The 2007 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 13th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the team's 11th season at Bank of America Stadium. They failed to improve upon their 8–8 record in 2006, finishing at 7–9 and missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
2007 NFL draft
Staff
Roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 11 at New York Giants W 24–21 1–0 Giants Stadium 2 August 17 at Philadelphia Eagles L 10–27 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field 3 August 24 New England Patriots L 7–24 1–2 Bank of America Stadium 4 August 30 Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–19 1–3 Bank of America Stadium
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 9 at St. Louis Rams W 27–13 1–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap 2 September 16 Houston Texans L 21–34 1–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap 3 September 23 at Atlanta Falcons W 27–20 2–1 Georgia Dome Recap 4 September 30Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 7–20 2–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 5 October 7 at New Orleans Saints W 16–13 3–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap 6 October 14 at Arizona Cardinals W 25–10 4–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 7 Bye 8 October 28 Indianapolis Colts L 7–31 4–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 9 November 4 at Tennessee Titans L 7–20 4–4 LP Field Recap 10 November 11 Atlanta Falcons L 13–20 4–5 Bank of America Stadium Recap 11 November 18 at Green Bay Packers L 17–31 4–6 Lambeau Field Recap 12 November 25 New Orleans Saints L 6–31 4–7 Bank of America Stadium Recap 13 December 2 San Francisco 49ers W 31–14 5–7 Bank of America Stadium Recap 14 December 9 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 6–37 5–8 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap 15 December 16 Seattle Seahawks W 13–10 6–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap 16 Dallas Cowboys L 13–20 6–9 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 December 30 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–23 7–9 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: at St. Louis Rams
The Panthers began their 2007 campaign on the road against the St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first with QB Jake Delhomme completing a 10-yard TD pass to WR Drew Carter. Afterwards, the Rams would tie the game with QB Marc Bulger completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt. In the second quarter, St. Louis would lead at halftime on a 42-yard field goal by kicker Jeff Wilkins.
In the third quarter, the Rams increased their lead with Wilkins kicking a 28-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Panthers retook the lead with Delhomme completing a 68-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. In the fourth quarter, Carolina took control for the rest of the game with kicker John Kasay nailing a 34-yard field goal, Delhomme & Carter hooking up with each other again on a 9-yard TD pass, and Kasay wrapping up the game with a 32-yard field goal.
With the win, the Panthers began their year at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Coming off their road win over the Rams, the Panthers would play their Week 2 homeopener against the Houston Texans. In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first with QB Jake Delhomme hooking up with WR Steve Smith on a 7-yard TD pass and a 12-yard TD pass. The Texans would respond with QB Matt Schaub completing a 31-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson. In the second quarter, Houston continued its pounding with Schaub and Johnson hooking up with each other again on a 9-yard TD pass, along with kicker Kris Brown's 25-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Panthers continued to struggle as Texans RB Ahman Green got a 13-yard TD run, while Carolina FB Nick Goings fumbled during a kickoff return. The ball would roll into the endzone, where Houston WR Kevin Walter would land on it for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Texans would put the game well out of reach with Brown's 33-yard field goal. The Panthers tried to get a comeback with Delhomme and Smith hooking up with each other on an amazing 74-yard TD pass, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
With the loss, Carolina fell to 1–1.
Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons
Trying to rebound from their home loss to the Texans, the Panther flew to the Georgia Dome for an NFC South duel with the Atlanta Falcons. After a scoreless first quarter, Carolina scored first in the second quarter with kicker John Kasay hitting a 45-yard field goal. The Falcons took the lead with QB Joey Harrington completing a 69-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White. The Panthers followed up with QB Jake Delhomme completing a 13-yard TD pass to RB DeShaun Foster. Atlanta would end the half with kicker Morten Andersen hitting a 24-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Falcons took the lead as Harrington completed a 13-yard TD pass to TE Alge Crumpler. Carolina retook the lead with Delhomme completing a 5-yard TD pass to TE Jeff King, followed by a 10-yard TD run from Foster. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers scored again, with Kasay kicking a 49-yard field goal. The Falcons' Andersen nailed a 25-yard field goal to end the scoring.
The game was noteworthy because of DeAngelo Hall's third quarter meltdown, wherein he was assessed 67 yards of penalties in a single drive. The penalties included a 37-yard pass interference penalty for tackling WR Steve Smith before the ball arrived, a 15-yard personal foul on the following play for blocking Smith at the line, and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during a verbal exchange with Smith following a third-down sack by John Abraham. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Carolina a first down, allowing their eventual TD to King rather than the likely 45-yard field goal attempt had the penalty not been called. Following the series, Hall was seen arguing with coaches on the sidelines, leading to a $100,000 fine by the team.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coming off a divisional road win over the Falcons, the Panthers went home, donned their alternate uniforms, and prepared for another NFC South fight, as Carolina dueled with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the division lead on the line. With QB Jake Delhomme unable to start with an elbow injury on his throwing arm, QB David Carr was given the start. In the first quarter, the Panthers struggled as Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia got a 3-yard TD run, while RB Earnest Graham got a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Carolina continued to struggle as kicker Matt Bryant got a 25-yard field goal for the only score of the period.
After a scoreless third quarter, Tampa Bay sealed the win with Bryant nailing a 38-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Panthers would get their only score of the game with Carr completing a 24-yard TD pass to RB DeAngelo Williams.
With their 4th straight home loss, Carolina fell to 2–2. Scoring summary Q Team Time Scoring play Score 1 TB 8:43 Garcia 3-yard TD run (Bryant kick) TB 7–0 1 TB 0:48 Graham 1-yard TD run (Bryant kick) TB 14–0 2 TB 6:41 Bryant 25-yard FG TB 17–0 4 TB 10:21 Bryant 38-yard FG TB 20–0 4 Car 8:01 24-yard TD pass from Carr to Williams (Kasay kick) TB 20–7
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints
Trying to rebound from their divisional home loss to the Buccaneers, the Panthers flew to the Louisiana Superdome for a Week 5 divisional duel with the winless New Orleans Saints. With QB Jake Delhomme out and done for the year with a right elbow injury, QB David Carr was given the start.
In the first quarter, Carolina took the early lead with kicker John Kasay getting a 23-yard field goal. The Saints responded with kicker Olindo Mare getting a 25-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Panthers went back into the lead with Kasay nailing a 35-yard field goal. New Orleans would respond with Mare kicking a 28-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Carolina trailed as Saints FB Mike Karney got a 2-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers tied the game with Carr completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. Afterwards, Carolina sealed the win in the final seconds with Kasay nailing a 52-yard field goal as time ran out.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 3–2.
Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals
Coming off their divisional road win over the Saints, the Panthers flew to the University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 6 throwdown with the Arizona Cardinals With David Carr recovering from injuries, recently signed QB Vinny Testaverde got the start.
In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first with kicker John Kasay getting a 33-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Panthers increased its lead with Kasay kicking a 43-yard field goal. The Cardinals would get on the board with RB Edgerrin James getting a 23-yard TD run. In the third quarter, Carolina responded with Kasay getting a 24-yard field goal, yet Arizona answered with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 50-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Testaverde completed a 65-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith, increasing his consecutive seasons with a touchdown pass record to 21-straight. Afterwards, the Panthers sealed the win with Kasay nailing a 45-yard field goal, while RB DeAngelo Williams got a 13-yard TD run.
With the win, not only did Carolina improve to 4–2 heading into the bye week, but Testaverde became the oldest starting quarterback to win a game (43 years and 335 days), along with the third oldest quarterback to start a game.
Week 8: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Game summary Coming off their road win over the Cardinals, the Panthers went home for a Week 8 interconference duel with the defending Super Bowl champions, the Indianapolis Colts. In the first quarter, Carolina struck first by turning their opening drive (which lasted 11 minutes and 1 second) into a 3-yard TD run by RB DeShaun Foster. The Colts would respond with kicker Adam Vinatieri getting a 20-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Indianapolis took the lead with RB Joseph Addai getting a 2-yard TD run for the only score of the period.
In the third quarter, Indianapolis increased its lead with QB Peyton Manning completing a 4-yard TD pass to Addai, along with a 59-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Wayne. In the fourth quarter, the Colts sealed their win with Addai getting a 12-yard TD run.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 4–3.
Scoring Summary Scoring First quarter CAR – DeShaun Foster 3-yard run (Kasay kick), 3:59. Panthers 7–0. Drive: 18 plays, 80 yards, 11:01. IND – Adam Vinatieri 20-yard field goal, 0:47. Panthers 7–3. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:07. Second quarter IND – Joseph Addai 2-yard run (Vinatieri kick), 1:33. Colts 10–7. Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 1:58. Third quarter IND – Joseph Addai 4-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 12:11. Colts 17–7. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 2:49. IND – Reggie Wayne 59-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 4:47. Colts 24–7. Drive: 2 plays, 70 yards, 0:46. Fourth quarter IND – Joseph Addai 12-yard run (Vinatieri kick), 13:09. Colts 31–7. Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:17.
Week 9: at Tennessee Titans
Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Colts, the Panthers flew to LP Field for a Week 9 interconference duel with the Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, Carolina trailed early as Titans QB Vince Young got a 3-yard TD run, while kicker Rob Bironas got a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Panthers continued to struggle as Bironas nailed a 53-yard field goal for the only score of the period.
After a scoreless third quarter, Tennessee pulled away with RB LenDale White getting a 1-yard TD run. Carolina would avoid a shutout as QB David Carr completed an 18-yard TD pass to WR Drew Carter.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 4–4.
Carr would relive his Texans days as he got sacked 7 times during the game.
Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons