3 Carolina Panthers losses that hurt the most in 2022
By Dean Jones
Which of the Carolina Panthers’ losses during the 2022 season hurt more than others?
The Carolina Panthers are looking forward to a bright future. One that’s filled with more hope than in previous offseasons providing those in power get some key decisions right in the coming months.
This belief disintegrated under Matt Rhule and returned under the expert leadership of Steve Wilks. The interim appointment didn’t get the head coaching job long-term, but he’s set the right foundations in place for a successful future in Carolina.
For the Panthers to get within touching distance of playoff football was remarkable. And even with a 7-10 final record, there was a lot to like about the way things went over the second half of 2022.
Looking back, here are three Panthers losses that hurt more than most during the campaign.
Loss No. 1
Carolina Panthers vs. Browns
- Week 1 | 26-24 loss
After so much optimism throughout the summer, the Carolina Panthers couldn’t take this into the regular season as they were beaten by the Cleveland Browns on opening day. This came after a disastrous start, which left quarterback Baker Mayfield with too much to do against his former team.
Credit to the signal-caller for fighting hard in the second half. But the defense couldn’t get a stop late and rookie kicker Cade York sent a long-range attempt through the uprights with time expiring.
This was a game Carolina should have won in front of their home fans. Had they done so, the story might’ve altered slightly.