NFL team season (1st season)
The 1995 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's inaugural season in the National Football League and the first under head coach Dom Capers . They went 7–9, the best debut year for any expansion franchise since the NFL's inception. The Panthers played their first season's home games at Clemson University because what would become Ericsson Stadium was still under construction after a deadline point in 1995 for scheduling Carolina's first set of NFL games.
Offseason
The Panthers were jokingly called "Buffalo Bills South" because of the large number of former Bills on the roster. Quarterback Frank Reich , wide receiver Don Beebe , tight end Pete Metzelaars and linebacker Carlton Bailey had played key roles in the Bills' run of four consecutive Super Bowls earlier in the 1990s and were on the Panthers' inaugural roster. Furthermore, the team's general manager was longtime Bills GM and executive Bill Polian . (See also the 2001 San Diego Chargers season , in which a similar situation arose when John Butler brought several former Bills with him to San Diego after being fired.)
Expansion draft
^ Made roster.[1]
NFL Draft
Draft trades
^ a b The Panthers traded a first-round selection (1st overall ) to Cincinnati in exchange for first- and second-round selections (5th and 36th overall).
^ The Panthers traded first-, third-, and sixth-round selections (32nd, 65th, and 173rd overall) to Green Bay in exchange for first- and sixth-round selections (22nd and 191st overall).
^ The Panthers traded second-, third-, and fourth-round selections (34th, 98th, and 100th overall) to San Diego in exchange for a first-round selection (29th overall).
^ The Panthers traded a 1996 sixth-round selection to Kansas City in exchange for a sixth-round selection (191st overall).
[2]
Season summary
Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons
Week One: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Period
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Panthers
13
0
0 7 0 20
Falcons 3
10
7 0 3 23
at Georgia Dome , Atlanta, Georgia
Date : September 3Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDT Game weather : None (played indoors)Game attendance : 58,808Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
ATL – J. J. Birden 12-yard pass from Jeff George (Morten Andersen kick). Panthers 13–10.
ATL – Morten Andersen 51-yard field goal. Tied 13–13. Third quarter
ATL – Bert Emanuel 5-yard pass from Jeff George (Morten Andersen kick). Falcons 20–13. Fourth quarter
CAR – Willie Green 44-yard pass from Frank Reich (John Kasay kick). Tied 20–20. Overtime
ATL – Morten Andersen 35-yard field goal. Falcons 23–20.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Week Two: Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
0
6
3 0 9
Bills 0
0
28 3 31
at Rich Stadium , Orchard Park, New York
Date : September 10Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 53 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 79,190Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CAR – John Kasay 34-yard field goal. Panthers 3–0.
CAR – John Kasay 52-yard field goal. Panthers 6–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
BUF – Steve Christie 39-yard field goal. Bills 31–9.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week Three: St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Rams 0
14
10 7 31
Panthers
0
3
0 7 10
at Memorial Stadium , Clemson, South Carolina
Date : September 17Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 73 °F (23 °C)Game attendance : 54,060Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
STL – Anthony Parker 28-yard fumble return (Steve McLaughlin kick). Rams 21–3.
STL – Steve McLaughlin 34-yard field goal. Rams 24–3. Fourth quarter
STL – Torin Dorn 24-yard interception return (Steve McLaughlin kick). Rams 31–3.
CAR – Kerry Collins 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Rams 31–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Five: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Buccaneers 7
6
0 7 20
Panthers
0
7
6 0 13
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Date : October 1Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 70 °F (21 °C)Game attendance : 50,076Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CAR – Derrick Moore 53-yard run (John Kasay kick). Tied 7–7.
TB – Michael Husted 25-yard field goal. Buccaneers 10–7.
TB – Michael Husted 27-yard field goal. Buccaneers 13–7. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
TB – Casey Weldon 1-yard run (Michael Husted kick). Buccaneers 20–13.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 6: at Chicago Bears
Week Six: Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
3
10
0 14 27
Bears 7
7
3 14 31
at Soldier Field , Chicago, Illinois
Date : October 8Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : 53 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 59,668Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CAR – Mark Carrier 66-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 10–7.
CHI – Keith Jennings 1-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Kevin Butler kick). Bears 14–10.
CAR – John Kasay 49-yard field goal. Bears 14–13. Third quarter
CHI – Kevin Butler 23-yard field goal. Bears 17–13. Fourth quarter
CAR – Greg Kragen 1-yard fumble return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 20–17.
CHI – Ryan Wetnight 1-yard pass from Erik Kramer (Kevin Butler kick). Bears 24–20.
CAR – Eric Guliford 62-yard punt return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 27–24.
CHI – Robert Green 1-yard run (Kevin Butler kick). Bears 31–27.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 7: vs New York Jets
Week Seven: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Jets
0
12
0 3 15
Panthers 3
10
7 6 26
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Date : October 15Game time : 4:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 60 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 52,613Referee : Mike Carey TV : NBC Box score
Game information
First quarter
CAR – John Kasay 23-yard field goal. Panthers 3–0. Second quarter
NYJ – Kerry Collins tackled in ens zone by Erik Howard . Panthers 3–2.
NYJ – Nick Lowery 50-yard field goal. Jets 5–3.
NYJ – Mo Lewis 13-yard interception return (Nick Lowery kick). Jets 12–3.
CAR – John Kasay 39-yard field goal. Jets 12–6.
CAR – Sam Mills 36-yard interception return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 13–12. Third quarter
CAR – Vince Workman 5-yard run (John Kasay kick). Panthers 20–12. Fourth quarter
CAR – John Kasay 40-yard field goal. Panthers 23–12.
NYJ – Nick Lowery 39-yard field goal. Panthers 23–15.
CAR – John Kasay 30-yard field goal. Panthers 26–15.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Players dumped Gatorade on Dom Capers after the win.[4]
Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Eight: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
0
3
0 0 3
Panthers 0
3
14 3 20
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Date : October 22Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 58 °F (14 °C)Game attendance : 55,484Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
CAR – Howard Griffith 2-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 10–3.
CAR – Howard Griffith 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Panthers 17–3. Fourth quarter
CAR – John Kasay 37-yard field goal. Panthers 20–3.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: at New England Patriots
Week Nine: Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots
Period
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Panthers 0
0
17 0 3 20
Patriots
0
3
0 14 0 17
at Foxboro Stadium , Foxborough, Massachusetts
Date : October 29Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 54 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 60,064Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NE – Matt Bahr 19-yard field goal. Patriots 3–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NE – Curtis Martin 3-yard run (Matt Bahr kick). Panthers 17–10.
NE – Curtis Martin 2-yard run (Matt Bahr kick). Tied 17–17. Overtime
CAR – John Kasay 29-yard field goal. Panthers 20–17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 10: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Ten: Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers 10
3
0 0 13
49ers
0
0
0 7 7
at 3Com Park , San Francisco, California
Date : November 5Game time : 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 PST Game weather : 55 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 61,722Box score
Game information
First quarter
CAR – John Kasay 39-yard field goal. Panthers 3–0.
CAR – Tim McKyer 96-yard interception return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 10–0. Second quarter
CAR – John Kasay 47-yard field goal. Panthers 13–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 11: at St. Louis Rams
Week Eleven: Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
0
7
3 7 17
Rams 0
14
0 14 28
at TWA Dome , St. Louis, Missouri
Date : November 12Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : None (played indoors)Game attendance : 65,598Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
CAR – John Kasay 23-yard field goal. Rams 14–10. Fourth quarter
STL – Troy Drayton 2-yard pass from Chris Miller (Dean Biasucci kick). Rams 21–10.
STL – Torin Dorn 26-yard fumble return (Dean Biasucci kick). Rams 28–10.
CAR – Willie Green 17-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Rams 28–17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
7
0 0 7
Panthers 0
14
6 7 27
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Date : November 19Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 55 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 49,582Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
CAR – John Kasay 42-yard field goal. Panthers 17–7.
CAR – John Kasay 30-yard field goal. Panthers 20–7. Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 13: at New Orleans Saints
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
NO – Doug Brien 39-yard field goal. Saints 20–11.
NO – Mario Bates 6-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 27–11.
CAR – Mark Carrier 3-yard pass from Kerry Collins (Kerry Collins pass to Bob Christian ). Saints 27–19. Fourth quarter
NO – Derek Brown 35-yard run (Doug Brien kick). Saints 34–19.
CAR – Mark Carrier 60-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Saints 34–26.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week Fourteen: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts
10
0
0 0 10
Panthers 0
10
0 3 13
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Thrd quarter
Fourth quarter
CAR – John Kasay 38-yard field goal. Panthers 13–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 15: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Fifteen: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers 7
14
7 3 31
Panthers
0
3
7 0 10
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Date : December 10Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 33 °F (1 °C)Game attendance : 76,136Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SF – Derek Loville 1-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick). 49ers 14–0.
CAR – John Kasay 43-yard field goal. 49ers 14–3.
SF – J. J. Stokes 20-yard pass from Steve Young (Jeff Wilkins kick). 49ers 21–3. Third quarter
CAR – Derrick Moore 2-yard run (John Kasay kick). 49ers 21–10.
SF – Steve Young 1-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick). 49ers 28–10. Fourth quarter
SF – Jeff Wilkins 20-yard field goal. 49ers 31–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 16: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
14
3
0 0 17
Panthers 0
7
7 7 21
at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina
Date : December 17Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 50 °F (10 °C)Game attendance : 53,833Box score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CAR – Kerry Collins 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Falcons 14–7.
ATL – Morten Andersen 34-yard field goal. Falcons 17–7. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
CAR – Willie Green 89-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 21–17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 17: at Washington Redskins
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
WAS – Eddie Murray 29-yard field goal. Redskins 10–3.
CAR – Derrick Moore 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Tied 10–10. Third quarter
WAS – Terry Allen 1-yard run (Eddie Murray kick). Redskins 17–10. Fourth quarter
WAS – Eddie Murray 32-yard field goal. Redskins 20–10.
CAR – Willie Green 2-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Redskins 20–17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
