Despite losing to the New York Giants 21-19 in week two of the preseason, the Carolina Panthers showed noticeable indications of growth in a few key areas.
Although they weren’t on the field for very long, Daniel Jones and the Giants’ first-team offense made the most of it. Jones completed 8 of his 9 passes for 69 yards and a score to tight end Daniel Bellinger during his lone drive of the evening. The Panthers struggled against fellow tight end Darren Waller, who hauled in three grabs for 30 yards. Ironically, Waller dropped the ball after taking a strong hit from safety Vonn Bell, which was Jones’ only incomplete pass.
Bryce Young, the first overall pick, and the Panthers’ starting lineup went three and out on their opening series but made progress on the following drive. Young directed a 15-play drive in which Matthew Wright knocked a pass through from 37 yards out to give Carolina its first points of the preseason.
Jonathan Mingo, a draft classmate of Young’s, was hit for 15 yards and moved the chains impressively after bouncing off safety Jason Pinnock.
A few plays later, Young helped tight end Hayden Hurst, who had made a false start on third and 1, out of trouble. To continue the drive, he successfully threw a ball to Adam Thielen down the sideline.
In response, New York put together a nine-play, 60-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a Tyrod Taylor touchdown pass of 33 yards to rookie speedster Jalin Hyatt. Taylor was pressured by linebacker Deion Jones to only chuck one as far as he could and find safety. Eric Rowe was duped as the play turned the wrong way, giving Hyatt plenty of space to make the catch.
Frank Reich, the head coach of the Panthers, decided to run Spencer Brown on 4th and 1 just shy of midfield with a little more than two minutes left in the half, but the Giants slammed the door shut. Running back Eric Gray increased the Giants’ advantage to 21-3 three plays later by rushing one in from nine yards away.
The Panthers put up a balanced, deliberate drive to start the second half that consumed 7:15 of the total game time. The momentum of the drive was stopped on second down by a sack, but Matthew Wright handled matters once more, this time really showcasing his leg by making a 53-yard field goal.
Matt Corral, who completed passes of 14 and 27 yards to Shi Smith while also running for a 13-yard gain, played a significant role in the Panthers’ first preseason touchdown. Raheem Blackshear added to the success with his 20 yards of total offense on just four carries, including a one-yard touchdown run. With 13:41 remaining in the game, Corral’s pass for the two-point conversion was incomplete, maintaining the score at 21-12.
Jake Luton had the opportunity to put something on video halfway through the fourth quarter when Carolina made another QB change, and boy did he ever. A touchdown pass to Gary Jennings in the end zone brought the Panthers within two after he connected with Josh Vann for a 21-yard gain along the sideline.
Don’t break; just bend. On the Giants’ subsequent offensive possession, the Panthers defense did just that, allowing them to advance the ball from their own 15 and eventually cross midfield. With less than two minutes left, Ejiro Evero’s team forced a punt, giving Carolina a chance to win the match. Luton, though, threw four straight incomplete passes, giving the ball back to New York.
