2017 SEASON IN REVIEW / PANTHERS.COM / @PANTHERSPR (11-5), 2ND IN NFC SOUTH PANTHERS RETURN TO PLAYOFFS FOR FOURTH TIME IN FIVE SEASONS 2017 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT Carolina finished the season at 11-5, tying for the best record in the Below are the final 2017 regular season averages and NFL rank- NFC South and earning the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs. The Panthers ings for Carolina in some key statistical categories: advanced to the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons, tied for the most in the NFC over that span. NFL NFC Three Panthers were named AP All-Pro with guard Andrew Norwell and OFFENSE Avg. Rank Rank taking first-team spots and Daryl Williams Total Yards Per Game 323.7 19th 12th earning a second-team selection. Four Panthers were named to the Pro Rushing Yards Per Game 131.4 4th 3rd Bowl in Kuechly, kicker , linebacker Thomas Davis and guard Rushing Yards Per Attempt 4.3 10th 7th . Passing Net Yards Per Game 192.3 28th 15th The Panthers finished fourth in the NFL in rushing (131.4 yards per game). Sacks Per Pass Play 6.5% 17th 9th It marked the third time in the last seven years that the Panthers have fin- Sacks Allowed 35 13th(t) 7th ished in the top four in rushing. Carolina was one of two teams with three Third Down Efficiency 41.9% 7th 5th or more 200-yard rushing games, and the only team with three players to Points Per Game 22.7 12th 7th rush for over 400 yards. DEFENSE Carolina's defense finished seventh in in total yards allowed Total Yards Per Game 317.1 7th 4th while posting 50 sacks, good for third in the NFL and fourth-most in fran- Rushing Yards Per Game 88.1 3rd 3rd chise history. Rushing Yards Per Attempt 3.9 11th 6th The run defense was especially strong, holding opponents to just 88.1 Passing Net Yards Per Game 229.1 18th 11th rushing yards per game. That mark ranked third in the NFL and was second Sacks Per Pass Play 8.3% 3rd 1st all-time in franchise history. The Panthers set a franchise record by going 50 3rd 1st an entire season without allowing a 100-yard individual rusher. Carolina's Sacks active streak of 20 games without an individual rusher topping 100 yards Third Down Efficiency 37.9% 13th 5th leads the NFL heading into 2018. Points Per Game 20.4 10th(t) 6th rushed for a career-best 754 rushing yards and six rushing , leading all NFL . Newton produced the Individual Leaders eighth-best rushing season by a quarterback in NFL history, as he notched Passing Yds Cmp% TD INT Rtg his third 700-yard rushing season which tied for most all-time. Cam Newton 3302 59.1 22 16 80.7 Rookie Christian McCaffrey set numerous franchise records as he became the fourth rookie in NFL history with 80 receptions. He finished Rushing Att Yds Avg Lng TD second in the league in receptions (80) and receiving yards (651) among Cam Newton 139 754 5.4 69 6 rookie running backs, and was fifth in all-purpose yards (1,306) among 198 680 3.4 60t 6 rookies. Christian McCaffrey 117 435 3.7 40 2 Running back Jonathan Stewart ran for 680 rushing yards as he became the franchise leader in career rushing yards and moved into second place Receiving Rec Yds Avg Lng TD all-time in total touchdowns (58). 63 840 13.3 44 8 Christian McCaffrey 80 651 8.1 37 5 Defe