdown for the Jets, and Catanzaro's extra point cut the Panthers' lead to 5. With 0:21 to go in the fourth quarter, Gano kicked a field goal and Carolina won by a final score of 35–27. The Panthers record improved to 8–3 and they swept the AFC East. Their win knocked the Jets and Giants out of playoff contention.

The Panthers and Saints were tied at 7–7 going into the second quarter. Mark Ingram II scored a touchdown with a Wil Lutz extra point, and the Saints led by seven. The Saintsd score again to lead by 14. At the end of the second Christian McCaffery scored a touchdown, and with the extra point by Graham Gano, Carolina was down by seven at the half. Alvin Kamara scored a touchdown (Lutz kick) in the third, again increasing New Orleans' lead to 14 points. In the fourth quarter New Orleans scored 3 and Carolina scored 7. The Saints were too much for Carolina and won 31–21. Carolina fell to 8–4.

In a game featuring two of the NFC's best teams, Carolina was able to hold off the Vikings and win 31–24. The Panthers improved to 9–4.

The Panthers spoiled Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' return by intercepting three passes and winning 31–24. They also improved to 10–4, finishing 3-1 against the NFC North. A few hours after the game ended, owner Jerry Richardson announced he was putting the Panthers up for sale. This marked Carolina's last win over Green Bay until 2025.

With the close win, the Panthers clinched a playoff spot for the fourth time in five years. They also improved to 11–4 (3-2 against the NFC South) and finished 6-2 at home.

The Panthers went to Atlanta with a chance to win the NFC South. If Tampa Bay beat New Orleans and Carolina won, the Panthers would win the title. Despite Tampa's victory over the Saints, the Panthers lost 22–10, making the Saints NFC South champions. The Panthers ended the regular season 11–5 and 3-3 against the NFC South. They also finished 5-3 on the road.

Carolina looked to beat New Orleans for the first time all season. Carolina's defense played better than in the past games, holding the Saints dynamic running backs to under 100 yards combined. Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw a crucial interception late, but the Panthers comeback fell just short and they lost 26–31. The Panthers ended the Wild Card Weekend with an 11–6 record. This would be their last playoff game until 2025.

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