The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South each year from 2013-15 and even went to the Super Bowl in 2015. They also made the playoffs in 2017. Since then, the team hasn't won more than seven games in a season and is coming off a league-worst 2-15 record in 2023.
Carolina thought it made the best move for its future when it traded up in the 2023 NFL Draft to select quarterback Bryce Young out of Alabama. Whether Young wasn't ready or if it was the changing of head coaches during his rookie campaign, he struggled mightily.
The Panthers also took losses off the field. Owner David Tepper was captured on camera chewing out a local restaurant owner over a sign that wasn't supportive of Tepper as the owner. Another time, Tepper threw a drink at an opposing fan.
There was a glimmer of hope for fans as Carolina hired Dave Canales to be its next head coach. He has become known as a quarterback whisperer after helping Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield to career resurgences for the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively. With Canales at the helm and a key division matchup in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, let's look at how the Panthers fared to begin the season.
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Carolina Panthers Week 1 loss to Saints
Carolina struggled early, allowing a 59-yard touchdown to Rashid Shaheed on the game's first drive. It even appeared as if Jaycee Horn could have downed the stumbling receiver at the goal line but pulled up early and started complaining about something.
Young took the field, and it was his first chance to show the impact that Canales may have had on him. His first pass attempt was subsequently picked off. He couldn't get into a comfortable rhythm, and the Saints kept putting it on the defense, scoring 30 points in the first half. Young threw another interception in the second half but was able to convert a three-yard rush for a score.
Carolina eventually lost the game 47-10. Where does this game fall as the worst in team history?
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Carolina Panthers worst losses in franchise history
| Year | Margin of Loss | Opponent | Score |
| 2000 | 43 points | Oakland Raiders | 52-9 |
| 2002 | 41 points | Atlanta Falcons | 41-0 |
| 2019 | 38 points | San Francisco 49ers | 51-13 |
| 2024 | 37 points | New Orleans Saints | 47-10 |
| 2006 | 34 points | Pittsburgh Steelers | 37-3 |
While Carolina's Week 1 loss to New Orleans isn't the worst in history, it likely hurts just as much for fans. After some hope was created in the offseason, it has all but been snuffed out as the team heads into a Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Based on point differential, it ranks as the fourth-worst loss in team history.
The good news for Carolina fans is that in 2000 and 2002, the Panthers finished 7-9. The team finished 5-11 in 2019. All three seasons containing the worst losses in franchise history would still be a significant improvement from how Carolina finished in 2023.