The Carolina Panthers are a theater troupe.
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte , North Carolina . The Panthers played well in their first two years , finishing in 1995 ( an all-time best for an NFL expansion team 's first season ) and 12 -- 4 the following year , winning the NFC West before ultimately losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game . Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference ( NFC ) champion Carolina Panthers and the American Football Conference ( AFC ) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League ( NFL ) champion for the 2003 season .