Editing Carolina Panthers (section)

==== Ron Rivera years (2011–2019) ====
[[File:Ron Rivera (cropped).jpg|alt=Sitting at a table, a man wearing a white Panthers shirt and glasses is signing an autograph.|thumb|Former coach [[Ron Rivera]] in 2011.|247x247px]]
[[File:Cam Newton 2014.jpg|thumb|2015 NFL MVP [[Cam Newton]]. Newton would lead the Panthers to a 15–1 record in 2015 and an appearance in [[Super Bowl 50]].|268x268px]]
The team hired [[Ron Rivera]] to replace Fox as head coach<ref name="Ron Rivera knows he has to win">{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Ron Rivera knows he has to win |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8894403/ron-rivera-carolina-panthers-knows-win-2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201045013/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8894403/ron-rivera-carolina-panthers-knows-win-2013 |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |access-date=January 30, 2013 |website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> and drafted [[Auburn University|Auburn]]'s [[Heisman Trophy]]-winning quarterback [[Cam Newton]] with the first overall pick in the [[2011 NFL draft]].<ref name="Carolina Panthers select Cam Newton with No.&nbsp;1 pick in NFL draft">{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/04/carolina-panthers-select-cam-newton-with-no-1-pick-in-nfl-draft/1|title=Carolina Panthers select Cam Newton with No. 1 pick in NFL draft|last=Leahy|first=Sean|date=April 28, 2011|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=January 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024205305/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/04/carolina-panthers-select-cam-newton-with-no-1-pick-in-nfl-draft/1|archive-date=October 24, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The Panthers opened the [[2011 Carolina Panthers season|2011 season]] {{Win–loss record|w=2|l=6}}, but finished with a {{Win–loss record|w=6|l=10}} record,<ref name="Ron Rivera knows he has to win" /> and Newton was awarded the [[AP Offensive Rookie of the Year#Offensive ROTY Winners (1967–present)|AP Offensive Rookie of the Year]] award after setting the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns from a quarterback (14) in a single season and becoming the first rookie NFL quarterback to throw for over 4,000&nbsp;yards in a single season, thus setting the NFL rookie record.<ref name="i020">{{cite web | last=Crumpler | first=John | title=Former OROY Cam Newton says C.J. Stroud had greatest rookie season ever | website=Texans Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2024-02-14 | url=https://texanswire.usatoday.com/2024/02/14/former-oroy-cam-newton-says-c-j-stroud-had-greatest-rookie-season-ever/ | access-date=2024-09-01}}</ref><ref name="k040">{{cite web | last=Goldberg | first=Charles | title=Cam Newton breaks Peyton Manning's rookie record for passing, scores another rushing TD, too | website=AL.com| date=2011-12-25 | url=https://www.al.com/sports/2011/12/cam_newton_breaks_peyton_manni.html | access-date=2024-09-01}}</ref> He also was the first rookie quarterback to rush for over 500&nbsp;yards in a single season.<ref name="Cam Newton Wins 2012 Offensive Rookie Of Year ">{{cite news | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-newton-voted-ap-offensive-rookie-of-the-year-09000d5d8269d38a | title=Panthers' Newton voted AP Offensive Rookie of the Year | publisher=[[National Football League]] | date=February 4, 2012 | access-date=April 26, 2020 | archive-date=April 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412055505/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8269d38a/article/panthers-newton-voted-ap-offensive-rookie-of-the-year | url-status=live }}</ref> 
After strengthening the defense with future all-pro [[Luke Kuechly]] in the first round of the 2012 draft,<ref name="w859">{{cite web | last=Person | first=Joseph | title= How the Panthers were sold Luke Kuechly was their guy in 2012 | website=The New York Times| date=2022-04-12 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3239143/2022/04/12/panthers-nfl-draft-luke-kuechly/ | access-date=2024-09-02}}</ref> the Panthers again opened the [[2012 Carolina Panthers season|2012 season]] poorly, losing five out of their first six games, leading longtime general manager [[Marty Hurney]] to be fired in response.<ref name="j019">{{cite web | last=Yasinskas | first=Pat | title=Panthers GM Hurney fired as team starts 1-5 | website=ESPN.com | date=2012-10-22 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8536687/marty-hurney-carolina-panthers-gm-fired-team-starts-1-5 | access-date=2024-09-01}}</ref> The team slid to a {{Win–loss record|w=2|l=8}} record before winning five of their last six games, resulting in a {{Win–loss record|w=7|l=9}} record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2012.htm |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> This strong finish helped save Rivera's job.<ref name="Ron Rivera knows he has to win" /> 
The Panthers had a winning season the following year, finishing with a {{Win–loss record|w=12|l=4}} record and winning their third NFC South title and another playoff bye,<ref name="Cam Newton, Greg Hardy help Panthers clinch NFC South title">{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2013 |title=Cam Newton, Greg Hardy help Panthers clinch NFC South title |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=331229001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230073102/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=331229001 |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013 |website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> but they were beaten by the 49ers in the Divisional Round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers - January 12th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201401120car.htm |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2014, the Panthers opened the season with two wins, but after 12 games, sat at {{win-loss record|w=3|l=8|d=1}} due in part to a seven-game winless streak. A four-game winning streak to end the season secured the team their second consecutive NFC South championship and a playoff berth, despite a losing record of {{win-loss record|w=7|l=8|d=1}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/playoff-clinching-carolina-panthers-lock-up-nfc-south-0ap3000000450787 | title=Playoff clinching: Carolina Panthers lock up NFC South | work=NFL.com | date=December 28, 2014 | access-date=December 29, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229044406/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000450787/article/playoff-clinching-carolina-panthers-lock-up-nfc-south | archive-date=December 29, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Panthers defeated the [[Arizona Cardinals]], 27–16, in the [[2014–15 NFL playoffs|wild card round]] to advance to the divisional playoffs,<ref name="2015wc">{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2015 |title=Panthers bury Cardinals behind Cam Newton, historic effort on defense |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400749512 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107114735/http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400749512 |archive-date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2015 |website=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> where they lost to eventual NFC champion Seattle, 31–17. The 2015 season saw the Panthers start the season {{Win–loss record|w=14|l=0}} and finish the season {{Win–loss record|w=15|l=1}}, which tied for the best regular-season record in NFC history. The team had the league's top-scoring offense.<ref name="m555">{{cite web | last=Reimer | first=Alex | title=This is how Carolina built its top scoring offense | website=SBNation.com | date=2016-01-23 | url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2016/1/23/10803714/panthers-offense-stats-2015-cam-newton-ted-ginn-greg-olsen | access-date=2024-09-01}}</ref> During the same season, [[Cam Newton]] was named [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL MVP]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/cam-newton-named-nfl-mvp-16796069|title=Cam Newton Named NFL MVP|date=February 6, 2016|website=Carolina Panthers|access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article58938873.html|title=Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is Named NFL MVP; he thanks the doubters|last=Jones|first=Jonathan|date=February 7, 2016|website=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref> The Panthers also secured their third consecutive NFC South championship, as well as their first overall top-seeded playoff berth.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hanzus|first=Dan|title=Panthers clinch home-field advantage in playoffs|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-clinch-home-field-advantage-in-playoffs-0ap3000000614846|publisher=National Football League|date=January 3, 2016|access-date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125162427/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000614846/article/panthers-clinch-homefield-advantage-in-playoffs|archive-date=January 25, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2015–16 NFL playoffs|2015–16 playoffs]], the Panthers defeated the [[2015 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] in the NFC Divisional playoffs, 31–24, after shutting them out in the first half, 31–0,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400820435|title=Panthers hold off Seahawks, advance to NFC title game|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=ESPN.com|date=January 18, 2016|access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015904/http://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400820435|archive-date=December 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[2015 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]], 49–15, in the [[NFC Championship Game]] to advance to [[Super Bowl 50]], their first Super Bowl appearance since the [[2003 Carolina Panthers season|2003 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400820437|title=Cam Newton, Panthers smother Cards to reach Super Bowl 50|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=ESPN.com|date=January 25, 2016|access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210063228/http://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400820437|archive-date=December 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Panthers lost a defensive struggle to the AFC champion [[Denver Broncos]], 24–10.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/08/broncos-defense-panthers-cam-newton-peyton-manning|title=Super Bowl 50 was billed as Newton v Manning – but the defenses tore up the script|last=Felt|first=Hunter|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 8, 2016|access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210064804/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/08/broncos-defense-panthers-cam-newton-peyton-manning|archive-date=December 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/02/07/von-miller-defense-carry-broncos-to-super-bowl-50-victory/|title=Von Miller, defense carry Broncos to Super Bowl victory|last=Renck|first=Troy E.|newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|date=February 7, 2016|access-date=December 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175409/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/02/07/von-miller-defense-carry-broncos-to-super-bowl-50-victory/|archive-date=August 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2016 Carolina Panthers season|2016 season]], the Panthers regressed on their 15–1 record from 2015, posting a 6–10 record and a last-place finish in the NFC South, missing the playoffs for the first time since [[2012 Carolina Panthers season|2012]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Carolina Panthers Franchise Encyclopedia|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/index.htm|access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref> and losing the division title to the second-seeded [[2016 Atlanta Falcons season|Falcons]],<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 NFL Standings & Team Stats|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/|access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> who went on to represent the NFC in [[Super Bowl LI]]. In [[2017 Carolina Panthers season|2017]], the Panthers finished with an 11–5 record and a #5 seed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Carolina Panthers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2017.htm |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> However, they lost to the [[New Orleans Saints]] 31–26 in the Wild Card Round, their first loss in that round in franchise history.<ref name="x057">{{cite web | last=Martel | first=Brett | title=Brees, defensive stand, help Saints survive Panthers, 31-26 | website=AP News | date=January 8, 2018 | url=https://apnews.com/general-news-76dec3d1ab0843fda130caefaee258c0 | access-date=July 30, 2024}}</ref>