In week 1 the Panthers were on the road against the Patriots. Both teams came into this one hoping to get to 1-0. But the Panthers were able to get just enough to get the road win.
This game was a struggle for both offenses. And that was mainly because of turnovers. The Panthers gave up the ball twice. But they were able to force 3 turnovers from the Patriots. The scoring started in the 2nd QT, when Cam Newton found rookie Travis Rudolph on a deep crossing route. It's the rookie's first career TD reception. And that was the only score of the first half for either team.
After half time both defenses came out and continued to dominate the game. The Panthers were able to get a Graham Gano field goal in the 3rd to stretch the lead to 10-0. To start the 4th the Patriots started mounting a comeback. After a long drive, the Patriots had the ball at the 1, when Dion Lewis fumbled the ball and the Panthers recovered. But from the 1 on the Panthers first play Jonathan Stewart was taken down for a safety by Kroy Biermann. On the next drive the Patriots put it in the ends one for their first TD of the game. It came on a Dion Lewis 1 yd TD run. After Garoppolo connected with Gronk for the 2pt conversion the game was tied 10-10. The Panthers then put together a long time consuming drive that took all but 44 seconds off the clock and ended with a Jonathan Stewart 2 yd TD run to give the Panthers the win.
The Panthers got the win, but it wasn't all good news. Starting CB and 2nd round draft pick Cam Sutton exited the game with an injury. It was reported later that he suffered a ruptured disk and will be sidelined for around 8 weeks.
Panthers Top Players
QB Cam Newton 20-27, 282 yards, 1 TD-2 INTs
RB Leonard Fournette 23 carries, 102 yards
WR Kelvin Benjamin 5 catches, 76 yards
Defense James Bradberry 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 2ints
This game was a struggle for both offenses. And that was mainly because of turnovers. The Panthers gave up the ball twice. But they were able to force 3 turnovers from the Patriots. The scoring started in the 2nd QT, when Cam Newton found rookie Travis Rudolph on a deep crossing route. It's the rookie's first career TD reception. And that was the only score of the first half for either team.
After half time both defenses came out and continued to dominate the game. The Panthers were able to get a Graham Gano field goal in the 3rd to stretch the lead to 10-0. To start the 4th the Patriots started mounting a comeback. After a long drive, the Patriots had the ball at the 1, when Dion Lewis fumbled the ball and the Panthers recovered. But from the 1 on the Panthers first play Jonathan Stewart was taken down for a safety by Kroy Biermann. On the next drive the Patriots put it in the ends one for their first TD of the game. It came on a Dion Lewis 1 yd TD run. After Garoppolo connected with Gronk for the 2pt conversion the game was tied 10-10. The Panthers then put together a long time consuming drive that took all but 44 seconds off the clock and ended with a Jonathan Stewart 2 yd TD run to give the Panthers the win.
The Panthers got the win, but it wasn't all good news. Starting CB and 2nd round draft pick Cam Sutton exited the game with an injury. It was reported later that he suffered a ruptured disk and will be sidelined for around 8 weeks.
Panthers Top Players
QB Cam Newton 20-27, 282 yards, 1 TD-2 INTs
RB Leonard Fournette 23 carries, 102 yards
WR Kelvin Benjamin 5 catches, 76 yards
Defense James Bradberry 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 2ints