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 1âÂÂ7 for the second year in a row, but improved on their NFL-worst 2âÂÂ15 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 (âÂÂ193). 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 . The Panthers won only one game by more than one score, which was a 36âÂÂ22 upset win over the Raiders.
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.
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 trades
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
In the season opener, the Panthers lost to New Orleans 10âÂÂ47. They started the season 0âÂÂ1.
In the home opener, Carolina lost to the Chargers 3âÂÂ26. They fell to 0âÂÂ2.
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.
On September 17, the Panthers signed TE Feleipe Franks to the active roster, released TE Jordan Matthews, and waived OLB Eku Leota.
After starting the season 0âÂÂ2, veteran Andy Dalton was named starting quarterback for week three. In the first quarter, Dalton passed it to Chuba Hubbard for a touchdown. Las Vegas tied it up at the end of the quarter. Carolina scored two touchdowns in the second and went into halftime with a 21âÂÂ7 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. The Panthers won 36âÂÂ22 and Carolina improved to 1âÂÂ2.
Carolina loses to Cincinnati 24âÂÂ34. They fall to 1âÂÂ3.
With their fourth straight loss to Chicago, the Panthers fell to 1-4.
Carolina loses to Atlanta 38âÂÂ20. They fall to 1âÂÂ5.
The Panthers were scoreless for the first three quarters of the game but they manage not to be shutout by the Commanders by scoring a touchdown in the fourth. Washington wins 40âÂÂ7 and Carolina falls to 1âÂÂ6.
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 28âÂÂ14. Carolina falls to 1âÂÂ7.
Carolina squeezes by New Orleans, 23âÂÂ22. The Panthers improve to 2âÂÂ7.
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 10âÂÂ0 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 20âÂÂ17 and improves to 3âÂÂ7. This was quarterback Bryce Young's first back-to-back win in his NFL career.
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 30âÂÂ27, and Carolina falls to 3âÂÂ8.
Carolina and Tampa Bay go into overtime, but the Buccaneers take the win, 26âÂÂ23. The Panthers fall to 3âÂÂ9.
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.
With the overtime win the Panthers improved to 4-11 and knocked Arizona out of playoff contention.
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.