The 2024 season was the Carolina Panthers' 30th in the National Football League (NFL), their first under head coach Dave Canales and new general manager Dan Morgan. The Panthers started 1–7 for the second year in a row, but improved on their NFL-worst 2–15 record from last year following a Week 10 International victory against the New York Giants in overtime. However, they suffered their seventh consecutive losing season after a Week 13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which was also in overtime. The Panthers were then eliminated from both NFC South title contention and playoff contention after a loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. The Panthers finished 3rd in the NFC South due to winning a strength of victory tiebreaker over their rival New Orleans Saints. This season began with the team's fourth head coach in six seasons.
With one of the worst defenses in NFL history, the Panthers set an NFL record for most points allowed in a season, with 534, breaking the record held by the 1981 Colts, which allowed 533, and had the worst point differential (−193). The team surrendered approximately 31.4 points per game on average, surpassing their 2019 season, at 29.4. The Panthers allowed 40 or more points in 3 games, allowed 30 or more points in 10 games, and allowed fewer than 20 points only once. The Panthers won only one game by more than one score, which was a 36–22 upset win over the Raiders.
Offseason Head coach On January 25, 2024 the Panthers hired former Seattle Seahawks Quarterback coach and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as their new head coach.
General manager The Panthers fired third year general manager Scott Fitterer after their week 18 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On January 22, 2024, Dan Morgan was promoted from assistant general manager to general manager and president of football operations.
Draft
+ 2024 Carolina Panthers draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 1 Traded to the Chicago Bears 32 Xavier Legette WR South Carolina From Chiefs via Bills 2 33 Traded to the Buffalo Bills 39 Traded to the Los Angeles Rams From Giants 46 Jonathon Brooks RB Texas From Colts 52 Traded to the Indianapolis Colts From Rams 3 65 Traded to the New York Jets 72 Trevin Wallace LB Kentucky From Jets 4 101 Ja'Tavion Sanders TE Texas 5 136 Traded to the Cleveland Browns 141 Traded to the Buffalo Bills From Giants 142 Traded to the Indianapolis Colts From Titans 155 Traded to the Indianapolis Colts From Steelers via Rams 157 Chau Smith-Wade CB Washington State From Browns via Vikings and Jets 166 Traded to the New York Giants From 49ers 6 177 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars 178 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers From Cardinals 200 Jaden Crumedy DT Mississippi State From Cowboys via Texans and Bills 7 221 Traded to the Tennessee Titans 240 Michael Barrett LB Michigan From Steelers
+ 2024 Carolina Panthers undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Popo Aumavae DE Oregon Jalen Coker WR Holy Cross Jeremiah Crawford OT Tennessee Willie Drew CB Virginia State Christian McDuffie OT Kansas State Kenny Dyson OLB Bryant Kevin Foelsch TE New Haven DeShawn Gaddie CB Ole Miss Darius Hodges DE Tulane Clayton Isbell S Coastal Carolina Derrick McLendon OLB Colorado Harrison Mevis K Missouri Jackson Mitchell LB UConn Sam Pinckney WR Coastal Carolina Jack Plummer QB Louisville Andrew Raym C Oklahoma Demani Richardson S Texas A&M Jaden Shirden RB Monmouth Ulumoo "MJ" Ale DT Washington
Draft trades
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New England Patriots L 3–17 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 New York Jets L 12–15 0–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 3 at Buffalo Bills W 31–26 1–2 Highmark Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 at New Orleans Saints L 10–47 0–1 Caesars Superdome Recap 2 September 15 Los Angeles Chargers L 3–26 0–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 3 September 22 at Las Vegas Raiders W 36–22 1–2 Allegiant Stadium Recap 4 September 29 Cincinnati Bengals L 24–34 1–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 5 October 6 at Chicago Bears L 10–36 1–4 Soldier Field Recap 6 October 13 Atlanta Falcons L 20–38 1–5 Bank of America Stadium Recap 7 October 20 at Washington Commanders L 7–40 1–6 Northwest Stadium Recap 8 October 27 at Denver Broncos L 14–28 1–7 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 9 November 3 New Orleans Saints W 23–22 2–7 Bank of America Stadium Recap 10 November 10 New York Giants W 20–17 3–7 Allianz Arena Recap 11Bye 12 November 24 Kansas City Chiefs L 27–30 3–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap 13 December 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 23–26 3–9 Bank of America Stadium Recap 14 December 8 at Philadelphia Eagles L 16–22 3–10 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 15 December 15 Dallas Cowboys L 14–30 3–11 Bank of America Stadium Recap 16 December 22 Arizona Cardinals W 36–30 4–11 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 December 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–48 4–12 Raymond James Stadium Recap 18 January 5 at Atlanta Falcons W 44–38 5–12 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
In the season opener, the Panthers lost to New Orleans 10–47. They started the season 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
In the home opener, Carolina lost to the Chargers 3–26. They fell to 0–2. The Panthers accumulated only 159 total yards of offense while allowing a whopping 349.
Young benched for Dalton The next day, head coach Dave Canales benched QB Bryce Young in favor of backup veteran Andy Dalton. Sources reported that Young was shocked by the switch, while Dalton, speaking to the media afterwards, expressed excitement at the opportunity to step into the starting role ahead of their Week 3 matchup against the Raiders.
Roster moves On September 17, the Panthers signed TE Feleipe Franks to the active roster, released TE Jordan Matthews, and waived OLB Eku Leota.
Week 3: at Las Vegas Raiders
After starting the season 0–2, veteran Andy Dalton was named starting quarterback for week three. In Dalton's first start, the Panthers looked nothing like the team who got outscored 73–13 in the previous two games. In the first quarter, Andy Dalton passed it to Chuba Hubbard for a touchdown. However, the Raiders tied the game at the end of the quarter. Carolina scored two touchdowns in the second and went into halftime with a 21–7 lead. Eddy Piñeiro kicked two field goals in the third. In the fourth quarter, Diontae Johnson scored a touchdown, but their attempt for a two-point conversion failed. The Raiders answered with Gardner Minshew throwing it to Jakobi Meyers for a touchdown. Piñeriro kicked another field goal for Carolina. Las Vegas scored another touchdown to reach the final score of 36–22. The Panthers picked up their first win of the season, improving to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Carolina loses to Cincinnati 24–34. They fall to 1–3.
Week 5: at Chicago Bears
With their fourth straight loss to Chicago, the Panthers fell to 1–4.
Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Carolina loses to Atlanta 38–20. They fall to 1–5.
Week 7: at Washington Commanders
The Panthers were scoreless for the first three quarters of the game, but they managed to avoid being shutout by the Commanders by scoring a touchdown in the fourth. Washington won 40–7 and Carolina fell to 1–6.
Week 8: at Denver Broncos
Bryce Young is back to be starting quarterback after Andy Dalton sprained his thumb in a car accident days before the game. Denver defeats the Panthers 28–14. Carolina falls to 1–7.
Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints
Carolina squeezes by New Orleans, 23–22. The Panthers improve to 2–7.
Week 10: vs. New York Giants NFL Germany games
The Panthers took on the New York Giants in Munich, Germany, as part of the NFL International Series. Carolina starts off strong going into halftime with a 10–0 lead. Carolina and New York both score seven in the third. The Giants tie it up in the fourth by scoring a field goal, making the game go into overtime. Eddy Piñeiro kicks the game-winning field goal. Carolina wins 20–17 and improves to 3–7. This was quarterback Bryce Young's first back-to-back win in his NFL career.
Week 12: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City is first on the board with a touchdown by Noah Gray. Carolina follows with an Eddy Piñeiro field goal. The Chiefs score a field goal at the end of the first. In the second, Carolina scores 6 while Kansas City scores 10. The Chiefs go into halftime with an 11-point lead. Both teams score 7 in the third. Carolina is able to tie it up in the fourth, but at the very end, Kansas City wins with a field goal. The Chiefs beat the Panthers 30–27, and Carolina falls to 3–8.
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina and Tampa Bay go into overtime, but the Buccaneers take the win, 26–23. The Panthers fall to 3–9.
Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys With the blowout loss the Panthers failed to clinch the NFC South for the ninth year in a row and were eliminated from playoff contention for the 7th straight year.
Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals With the overtime win the Panthers improved to 4–11 and knocked Arizona out of playoff contention.
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 18: at Atlanta Falcons
The Panthers were able to pull off a nail biting win over Atlanta to knock the Falcons out of the playoffs. Despite the win (which allowed Carolina to finish 5–12), the 38 points the Falcons scored meant the Panthers had officially surpassed the 1981 Colts for the most points surrendered in NFL history. Regardless, QB Bryce Young had gotten his first road win as an NFL starter.
Standings Division
Conference
Notes
References
External links