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Carolina Panthers

Panthers release 2012 schedule

Apr 18, 2012

Two national television appearances highlight the Carolina Panthers 2012 schedule announced today by the National Football League. The Panthers host the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants Thursday night, September 20, on the NFL Network and play at Philadelphia on ESPN Monday Night Football on November 26.

The contest against the Giants will be the Panthers first nationally televised contest since playing the Dolphins at Bank of America Stadium in 2009 and Carolina’s first prime time telecast since playing at Pittsburgh in the 2010 season. The Panthers have not played a Monday Night game since being at Dallas in Week Three of the 2009 season.

The Panthers open the season on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning home September 16 to host the New Orleans Saints. This is the third time in team history that the Panthers have opened the season with two divisional opponents. It also happened in 1996 and 1998. The game at Tampa Bay will be the third straight year Carolina has started on the road.

“We had a strong finish last year and hope to maintain that momentum for the 2012 season,” says Carolina head coach Ron Rivera. “We play in one of the best divisions in the NFL and play all three division teams plus the New York Giants in the first four games. It’s going to be a challenge, but one that excites us.”

Carolina closed the 2011 season by winning four of its last six games and jumped 25 positions in total offense, finishing seventh after being last the previous year. Carolina also tied for fifth in scoring last season.

The Panthers four-game win improvement on the field was reflected in the television ratings with a 25 percent increase in viewership throughout the Carolinas.

Four of the first six games will be at Bank of America Stadium with contests against New Orleans (Sept. 16), the Giants (Sept. 20), Seattle (Oct. 7) and Dallas (Oct. 21). The Cowboys game follows the Panthers Bye Week October 14.

Rivera will return to all of his previous NFL coaching stops as the Panthers play Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego on the road.

2012 SCHEDULE

PRESEASON

Saturday Aug 11 HOUSTON TEXANS 7:00 pm Panthers TV/Fox 18
Friday Aug 17 MIAMI DOLPHINS 8:00 pm Panthers TV/Fox 18
Sunday Aug 26 @ New York Jets 8:00 pm NBC
Thursday Aug 30 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 7:30 pm Panthers TV/Fox 18

REGULAR SEASON

Sunday Sept 9 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4:15 pm FOX
Sunday Sept 16 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 1:00 pm FOX
Thursday Sept 20 NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20 pm NFLN
Sunday Sept 30 @ Atlanta Falcons 1:00 pm FOX

Sunday Oct 7 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 4:15 pm FOX
Sunday Oct 14 BYE
Sunday Oct 21 DALLAS COWBOYS 1:00 pm FOX
Sunday Oct 28 @ Chicago Bears 1:00 pm FOX

Sunday Nov 4 @ Washington Redskins 1:00 pm FOX
Sunday Nov 11 DENVER BRONCOS 1:00 pm CBS
Sunday Nov 18 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1:00 pm FOX
Monday Nov 26 @ Philadelphia Eagles 8:30 pm ESPN

Sunday Dec 2 @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 pm FOX
Sunday Dec 9 ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00 pm FOX
Sunday Dec 16 @ San Diego Chargers 4:05 pm FOX
Sunday Dec 23 OAKLAND RAIDERS 1:00 pm CBS
Sunday Dec 30 @ New Orleans Saints 1:00 pm FOX