1996 Carolina Panthers season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Carolina Panthers 1996 12–4 1st NFC West Dom Capers Joe Pendry Vic Fangio Bill Polian Jerry Richardson Ericsson Stadium Won Divisional Playoffs(vs. Cowboys) 26–17Lost NFC Championship(at Packers) 13–30 TE Wesley WallsQB Kerry CollinsWR Michael BatesLB Sam MillsLB Kevin GreeneLB Lamar LathonCB Eric DavisK John Kasay MLB Sam Mills 1st teamOLB Kevin Greene 1st teamOLB Lamar Lathon 1st & 2nd teamKR Michael Bates 1st teamTE Wesley Walls 2nd teamK John Kasay 2nd team Panthers seasons thumb | right | alt=A wordmark featuring the words “Carolina Panthers” in a stylised blue font with a navy shadow | The word mark of Carolina Panthers between 1996 and 2011 The 1996 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League, the second under head coach Dom Capers, and the first at Ericsson Stadium. They improved upon their 7–9 record in 1995, and made it to the playoffs in just their second season of operation. The Panthers would prove a huge surprise in winning their last seven games of the seasonNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book Workman Publishing Co New York, NY 0-7611-2480-2 92 to finish 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 in the NFC Championship. The Panthers did not return to the playoffs until 2003, when they would make their first Super Bowl but lost to the New England Patriots. Offseason Additions Subtractions QB Steve Beuerlein (Jaguars) RB Derrick Moore (Lions) LB Duane Bickett (Seahawks) DE Shawn Price (Bills) CB Eric Davis (49ers) QB Frank Reich (Jets) LB Kevin Greene (Steelers) CB Rod Smith (Vikings) T Greg Skrepenak (Raiders) TE Wesley Walls (Saints) NFL draft 1996 NFL draft 1996 Carolina Panthers 1 8 Tim Biakabutuka Running back Michigan yes 2 43 Muhsin Muhammad Wide receiver Michigan State yes yes 3 73 Winslow Oliver Running back New Mexico yes 3 88 J. C. Price Defensive tackle Virginia Tech 4 104 Norberto Davidds-Garrido Offensive tackle USC yes 4 111 Emmanuel McDaniel Cornerback East Carolina yes 5 142 Marquette Smith Running back Central Florida 6 193 Scott Greene Running back Michigan State yes 7 217 Donnell Baker Wide receiver Southern 7 234 Kerry Hicks Defensive end Colorado https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/1996_draft.htm 1996 Carolina Panthers draftees Pro-Football-Reference.com October 3, 2014 Personnel Staff 1996 Carolina Panthers Owner/founder – Jerry Richardson President – Mike McCormack General manager – Bill Polian Head coach – Dom Capers Offensive coordinator – Joe Pendry Running backs – Chick Harris Wide receivers – Richard Williamson Tight ends – Don Breaux Offensive line – Jim McNally Assistant offensive line – Blair Bush Offensive quality control – John Shoop Defensive coordinator – Vic Fangio Defensive line – Ted Gill Linebackers – Kevin Steele Outside linebackers – Billy Davis Defensive Backs (Secondary) – George Catavolos Defensive quality control – Greg Roman Special teams – Brad Seely Strength and conditioning – Chip Morton Assistant Coaches http://www.panthers.com/team/history/assistant-coaches.html Panthers.com https://web.archive.org/web/20130115220107/http://www.panthers.com/team/history/assistant-coaches.html January 15, 2013 January 3, 2014 Roster 1996 Carolina Panthers 53 3 11 Jay Barker  7 Steve Beuerlein 12 Kerry Collins 43 Scott Greene y FB 30 Howard Griffith FB 23 Anthony Johnson running back 20 Winslow Oliver y PR 32 Dino Philyaw 82 Michael Bates American football KR 83 Mark Carrier wide receiver 86 Willie Green American football 81 Rocket Ismail 87 Muhsin Muhammad y 80 Dwight Stone American football 88 Walter Rasby 89 Syii Tucker y 85 Wesley Walls 78 Blake Brockermeyer T 66 Matt Campbell offensive lineman G 76 Norberto Davidds-Garrido y T 74 Mark Dennis American football T 52 Matt Elliott American football G 65 Frank Garcia offensive lineman G 67 Brandon Hayes American football G 63 Mark Rodenhauser C/LS 75 Greg Skrepenak G 64 Curtis Whitley C 93 Mike Fox American football DE 96 Shawn King American football DE 71 Greg Kragen NT 69 Les Miller American football DE 90 Ed Philion NT 95 Mark Thomas defensive end DE 98 Gerald Williams American football DE 54 Carlton Bailey ILB 53 Myron Baker ILB 50 Duane Bickett OLB 91 Kevin Greene OLB 57 Lamar Lathon OLB 51 Sam Mills ILB 58 Andre Royal ILB 41 Toi Cook CB 37 Chad Cota SS 25 Eric Davis American football CB 29 Steve Lofton CB 39 Brett Maxie SS 26 Emmanuel McDaniel y CB 27 Damon Pieri FS 38 Tyrone Poole CB 31 Rod Smith defensive back CB 40 Pat Terrell FS  4 John Kasay K  3 Rohn Stark P 21 Tim Biakabutuka y RB IR 44 Bob Christian American football FB IR -- Jim Kubiak y QB/military reserve -- Marquette Smith RB IR 90 Tim Colston no link NT 68 Bucky Greeley C 84 Brian Wiggins WR 53 active, 4 inactive, 3 practice squad Schedule Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 1 Atlanta Falcons W 29–6 1–0 Ericsson Stadium Recap 2 September 8 at New Orleans Saints W 22–20 2–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 3 Bye 4 September 22 San Francisco 49ers W 23–7 3–0 Ericsson Stadium Recap 5 September 29 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 14–24 3–1 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap 6 October 6 at Minnesota Vikings L 12–14 3–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 7 October 13 St. Louis Rams W 45–13 4–2 Ericsson Stadium Recap 8 October 20 New Orleans Saints W 19–7 5–2 Ericsson Stadium Recap 9 October 27 at Philadelphia Eagles L 9–20 5–3 Veterans Stadium Recap 10 November 3 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–20 5–4 Georgia Dome Recap 11 November 10 New York Giants W 27–17 6–4 Ericsson Stadium Recap 12 November 17 at St. Louis Rams W 20–10 7–4 Trans World Dome Recap 13 November 24 at Houston Oilers W 31–6 8–4 Astrodome Recap 14 December 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–0 9–4 Ericsson Stadium Recap 15 December 8 at San Francisco 49ers W 30–24 10–4 3Com Park Recap 16 December 15 Baltimore Ravens W 27–16 11–4 Ericsson Stadium Recap 17 December 22 Pittsburgh Steelers W 18–14 12–4 Ericsson Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings 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 720 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. As of recently, this marks the only time in franchise history the Panthers defeated the Steelers. Postseason results 1996–97 NFL playoffs Postseason Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card Bye Divisional January 5, 1997 Dallas Cowboys (3) W 26–17 13–4 Ericsson Stadium Recap Conference January 12, 1997 Green Bay Packers (1) L 13–30 13–5 Lambeau Field Recap NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (3) Dallas Cowboys Carolina Panthers 1996 2; text-align:center NFC Divisional Playoffs: (3) Dallas Cowboys at (2) Carolina Panthers January 5, 1997 4:00 p.m. EST Cowboys 3 8 3 3 Panthers 7 10 3 6 Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina 72,808 71 °F °C, clear Johnny Grier Fox Pat Summerall and John Madden Box score First quarter DAL – Chris Boniol 22-yard field goal. Cowboys 3–0. CAR – Wesley Walls 1-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 7–3. Second quarter CAR – Willie Green 10-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 14–3. DAL – Daryl Johnston 2-yard pass from Troy Aikman (pass failed). Panthers 14–9. DAL – Carolina snap out of end zone. Panthers 14–11. CAR – John Kasay 24-yard field goal. Panthers 17–11. Third quarter DAL – Chris Boniol 21-yard field goal. Panthers 17–14. CAR – John Kasay 40-yard field goal. Panthers 20–14. Fourth quarter CAR – John Kasay 40-yard field goal. Panthers 23–14. DAL – Chris Boniol 21-yard field goal. Panthers 23–17. CAR – John Kasay 32-yard field goal. Panthers 26–17. Top passers DAL – Troy Aikman – 18/36, 165 yards, TD, 3 INT CAR – Kerry Collins – 12/22, 100 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers DAL – Emmitt Smith – 22 rushes, 80 yards CAR – Anthony Johnson – 26 rushes, 104 yards Top receivers DAL – Kevin Williams – 6 receptions, 89 yards CAR – Willie Green – 5 receptions, 53 yards, TD 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. 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: at (1) Green Bay Packers NFC Championship: (2) Carolina Panthers at (1) Green Bay Packers Carolina Panthers 1996 2; text-align:center January 12, 1997 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST Panthers 7 3 3 0 Packers 0 17 10 3 Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin 60,216 8 °F °C, clear Bob McElwee Fox Pat Summerall and John Madden Box score First quarter CAR – Howard Griffith 3-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 7–0. Second quarter GB – Dorsey Levens 29-yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick). Tied 7–7. CAR – John Kasay 22-yard field goal. Panthers 10–7. GB – Antonio Freeman 6-yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick). Packers 14–10. GB – Chris Jacke 31-yard field goal. Packers 17–10. Third quarter GB – Chris Jacke 32-yard field goal. Packers 20–10. CAR – John Kasay 23-yard field goal. Packers 20–13. GB – Edgar Bennett 4-yard run (Chris Jacke kick). Packers 27–13. Fourth quarter GB – Chris Jacke 28-yard field goal. Packers 30–13. Top passers CAR – Kerry Collins – 19/37, 215 yards, TD, 2 INT GB – Brett Favre – 19/29, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers CAR – Anthony Johnson – 11 rushes, 31 yards GB – Edgar Bennett – 25 rushes, 99 yards, TD Top receivers CAR – Mark Carrier – 4 receptions, 65 yards GB – Dorsey Levens – 5 receptions, 117 yards, TD 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 and ended the Panthers' season. Awards and records Dom Capers, NFC Coach of the Year Dom Capers, Associated Press, NFL Coach of the Year References Category:Carolina Panthers seasons Category:NFC West championship seasons Carolina Panthers Carolina Category:1990s in Charlotte, North Carolina