In 2000, the Panthers are stunned when his wife murders RB Fred Lane. The Panthers never quite get it rolling losing three of their first 4 games on the way to a 7-9 season.
In 2001, the Panthers found themselves at 1-15 after a first ever in season 15 game losing streak. The Panthers did terrible ranking 30th of 31 teams in Offense and dead last in defense. Following the season Coach George Seifert got the boot losing 32 games in 3 seasons, 2 more then he lost in 8 years in San Francisco with the 49ers.
In 2202, new Coach John Fox the Panthers decided to build with defense drafting DE Julius Peppers from UNC with second overall pick in the NFL Draft. When the season started, the Panthers went the veteran route with their starting QB naming Rodney Peete who had not taken a snap in 3 years as their starter. Peete would prove a useful route as the Panthers won their first three games. However, some player experienced injuries and this would lead to an 8-game losing streak as the Panthers fell into last place in the NFC South. The Panthers would end thee season on a string note winning four of their last five games to finish with a 7-9 record. Top Rookie Julius Peppers would go on to win defensive rookie of the year honors with 12 sacks in just 12 games as he was suspended the final 4 games for using the banded supplement ephedra.
In 2003, the Panthers played good and the team made it to the super bowl. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, the Panthers road to Super Bowl XXXVIII had been a questionable one, just 2 seasons after a wretched 1-15 season the Panthers were now in the biggest game of them all against the New England Patriots. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Patriots drew first blood after Jake Delhomme fumbled on the Panthers own 20-yard line.
The Panthers would recover with a quick 90-yard drive to tie the game at 7. However, the Pats responded with a quick drive of their own to take a 14-7 lead with 18 seconds left in the half. The Panthers would not go quietly into halftime as they moved into FG range quickly allowing John Kasay to hit a 50-yard FG as time expired in the 2nd Quarter. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter, the Patriots would extend their lead to 21-10 just 11 seconds into the 4th Quarter.
The Panthers would smack back fast on Deshaun Foster's 33-yard Touchdown run. After the Panthers 2-point try failed the score was 21-16, but the Panthers had not been in control all game as the Pats drove down the field an appeared to be on the way to putting the game away when Reggie Howard intercepted Tom Brady's pass in the endzone.
The Panthers would take full advantage and on one play turned the Super Bowl into a contest as Jake Delhomme connected with Mushin Muhammad on an 85-yard TD pas to give the Panthers a 22-21 lead. Unfortunately, the Panthers 2-point conversion attempt would fail again. The Panthers lead would not last as the Pats scored a TD on the next drive, while adding a 2-point conversion to take a 29-22 lead. The Panthers would not quit easily tying the game with 1:08 left to tie the game. However, the Panthers kickoff went out of bounds and the Patriots were set up at the 40 only needing to get into Field Goal range to win the game. The Pats would drive 47 yards as Tom Brady in familiar territory set up Adam Vinatieri who nailed a 37-yard FG as time expired to give the Pats the Lombardi Trophy with a 32-29 win.
In 2004, they made it 3rd place with a 7-9 record. Now in 2005, after a year of injury the Panthers are healthy and ready for another run for the Super Bowl. However with the Falcons in their way it will be a though journey, expect the Panthers to give the Falcons a fight all the way for the division just falling short but ending up in the playoffs as a hazardous Storm.
