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1995 Carolina Panthers season

NFL team season (1st season) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Quick facts Carolina Panthers season, Owner ...
1995 Carolina Panthers season
OwnerJerry Richardson
General managerBill Polian
Head coachDom Capers
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
(Clemson, South Carolina)
Results
Record7–9
Division place4th NFC West
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone
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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

More information Round, Pick ...
1995 Carolina Panthers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 5 Kerry Collins *  QB Penn State from Cincinnati[A]
1 22 Tyrone Poole  CB Fort Valley State from Green Bay[B]
1 29 Blake Brockermeyer  OT Texas from San Diego[C]
2 36 Shawn King  DE Louisiana–Monroe from Cincinnati[A]
4 132 Frank Garcia  C Washington
5 135 Michael Senters  WR Northwestern
5 171 Andrew Peterson  OT Washington
6 188 Steve Strahan  DT Baylor
6 191 Jerry Colquitt  QB Tennessee from Kansas City[D]
7 209 Chad Cota  SS Oregon
7 249 Michael Reed  SS Boston College
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career
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Draft trades

  1. The Panthers traded a first-round selection (1st overall) to Cincinnati in exchange for first- and second-round selections (5th and 36th overall).
  2. 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).
  3. 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).
  4. The Panthers traded a 1996 sixth-round selection to Kansas City in exchange for a sixth-round selection (191st overall).

[2]

Undrafted free agents

More information Player, Position ...
1995 undrafted free agents of note
Player Position College
Willie Brookins Linebacker East Carolina
Kevin Feighery Punter Merchant Marine Academy
Tony Jones Safety Syracuse
David Lauder Kicker BYU
Billy Mitchell Cornerback/Safety Texas A&M
Ed Stuart Linebacker Nebraska
Allen Willlams Running back Maryland
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Personnel

Staff

1995 Carolina Panthers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Chip Morton

[3]

Roster

1995 Carolina Panthers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad
  • -- Paul Burke TE
  • -- Kevin Farkas T
  • -- Marvin Ham S
  • -- Lorenzo Clark CB

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 11 reserve, 4 practice squad

Preseason

Preseason

More information Week, Date ...
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
HOF July 29 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 20–14 1–0 Fawcett Stadium 24,625
1 August 4 at Chicago Bears L 15–18 1–1 Soldier Field 50,300
2 August 12 Denver Broncos W 19–10 2–1 Memorial Stadium 57,017
3 August 19 at San Francisco 49ers L 10–17 2–2 3Com Park 51,185
4 August 26 New York Giants W 6–3 3–2 Memorial Stadium 49,114
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Regular season

More information Week, Date ...
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 3 at Atlanta Falcons L 20–23 (OT) 0–1 Georgia Dome Recap
2 September 10 at Buffalo Bills L 9–31 0–2 Rich Stadium Recap
3 September 17 St. Louis Rams L 10–31 0–3 Memorial Stadium Recap
4 Bye
5 October 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 13–20 0–4 Memorial Stadium Recap
6 October 8 at Chicago Bears L 27–31 0–5 Soldier Field Recap
7 October 15 New York Jets W 26–15 1–5 Memorial Stadium Recap
8 October 22 New Orleans Saints W 20–3 2–5 Memorial Stadium Recap
9 October 29 at New England Patriots W 20–17 (OT) 3–5 Foxboro Stadium Recap
10 November 5 at San Francisco 49ers W 13–7 4–5 Candlestick Park Recap
11 November 12 at St. Louis Rams L 17–28 4–6 Trans World Dome Recap
12 November 19 Arizona Cardinals W 27–7 5–6 Memorial Stadium Recap
13 November 26 at New Orleans Saints L 26–34 5–7 Louisiana Superdome Recap
14 December 3 Indianapolis Colts W 13–10 6–7 Memorial Stadium Recap
15 December 10 San Francisco 49ers L 10–31 6–8 Memorial Stadium Recap
16 December 17 Atlanta Falcons W 21–17 7–8 Memorial Stadium Recap
17 December 24 at Washington Redskins L 17–20 7–9 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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Season summary

Week 1: at Atlanta Falcons

Week One: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
More information Quarter, OT ...
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Panthers 13 0 07020
Falcons 3 10 70323
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at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • CAR – Pete Metzelaars 8-yard pass from Frank Reich (John Kasay kick). Panthers 7–0.
  • CAR – John Kasay 39-yard field goal. Panthers 10–0.
  • ATL – Morten Andersen 27-yard field goal. Panthers 10–3.
  • CAR – John Kasay 41-yard field goal. Panthers 13–3.

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

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Week 2: at Buffalo Bills

Week Two: Carolina Panthers at Buffalo Bills
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 6 309
Bills 0 0 28331
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at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

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

Close

Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week Three: St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 14 10731
Panthers 0 3 0710
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: September 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 54,060
  • TV announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert, Anthony Muñoz
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

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

Close

Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Five: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 7 6 0720
Panthers 0 7 6013
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: October 1
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,076
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

Close

Week 6: at Chicago Bears

Week Six: Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 10 01427
Bears 7 7 31431
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at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: October 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,668
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

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Week 7: vs New York Jets

Week Seven: New York Jets at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 12 0315
Panthers 3 10 7626
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: October 15
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,613
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV: NBC
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

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Players dumped Gatorade on Dom Capers after the win.[4]

Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week Eight: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 3 003
Panthers 0 3 14320
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: October 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 55,484
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

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

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Week 9: at New England Patriots

Week Nine: Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots
More information Quarter, OT ...
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Panthers 0 0 170320
Patriots 0 3 014017
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at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: October 29
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,064
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

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

Close

Week 10: at San Francisco 49ers

Week Ten: Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 10 3 0013
49ers 0 0 077
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at 3Com Park, San Francisco, California

  • Date: November 5
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 PST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 61,722
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

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Week 11: at St. Louis Rams

Week Eleven: Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 7 3717
Rams 0 14 01428
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at TWA Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 12
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 65,598
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

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

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Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 7 007
Panthers 0 14 6727
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 49,582
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

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

Close

Week 13: at New Orleans Saints

Week Thirteen: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 8 8726
Saints 7 10 10734
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at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

More information Game information ...
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

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Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts

Week Fourteen: Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 10 0 0010
Panthers 0 10 0313
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

More information Game information ...
Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • CAR – Kerry Collins 2-yard run (John Kasay kick). Colts 10–7.
  • CAR – John Kasay 34-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • CAR – John Kasay 38-yard field goal. Panthers 13–10.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Close

Week 15: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week Fifteen: San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 7 14 7331
Panthers 0 3 7010
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 76,136
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

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Week 16: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 14 3 0017
Panthers 0 7 7721
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at Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C)
  • Game attendance: 53,833
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

  • CAR – Derrick Moore 1-yard run (John Kasay kick). Falcons 17–14.

Fourth quarter

  • CAR – Willie Green 89-yard pass from Kerry Collins (John Kasay kick). Panthers 21–17.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Close

Week 17: at Washington Redskins

Week Seventeen: Carolina Panthers at Washington Redskins
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 7 0717
Redskins 7 3 7320
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at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 42,903
  • Box score
More information Game information ...
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

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Standings

More information NFC West, W ...
NFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) San Francisco 49ers 11 5 0 .688 457 258 L1
(6) Atlanta Falcons 9 7 0 .563 362 349 W1
St. Louis Rams 7 9 0 .438 309 418 L3
Carolina Panthers 7 9 0 .438 289 325 L1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 319 348 W1
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Records

  • Most victories by an expansion team (7)[5]
  • First expansion team to have a winning record at home (5–3)[5]
  • First expansion team to have a four-game winning streak (weeks 7–10)[5]
  • First expansion team to defeat a defending Super Bowl champion in its inaugural season (13–7 over the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco)[5]

References

Related Articles

Timelines

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