1996 Carolina Panthers season

1996 Carolina Panthers season
Head coach Dom Capers
General manager Bill Polian
Owner Jerry Richardson
Home field Ericsson Stadium
Results
Record 12–4
Division place 1st NFC West
Playoff finish Won Divisional Playoffs
(Cowboys) 26–17
Lost Conference Championship
(Packers) 30–13

The 1996 Carolina Panthers season was the second season for the team in the National Football League. They improved upon their 7–9 record in 1995, and made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The Panthers would be a huge surprise, as it would turn out, as the Panthers won their last seven games of the season[1] to finish the season with a 12–4 record. The result was that the Panthers won the NFC West, and had a first round bye in the 1996 NFL Playoffs. The Panthers would then beat the Dallas Cowboys 26–17 before falling 30–13 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

The Panthers did not return to the playoffs until 2003.

Offseason

Unrestricted free agents signed:

Unrestricted free agents lost:

NFL Draft

1996 Carolina Panthers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 8 Tim Biakabutuka  Running back Michigan
2 43 Muhsin Muhammad *  Wide receiver Michigan State
3 73 Winslow Oliver  Running back New Mexico
3 88 J. C. Price  Defensive tackle Virginia Tech
4 104 Norberto Davidds-Garrido  Offensive tackle USC
4 111 Emmanuel McDaniel  Cornerback East Carolina
5 142 Marquette Smith  Running back Central Florida
6 193 Scott Greene  Running back Michigan State
7 217 Donnell Baker  Wide receiver Southern
7 234 Kerry Hicks  Defensive end Colorado
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Personnel

Staff

1996 Carolina Panthers staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Chip Morton
  • Strength and Conditioning Assistant – Greg Roman

[3]

Roster

1996 Carolina Panthers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • 90 Tim Colston NT
  • 68 Bucky Greeley C


Rookies in italics
 53 Active, 3 Inactive, 2 Practice squad

Schedule

Regular season

Week Date Opponent Results Game site Attendance TV Time (EDT) Game Weather
Final score Team record
1 September 1 Atlanta Falcons W 29–6 1–0 Ericsson Stadium
69,522
 FOX 1:00pm 72 degrees/partly cloudy
2 September 8 at New Orleans Saints W 22–20 2–0 Louisiana Superdome
43,288
 FOX 1:00pm Indoors
3 Bye
4 September 22 San Francisco 49ers W 23–7 3–0 Ericsson Stadium
72,224
 FOX 1:00pm 69 degrees/clear
5 September 29 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 14–24 3–1 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
71,537
 FOX 1:00pm 81 degrees/partly cloudy
6 October 6 at Minnesota Vikings L 12–14 3–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
60,894
 FOX 1:00pm Indoors
7 October 13 St. Louis Rams W 45–13 4–2 Ericsson Stadium
70,535
 FOX 1:00pm 56 degrees/partly sunny
8 October 20 New Orleans Saints W 19–7 5–2 Ericsson Stadium
70,888
 FOX 1:00pm 51 degrees/partly sunny
9 October 27 at Philadelphia Eagles L 9–20 5–3 Veterans Stadium
65,982
 FOX 1:00pm 59 degrees/partly cloudy
10 November 3 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–20 5–4 Georgia Dome
42,726
 FOX 1:00pm Indoors
11 November 10 New York Giants W 27–17 6–4 Ericsson Stadium
70,298
 ESPN 8:00pm 38 degrees/clear
12 November 17 at St. Louis Rams W 20–10 7–4 Trans World Dome
60,652
 FOX 1:00pm Indoors
13 November 24 at Houston Oilers W 31–6 8–4 Astrodome
20,107
 FOX 1:00pm Indoors
14 December 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–0 9–4 Ericsson Stadium
57,623
 FOX 1:00pm 58 degrees/rain
15 December 8 at San Francisco 49ers W 30–24 10–4 3Com Park
66,291
 FOX 4:05pm 59 degrees/cloudy
16 December 15 Baltimore Ravens W 27–16 11–4 Ericsson Stadium
70,075
 NBC 1:00pm 46 degrees/sunny
17 December 22 Pittsburgh Steelers W 18–14 12–4 Ericsson Stadium
72,217
 NBC 1:00pm 33 degrees/sunny
NOTE: Division games are in bold text.

Postseason

Week Date Opponent Results Game site Attendance
Final score Team record
Wild Card Bye
Divisional January 5, 1997 Dallas Cowboys W 26–17 13–4 Ericsson Stadium
72,808
Conference January 12, 1997 Green Bay Packers L 13–30 13–5 Lambeau Field
60,216

Standings

NFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Carolina Panthers 12 4 0 .750 367 218 W7
(4) San Francisco 49ers 12 4 0 .750 398 257 W2
St. Louis Rams 6 10 0 .375 303 409 W2
Atlanta Falcons 3 13 0 .188 309 461 L2
New Orleans Saints 3 13 0 .188 229 339 L1

Regular season results

Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Kerry Collins started for the Panthers and threw two touchdowns while John Kasay booted five field goals as the Falcons were crushed 29–6.

Week 2: at New Orleans Saints

Acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Steve Beuerlein did not throw a single pass, instead rushing three times for a net loss of ten yards; Kerry Collins handled the quarterbacking duties, throwing for 171 yards and one pick while Jim Everett threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. This game, though, was a battle of field goals; following an 84-yard Winslow Oliver punt return touchdown John Kasay provided the rest of Carolina's offense with five field goals, two of them 51-yarders, for a 22–20 Panthers win.

Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers

The first sign that perennial NFC West champion San Francisco was in for a serious season-long fight with Carolina came as both 2–0 teams clashed at Ericsson Stadium. Steve Beuerlein started and threw for 290 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick; a second pick was called back on a Niners holding call. The Panthers controlled the game from the opening kick as Steve Young was sacked four times and picked off in the fourth quarter by Brett Maxie; Willie Green and Merton Hanks also spent the day jawing at each other following Green catches, ultimately finishing up in a 23–7 Carolina win.

Week 5: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Former Jaguars quarterback Steve Beuerlein was knocked out of the game after being sacked five times. Kerry Collins managed a touchdown throw but the Jaguars sealed the 24–14 win by recovering a late onside kick.

Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings

Two Warren Moon touchdown throws were enough for the Vikings as they edged the Panthers 14–12. Anthony Johnson ran in a four-yard touchdown and the Panthers blocked a Vikings punt out of the endzone for a safety, but could manage no closer than the 14–12 final.

Week 7: vs. St. Louis Rams

The Panthers erupted to over 30 points for the first time in their short history as they hammered the 1–4 Rams. Anthony Johnson rushed for 126 yards and Kerry Collins threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns, while Michael Bates added a 93-yard kickoff-return score. Tony Banks was pounded all day, fumbling to Kevin Greene for a 66-yard touchdown and then getting crushed by Panthers defenders as he unloaded a pass picked off by Chad Cota. The Panthers rocked to a 45–17 win.

Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints

The Panthers rolled to a 19–7 win, but the story of the game turned out to be a postgame interview with Saints coach Jim Mora, who ripped the team by saying, "We couldn't do diddley poo offensively" in a tirade that became one of the most famous soundbites in sports history.

Week 9: at Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles Ty Detmer delivered 342 passing yards and a touchdown and also got into a brief scrum with Lamar Lathon of the Panthers after a sack. Irving Fryar led the Eagles offense with 143 receiving yards on seven catches as the Eagles won 20–9.

Week 10: at Atlanta Falcons

The winless Falcons recorded their first win of the season as they sacked Panthers quarterbacks six times and Bobby Hebert tossed a 15-yard score to J. J. Birden. Steve Beuerlein replaced Kerry Collins late in the game and found Mark Carrier from 12-yards out in the fourth quarter; it was not enough to prevent a 20–17 Falcons win.

Week 11: vs. New York Giants

The Panthers began an eight-game winning streak by erasing a 14–7 first-quarter gap. They intercepted New York Dave Brown three times and outscored the Giants 20–3 after the first quarter.

Week 12: at St. Louis Rams

Panthers quarterback Steve Beuerlein and Rams quarterback Tony Banks combined for just 290 passing yards. Beuerlein got the better of the duel with a seven-yard score to Anthony Johnson in a 20–10 Panthers win.

Week 13: at Houston Oilers

Beuerlein torched the 6–6 Oilers with three touchdown throws, to Willie Green and Wesley Walls in a 31–6 Panthers win. Chris Chandler and sophomore Steve McNair each had an interception and the Oilers also fumbled twice.

Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kerry Collins started and needed only 83 passing yards as the Panthers hammered the Bucs 24–0. Trent Dilfer threw two picks and Shawn King grabbed a Bucs fumble and scored.

Week 15: at San Francisco 49ers

The Panthers effectively ended San Francisco's hopes of another division title in a matchup of two of the league's best defenses. The two defenses, however, got crushed by offense. The Panthers raced to a 10–0 lead in the first quarter but Steve Young found Brent Jones for a 10–7 score; the second quarter was a points explosion as Kerry Collins connected with Willie Green and ex-Niner Wesley Walls while Young found rookie Terrell Owens from 46 yards out; at the half the Panthers led 27–17. Jerry Rice's five-yard touchdown catch in the fourth was the closest the Niners came to the Panthers as Young was picked off twice and the Niners fumbled two more times; they also were hit with 14 penalties and 121 yards. Carolina thus finished a season sweep 30–24; Collins and Young combined for 620 passing yards.

Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Despite two interceptions Kerry Collins threw for 268 yards and two second half scores, erasing a 13–10 Ravens halftime lead in a 27–16 win. Anthony Johnson's 81 rushing yards accounted for all but one of the Panthers yards on the ground.

Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Steelers coach Dom Capers and former Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene greeted Bill Cowher and his AFC Central champions for the regular-season finale. After a Wesley Walls touchdown catch Mike Tomczak was hit in the endzone; he threw the ball before going down but it was ruled intentional grounding, for a Panthers safety. Kordell Stewart ran in an 80-yard touchdown, but in the fourth down 18–14 the Steelers choked on a procedure penalty and then a Chad Cota interception in the endzone. The moment of the year, though, came in the second quarter on a Panthers punt; the ball fell into the endzone and the mascot Sir Purr jumped on the ball even though it was still live; Cowher was laughing hard at the miscue and Sir Purr was listed as having one punt return for zero yards.

Postseason results

NFC Divisional Playoff

Carolina Panthers 26, Dallas Cowboys 17
1 2 34Total
Cowboys 3 8 3317
Panthers 7 10 3626

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

The second-year Panthers held Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman to 165 passing yards and forced three interceptions en route to their first playoff win in team history. Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin was knocked out of the game on its second play on a hard hit by Lamar Lathon; the hit broke Irvin's collarbone. On offense, running back Anthony Johnson was their top performer with 104 rushing yards and a 9-yard reception. Dallas scored first on kicker Chris Boniol's 22-yard field goal, but wide receiver Michael Irvin was knocked out of the game with a separated shoulder. Carolina quarterback Kerry Collins then threw two touchdown passes, a 1-yarder to tight end Wesley Walls and a 10-yarder to wide receiver Willie Green. The Cowboys countered with a 73-yard drive to score on Aikman's 2-yard touchdown pass to Daryl Johnston, but they failed on the extra point attempt and the Panthers lead was only cut to 14–9. A bad snap on a Carolina punt attempt went out of the end zone to give the Cowboys a safety. But Panthers safety Chad Cota intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards to set up kicker John Kasay's 24-yard field goal with three seconds in the half, giving Carolina a 17–11 halftime lead. The second half was a battle of field goals with Kasey kicking 3 over Boniol's 2. In the final minutes of the fourth penalties on Tyrone Poole kept a Cowboys drive alive, until Aikman was intercepted by Pat Terrell; the subsequent Kasay field goal ended all hopes for the Cowboys in the 26–17 Carolina win.

NFC Championship

Green Bay Packers 30, Carolina Panthers 13
1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 3 3013
Packers 0 17 10330

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

The Packers recorded 201 rushing yards and 476 total yards of offense. Green Bay running back Dorsey Levens recorded 117 yards receiving and 88 yards rushing, including a 29-yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Brett Favre managed to overcome two early turnovers that set up 10 Carolina points, completing 19 out of 29 passes for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. Packers running back Edgar Bennett, who recorded 99 rushing yards, scored a touchdown from 4 yards out, and kicker Chris Jacke added 3 field goals.

Early in the first quarter, Panthers linebacker Sam Mills intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it to the Packers 3-yard line, setting up Kerry Collins' 3-yard touchdown pass to fullback Howard Griffith. Green Bay struck back with Favre's 29-yard touchdown pass to Levens, but after forcing a punt, Carolina lineman Lamar Lathon recovered a fumble from Favre on the Packers 45-yard line. A few plays later, John Kasay's 22-yard field goal put the Panthers back in the lead, 10–7.

But after that, the Packers dominated the rest of the game. Favre responded by leading Green Bay 71 yards in 15 plays and scoring with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman. Then on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, safety Tyrone Williams intercepted a pass from Collins on the Packers 38-yard line. Favre's completions to Andre Rison and Freeman for gains of 23 and 25 yards moved the ball into field goal range, and Jacke's 31-yard field goal finished the drive, giving Green Bay a 17–10 halftime lead.

On the first drive of the second half, Green Bay moved the ball 73 yards in 11 plays and scored with another Jacke field goal. The Panthers managed to respond with an 11-play, 73-yard drive of their own and score with Kasay's second field goal, which cut their deficit to 7 points. But Green Bay stormed right back with a 74-yard touchdown drive, featuring a 66-yard reception by Levens. On the next play, Bennett's 4-yard touchdown run gave the Packers a 27–13 lead with two minutes left in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Jacke's third field goal put the game out of reach.

Awards and records

References

  1. 1 2 NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.92
  2. ↑ "1996 Carolina Panthers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Assistant Coaches". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
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