The 1996 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League, the second under head coach Dom Capers, and the first at Ericsson Stadium. They improved upon their 7–9 record in 1995, and made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The Panthers would be a huge surprise as the Panthers won their last seven games of the season to finish the season with a 12–4 record. The result was that the Panthers won the NFC West, and had a first round bye in the 1996 NFL Playoffs. The Panthers would then beat the Dallas Cowboys 26–17 before falling 30–13 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship. The Panthers did not return to the playoffs until 2003, when they would make their first Super Bowl but lost 29-32 to the New England Patriots. Offseason Unrestricted free agents signed: QB Steve Beuerlein Jacksonville LB Duane Bickett Seattle CB Eric Davis San Francisco LB Kevin Greene Pittsburgh T Greg Skrepenak Oakland TE Wesley Walls New Orleans Unrestricted free agents lost: RB Derrick Moore Detroit DE Shawn Price (Restricted Free Agent) Buffalo QB Frank Reich New York Jets CB Rod Smith Minnesota NFL Draft Personnel Staff Roster Schedule Regular season Standings Regular season results Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons Kerry Collins started for the Panthers and threw two touchdowns while John Kasay booted five field goals as the Falcons were crushed 29–6. Week 2: at New Orleans Saints Acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars, quarterback Steve Beuerlein did not throw a single pass, instead rushing three times for a net loss of ten yards; Kerry Collins handled the quarterbacking duties, throwing for 171 yards and one pick while Jim Everett threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. This game, though, was a battle of field goals; following an 84-yard Winslow Oliver punt return touchdown John Kasay provided the rest of Carolina's offense with five field goals, two of them 51-yarders, for a 22–20 Panthers win. Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers The first sign that perennial NFC West champion San Francisco was in for a serious season-long fight with Carolina came as both 2–0 teams clashed at Ericsson Stadium. Steve Beuerlein started and threw for 290 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick; a second pick was called back on a Niners holding call. The Panthers controlled the game from the