The Panthers have sent SS Charles Godfrey to the Bucs for a 2017 2nd round pick.
The Minnesota Vikings will travel to Charlotte, NC to face the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round of the USFL playoffs. These two teams matched up earlier in the year during a week six meeting in Charlotte. The Panthers pulled out a close 24-22 victory. The game was won on a botched snap on 4th down inside the 10 yard line. The Vikings only needed to kick a field goal to win by one. The snap was botched and Carolina took over on downs. The game was a defensive struggle for both teams and should be very similar this time. Carolina enters the game finally getting healthy while Minnesota will be without all world running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson was a difference maker in the first meeting compling 220 all-purpose yards. Despite the yards it was the only game all season that AP was held without a score. The Vikings will need to find a way to replace that production or it could be a long day. The Panthers will need to find a way to get their running game going if they want a chance to win this game. In the first matchup the Panthers were held to a season low 66 yards on the ground. We expect this game will go down to the wire and leave fans from both teams talking for weeks.
The Panthers and Jets squared off in Charlotte NC for a week 15 match up boasting a combined 25-1 record. The Panthers were ranked 6th in Offense and 2nd in Defense. The Jets sported the No 1 ranked Defense in the league and the 7th ranked offense. All week long the players from both teams talked back and forth through the media. This game was set to be an instant USFL classic. The Jets found themselves under siege all day as the Panthers front four raked up an amazing 12 sacks. The Panthers lead the game the entire way at one point up 31-3. The Jets did what the Jets do best and kept the fight coming and with a couple of late turnovers pulled to within eight. The Panthers lead by Cam Newtons 177 yards rushing abandoned the pass early in the game and finished the day with 315 yards rushing against the leagues best defense. Coach Ron Rivera had this to say "We take what the defense gives us". Charles Johnson finished the day with 4 of the Panthers 12 sack. He is now 2 sacks away from the single season record for most sacks in a season.
The Carolina Panthers biggest question mark coming into the season was the defensive secondary. After week the 3 they boast the leagues top defense and are only allowing a mind blowing 66.7 yards per game through the air. The secondary is definitely benefiting form the Panthers front seven that has produced 14 sacks already this season.
The Carolina Panthers have traded FB Mike Tolbert to the Jacksonville Jaguars for two 2015 3rd picks and a 2014 4th round pick.
Three trades per season are the new limit. The league year begins and ends with the playing of the SB. All trades during the draft are considered part of the three trade policy. No CPU trading is allowed.
The USFL league office has concluded its investigation into the events surrounding the game between the Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers. The league has found that the Texans quit in the middle of the game. This is a clear violation of league rules. Houston will be suspended for the first three games of the season. These games will be played by the Chargers in week one, Titans in week two and the Ravens in week three. The games will be played by the human opponent against the CPU.
The Carolina Panthers came into the game wearing all black and ready for war. They pounded on Russell Wilson all game sacking him 6 times. The Defense forced 4 turnovers making it easy for star QB Cam Newton to lead the team to a 21 point victory in the season opener at Bank Of America Stadium.