The 2008 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League (NFL). They entered the season and improved on their 7–9 record from 2007, winning the NFC South for the first time since 2003 and earning their first playoff berth since 2005. Their 12–4 finish tied their then-best record in franchise history, which occurred in the 1996 season, and later on tied in 2013; however, this would be surpassed by the 2015 club. The second-seeded Panthers were upset at home in the divisional playoffs by the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals 33–13.
Offseason NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club team 1 13 Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon 1 19 Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh 3 67 Charles Godfrey CB Iowa 3 74 Dan Connor LB Penn State 5 141 Gary Barnidge TE Louisville 6 181 Nick Hayden DT Wisconsin 7 221 Hilee Taylor LB North Carolina 7 241 Geoff Schwartz OL Oregon 7 250 Mackenzy Bernadeau G Bentley
Free agent signings Position Player Experience College RB LaBrandon Toefield 5 LSU RB DeCori Birmingham 3 Arkansas FB Troy Fleming 4 Tennessee WR D.J. Hackett 4 Colorado WR Muhsin Muhammad 12 Michigan State WR Chris Hannon 2 Tennessee WR Dominique Thompson 3 William & Mary CB Ricardo Colclough 4 Tusculum LB Landon Johnson 4 Purdue S Terrence Holt 5 N.C. State G Rueben Riley 1 Michigan G Keydrick Vincent 7 Mississippi G Milford Brown 6 Florida State G Toniu Fonoti 6 Nebraska DE Tyler Brayton 5 Colorado DT Steve Williams 2 Northwest Missouri State DT Darwin Walker 8 Tennessee DT Ian Scott 5 Florida
Roster releases
Position Player CB Patrick Dendy LB Dan Morgan S Marquand Manuel DT Kris Jenkins DT Kindal Moorehead C Justin Hartwig LG Mike Wahle WR Drew Carter WR Keary Colbert RB DeShaun Foster QB David Carr
Staff
Final roster
Schedule Preseason Week Date Opponent Results Game Site TV NFL Recap Final score Team record 1 Saturday, Aug. 9 Indianapolis Colts W 23–20 (OT) 1–0 Bank of America Stadium Don Fischer, Mark Herrman, Jeffrey Gorman/Gary Williams, Steve Beuerlein, Pete Yanity Recap 2 Thursday, Aug. 14 Philadelphia Eagles L 24–13 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver, Chris Myers Recap 3 Saturday, Aug. 23 Washington Redskins W 47–3 2–1 Bank of America Stadium Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Kelli Johnson/Gary Williams, Steve Beuerlein, Pete Yanity Recap 4 Thursday, Aug. 28 Pittsburgh Steelers L 19–16 2–2 Heinz Field Gary Williams, Steve Beuerlein, Pete Yanity/Bob Pompeani, Edmund Nelson, Jeff Verszyala Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Results Game Site NFL Recap Final score Team record 1 September 7, 2008 at San Diego Chargers W 26–24 1–0 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 September 14, 2008 Chicago Bears W 20–17 2–0 Bank of America Stadium Recap 3 September 21, 2008 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–20 2–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 4 September 28, 2008 Atlanta Falcons W 24–9 3–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap 5 October 5, 2008 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–0 4–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap 6 October 12, 2008 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 3–27 4–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 October 19, 2008 New Orleans Saints W 30–7 5–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 8 October 26, 2008 Arizona Cardinals W 27–23 6–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 9 Bye Week 10 November 9, 2008 at Oakland Raiders W 17–6 7–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 11 November 16, 2008 Detroit Lions W 31–22 8–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 12 November 23, 2008 at Atlanta Falcons L 28–45 8–3 Georgia Dome Recap 13 November 30, 2008 at Green Bay Packers W 35–31 9–3 Lambeau Field Recap 14 December 8 (Monday) Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 38–23 10–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 15 December 14, 2008 Denver Broncos W 30–10 11–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 16 December 21, 2008 at New York Giants L 28–34 (OT) 11–4 Giants Stadium Recap 17 December 28, 2008 at New Orleans Saints W 33–31 12–4 Louisiana Superdome RecapNOTES: Division games are in bold text. All game dates are on Sunday unless indicated otherwise.
Postseason Week Date Opponent Results Game Site NFL Recap Final score Team record Wild Card Bye Week Divisional January 10, 2009 Arizona Cardinals (4) L 13–33 0–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Standings
Regular season results Week 1: at San Diego Chargers
The Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers were locked in a defensive battle in the first quarter. John Kasay made three field goals (44, 33, 30) while Philip Rivers connected with Chris Chambers on a 44-yard pass to score. At halftime the score was 9–7, in favor of the Panthers. Nate Kaeding hit a 27-yard field goal to put the Chargers up 10–9, before Chris Gamble recovered a fumble by TE Antonio Gates, giving the Panthers a lead of 16–10. Another John Kasay field goal would make it a two-score game, before Philip Rivers would hit Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson for 24 and 5-yard touchdown passes, respectively. With 0:02 on the game clock, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme hit tight end Dante Rosario on a 14-yard pass to give the Panthers the win and a 1–0 start.
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears
The Bears and Panthers squared off and it was defensive. The lone score of the first quarter came when Brandon Lloyd recovered a blocked punt and took it nine yards to score. Each team was able to score a field goal as Robbie Gould and John Kasay hit field goals from 26 and 37 yards, respectively. Jason McKie scored a touchdown for the Bears to open the second half, and John Kasay nailed a 45-yard field goal. Jonathan Stewart was able to get into the endzone for his first career touchdown. In the fourth quarter, another Jonathan Stewart run gave the Carolina Panthers the lead and eventually, the victory.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 2–0.
Also, WR Muhsin Muhammad (5 receptions for 59 yards) became the 29th player in NFL history to amass 10,000 career receiving yards.
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their home win over the Bears, the Panthers flew to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for a Week 3 duel with the Minnesota Vikings. This game would also be WR Steve Smith's first game of the year, coming off his 2-game suspension.
In the first quarter, Carolina got the early lead with kicker John Kasay getting a 43-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Panthers increased their lead with rookie RB Jonathan Stewart getting a 2-yard TD run. The Vikings responded with kicker Ryan Longwell's 28-yard field goal and CB Antoine Winfield returning a fumble 19 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Minnesota took the lead with QB Gus Frerotte completing a 34-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings sealed the win with Longwell nailing a 32-yard field goal.
With the loss, Carolina fell to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Vikings, the Panthers went home for a Week 4 NFC South duel with the Atlanta Falcons. In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first with rookie RB Jonathan Stewart getting an 8-yard TD run. The Falcons responded with kicker Jason Elam getting a 33-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Atlanta crept closer as Elam kicked a 33-yard field goal. Carolina would reply with QB Jake Delhomme completing a 56-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. The Falcons closed out the half with Elam getting a 44-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Panthers answered with kicker John Kasay nailing a 44-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Carolina closed the game out with Delhomme completing a 36-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 3–1.
During the game, Muhsin Muhammad (8 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown) became the Panthers All-Time WR Leader in Receptions (600) and TD Receptions (45).
Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Coming off their divisional win over the Falcons, the Panthers stayed at home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first as RB DeAngelo Williams got a 10-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Panthers continued its attack as Williams caught a 25-yard TD pass from QB Jake Delhomme and even got a 32-yard TD run. In the third quarter, Carolina increased its lead with kicker John Kasay getting a 32-yard field goal, along with Delhomme completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers sealed their shutout win with Kasay nailing a 43-yard field goal.
With the win, Carolina improved to 4–1.
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coming off their shutout home win over the Chiefs, the Panthers flew to Raymond James Stadium for a Week 6 NFC South duel with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, Carolina trailed early as Buccaneers LB Geno Hayes returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown, along with QB Jeff Garcia completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Alex Smith. In the second quarter, the Panthers got on the board with kicker John Kasay getting a 20-yard field goal, yet Tampa Bay answered with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 37-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Buccaneers increased their lead as Bryant nailed a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay sealed the win with RB Earnest Graham getting a 1-yard TD run.
With the loss, Carolina fell to 4–2.
Week 7: vs. New Orleans Saints
Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Buccaneers, the Panthers went home for a Week 7 NFC South duel with the New Orleans Saints. In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first as kicker John Kasay got a 39-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints took the lead as FB Mike Karney got a 1-yard TD run. The Panthers regained the lead as rookie RB Jonathan Stewart got an 18-yard TD run, along with Kasay getting a 48-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Carolina continued its domination as QB Jake Delhomme completed a 39-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith, along with a 4-yard TD pass to RB DeAngelo Williams. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers closed out the game as Kasay nailed a 28-yard field goal.
With the win, Carolina improved to 5–2.
Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Coming off their win over the Saints, the Panthers stayed at home for a Week 8 duel with the Arizona Cardinals. In the first quarter, Carolina trailed early as Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers got a 21-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Arizona increased its lead as QB Kurt Warner completed a 5-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin. The Panthers got on the board with kicker John Kasay getting a 23-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Cardinals increased their lead as RB Tim Hightower got a 2-yard TD run. Carolina started to rally as RB DeAngelo Williams got a 15-yard TD run, while QB Jake Delhomme completed an 18-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. Arizona responded with Warner completing a 2-yard TD pass to Boldin (with a failed PAT), yet the Panthers got the lead with Delhomme hooking up with Smith again on a 65-yard TD pass. In the fourth quarter, Carolina completed its rally as Kasay nailed a 50-yard field goal.
With the win, the Panthers went into their bye week at 6–2.
Week 10: at Oakland Raiders
Coming off their bye week, the Panthers flew to Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for a Week 10 interconference duel with the Oakland Raiders. In the first quarter, Carolina pounced first as QB Jake Delhomme completed a 3-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad. In the second quarter, the Panthers increased their lead as RB DeAngelo Williams got a 69-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Raiders responded with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 38-yard and a 45-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Carolina closed the game out with kicker John Kasay nailing a 32-yard field goal.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 7–2.
Week 11: vs. Detroit Lions