The 2012 season was the Carolina Panthers' 18th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Ron Rivera. A day after the Panthers' loss to the Dallas Cowboys, general manager Marty Hurney was fired. Until a new general manager was hired (that hire eventually being Dave Gettleman), director of football operations Brandon Beane served as interim general manager. In a statistical rarity, the team lost the first 13 of their game-opening coin tosses, an event with a 1 in 8,192 probability. In the 13th game, the Panthers asked fans on Facebook to make the call, but the vote ended in a 50/50 tie. This was Hurney's final season of his first stint as general manager in Carolina, he would be brought back in the 2018 season.
On January 30, 2012, the Panthers unveiled an updated version of the team's logo, the team's first logo change since the Panthers entered the NFL in . The new logo would subsequently be added to the team's uniforms, around the stadium and on merchandise.
The Panthers did not have a 3rd round selection.
Looking to improve off of a 6âÂÂ10 season from rookie coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers got off to a tough start. The Panthers began the season with a dismal 2âÂÂ8 record through their first 10 games. The Panthers played competitively throughout most games the entire season with an exception of a 36âÂÂ7 loss to the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants where the Panthers fell to a 20âÂÂ0 deficit early in the game and could not recover. Many would turn to a victory on November 26 in a prime time match up against the struggling Philadelphia Eagles as the turning point in the season for the Panthers. With that win on Monday Night Football, the Panthers would go on to win 5 of their remaining 6 games, rattling off 4 victories in a row to finish the season, with one victory coming against the NFC's #1 seed Atlanta Falcons, the first win in the series for the Panthers since the 2009 season.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Panthers started the season at 0âÂÂ1 picking up their 4th straight regular season opening loss. Also, the team dropped to 0âÂÂ11 in games where starting QB Cam Newton turns the ball over as he was picked off twice.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 1âÂÂ1, snapping their 4-game losing streak against the Saints. Also, the team improved to 1âÂÂ11 in games where Newton has at least 1 turnover.
With the huge loss on Thursday Night Football, the Panthers fell to 1âÂÂ2. The team also dropped to 1âÂÂ12 in games where Cam Newton has at least 1 turnover.
With their 5th straight loss to the Falcons, the Panthers fell to 1âÂÂ3. Also, for the first time the team lost a game after Newton did not record a turnover.
With the loss, the Panthers head into their bye week at 1âÂÂ4. Also, the team dropped to 1âÂÂ13 in games where Newton has a least a turnover.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 1âÂÂ5 and also to 1âÂÂ14 in games when Newton records a turnover.
With the surprising loss, the Panthers dropped to 1âÂÂ6. Also, the team moves to 1âÂÂ15 in games where Newton has a turnover.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 2âÂÂ6. The team also improves to 7âÂÂ1 in games where Newton does not turn the ball over. Because this was the Redskins' last home game before the 2012 election, the Redskins Rule incorrectly predicted that Mitt Romney would win the election, or Barack Obama would win the election while losing the popular vote.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 2âÂÂ7. The team also drops to 1âÂÂ16 in games where Newton has a turnover.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 2âÂÂ8. Also, QB Cam Newton suffered being swept by all 3 division rival teams as the team dropped to 7âÂÂ2 in games where he does not have a turnover.
With the win the Panthers improved to 3âÂÂ8 and also 8âÂÂ2 in games where Newton does not have a turnover.
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3âÂÂ9 securing them their 3rd straight losing season. They also dropped in records to 0âÂÂ2 against the AFC West and 8âÂÂ3 when Newton does not turn the ball over.
With the upset win, the Panthers improved to 4âÂÂ9 and snapped their 5-game losing streak to the Falcons. Also, the team improved to 9âÂÂ3 in games where Newton does not have a turnover.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 5âÂÂ9 and 10âÂÂ3 when Newton does not have a turnover. It also leaves the Panthers 1âÂÂ2 against the AFC West.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 6âÂÂ9 and 2âÂÂ16 when Newton turns the ball over at least once. Also, the team finished the season 2âÂÂ2 against the AFC West.
With the win the Panthers finished 7âÂÂ9, good enough for 2nd place in the NFC South, and swept the Saints for the first time since 2008. Also, the team improved to 3âÂÂ16 in games when Newton had a turnover. Also, Newton was one touchdown shy of being a 4th QB to have at least 20 passing touchdowns in his first 2 seasons as his total record of passing touchdowns stood at 19 while his rushing touchdowns stood at 8 leaving him with a failed improvement finishing with 27 total touchdowns.