The 2014 season was the Carolina Panthers' 20th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Ron Rivera.
The Panthers captured their second straight NFC South division title and qualified for the postseason for the first time in back-to-back years despite failing to improve on a 12âÂÂ4 record and finishing with a losing record of 7âÂÂ8âÂÂ1. Additionally, they became the first team in NFC South history to have back-to-back division titles and also became the second team to win a division title with a sub-.500 record in a full season after the 2010 Seattle Seahawks, and would be followed by the 2020 Washington Football Team, a team that Rivera also coached, and the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their 2025 Carolina Panthers team. The Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round, but lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional round.
The Panthers' four-game winning streak to close out the regular season, combined with a 14âÂÂ0 start the following season, would achieve a tie with the 2003âÂÂ2004 New England Patriots for the third longest regular season winning streak in NFL history, at 18.
This was the first season since 2000 that Steve Smith Sr. was not on the opening-day roster, as he signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Panthers' preseason opponents were announced on April 9, 2014.
Derek Anderson made his first start as Panthers QB, substituting for Cam Newton who was nursing a rib injury he'd suffered during the preseason. The change in QB didn't appear to faze the team, as the Panthers won their first season opener in six years, 20âÂÂ14. They started the season 1âÂÂ0 and improved to 1âÂÂ0 without Newton starting.
Newton returned to the starting lineup with some added padding around his ribs. The game's highlight was a defensive interception against Lions star WR Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. With the win, the Panthers improved to 2âÂÂ0 and 16âÂÂ5 when Newton doesn't commit a turnover.
This was the first Sunday Night Football home game for the Panthers since 2009. With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 2âÂÂ1. Newton left the game due to injury but he fumbled the ball. This dropped the team to 10âÂÂ20 when he commits a turnover.
This game marked the first time WR Steve Smith Sr. played against his former team after being cut in the offseason. He was clearly fired up, recording over 100 yards receiving and two touchdown receptions. With the loss, the Panthers record was 2âÂÂ2. The team dropped to 16-6 when Newton doesn't commit a turnover.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 3âÂÂ2. They would also improve to 11âÂÂ20 when Newton commits at least one turnover. Unknown at the time, this would be the team's last victory for over two months.
Both teams went back and forth scoring in a shootout. This would be the highest-scoring overtime tie in NFL history until 2025, as well as the first tie in Panthers history as their record stood at 3âÂÂ2âÂÂ1. The team's record then stood at 11âÂÂ20âÂÂ1 when Newton commits a turnover.
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3âÂÂ3âÂÂ1. The team also dropped to 11âÂÂ21âÂÂ1 when Newton turns the ball over.
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ1. The team also dropped to 11âÂÂ22âÂÂ1 when Newton commits at least one turnover.
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3-5-1. The team would sit at 11-23-1 when Newton turns the ball over.
On Monday Night Football, Carolina barely put up a fight. The Eagles easily won the game, their defense sacking Cam Newton nine times. This dropped the Panthers record to 3âÂÂ6âÂÂ1. They also fell to 11âÂÂ24âÂÂ1 when Newton commits at least one turnover.
With their fifth straight loss, the Panthers headed into their bye week at 3âÂÂ7âÂÂ1. Also the team dropped to 11âÂÂ25âÂÂ1 when Newton commits a turnover. This would be Carolina's last home loss until week 3 of 2016 against Minnesota.
With the loss, the Panthers dropped to 3âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 and 11âÂÂ26âÂÂ1 when Newton commits at least one turnover.
With their 6-game losing streak snapped, the Panthers improved to 4âÂÂ8âÂÂ1. The team also improved to 17âÂÂ6 when Newton doesn't commit a turnover.
QB Derek Anderson was pressed into service for the second time in 2014, as Newton had injured his back in a car accident earlier that week. Once again, Anderson led the Panthers to a close victory over Tampa Bay, completing a season sweep and improving the team's record to 5âÂÂ8âÂÂ1. Anderson improved his starting regular season record as a Panther to 2âÂÂ0.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 6âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 and 12âÂÂ26âÂÂ1 when Newton turns the ball over at least once.
The Panthers finished their season in Atlanta against the Falcons with the NFC South title and the NFC's #4 seed on the line. They would blowout Atlanta and finish the season out 7âÂÂ8âÂÂ1. The team would also improve to 18âÂÂ6 when Newton doesn't commit a turnover.
The win over the Cardinals improved the Panthers' overall record to 8âÂÂ8âÂÂ1, with the defense turning in a record performance, holding Arizona to 78 total yards. Their record stood at 13âÂÂ26âÂÂ1 when Cam turns the ball over.
The loss made the Panthers finish 8âÂÂ9âÂÂ1 overall and 13âÂÂ27âÂÂ1 when Newton turns the ball over.