The Panthers won another battle of bad teams, defeating the Giants in overtime in Germany.
Chuba Hubbard ran for a career high 153 yards and two touchdowns to power the Carolina Panthers to an overtime victory over the New York Giants, 20-17.
First Quarter
The Panthers took the ball first and unceremoniously went three and out thanks to a second down sack by Brian Burns. Mike Jackson committed a 43 yard pass interference on the first defensive olay of the game, but that was the only positive play the Giants would get. Daniel Jones airmailed a pass over a wide open receiver on third down, forcing the Giants to punt.
The second drive was a little better. The Panthers went 90 yards in just eight plays thanks to three plays of at least 25 yards. Bryce Young slipped out of the pocket on third and goal and found a wide open Ja’Tavion Sanders in the back of the end zone to put the Panthers up 7-0.
After another three and out from the Giants, a nicely floated touch pass to Jalen Coker moved the Panthers into Giants territory. The drive stalled out just inside of field goal range after a third down false start, which referee Shawn Hochuli announced in German, much to the delight of the crowd.
Second Quarter
Eddy Pineiro banged home a 53 yard field goal that would’ve been good from 60 to start the second quarter.
The Giants moved the ball for the first time all game with a Daniel Jones run then laser over the middle to Jalin Hyatt. The Panthers defense blew up a toss play to set up a third and long, which they held. Our old pal Graham Gano made his triumphant return to the lineup to push the 43 yard field goal just outside the right upright.
After another Panthers three and out, the Giants started to lean on Tyrone Tracy. He had a couple of good runs and moved the Giants out to midfield. Despite the success of the run game, the Giants got cute with a flea flicker on 3rd and 1. Daniel Jones had both receivers open but instead elected to hold that ball until he was sacked by DJ Wonnum.
A third down drop by Jalen Coker caused the third straight three and out for the Panthers. The Giants again worked into scoring range thanks to some more good runs by Tracy. Jadeveon Clowney deflected a Daniel Jones pass on a roll out, and it fell into the arms of Xavier Woods.
Chuba Hubbard had a couple of nice runs, but the Panthers couldn’t get into field goal range with their two minute drill. The Panthers went into the half with a 10-0 lead. Wow!
Third Quarter
The Giants finally got on the board to start the second half. Tracy picked up some hefty gains on the ground and capped off the drive with a 32 yard touchdown run.
Chuba Hubbard ran roughshod over the Giants to take the Panthers inside the 10 yard line. Young found David Moore for a touchdown, but it was called back for an illegal formation. That gave Hubbard the chance to get back into the game after getting his broken helmet fixed, and he capped off the drive with a touchdown drive.
The offense got the ball right back after an A’Shawn Robinson sack ended the Giants drive after three plays. They couldn’t do anything with it and punted it back inside the Giants five yard line.
Fourth Quarter
It looked like the Panthers were going to keep the Giants bottled up, but Daniel Jones connected on a 3rd and 9 pass for a first down. That was quickly followed by a couple more long pass plays that put the Giants in Panthers territory. Jones ran it into the end zone a few plays later.
The Panthers ensuing drive was as disastrous as it could be. The Panthers committed penalties on the first two plays, and Hubbard came up gimpy after an awkward tackle forced him to fumble the ball. It was recovered by the Giants.
Josey Jewell nearly intercepted the first pass of the next drive, but it was still caught by the Giants. He got his redemption a couple plays later. Jones threw the ball a bit behind Devin Singletary, who bobbled it into the arms of Jewell. The Panthers went three and out after Young overthrew Coker on a wheel route (Coker may have been held though).
The Panthers defense forced another punt as the clock ticked past four minutes. Young found Legette on a deep out to pick up a key third down conversion. After a couple of ineffective runs, the Panthers called a swing pass to Hubbard that Young threw high, and Hubbard couldn’t reel it in.
The Panthers let the Giants hit quick passes over and over again to work into field goal range. The Giants settled for a 42 yard field goal, and this time Gano was able to hit it.
Overtime
On the first play of overtime, A’Shawn Robinson poked the ball away from Tyrone Tracy, and it was recovered by Josey Jewell. The Panthers called three straight run plays to set up Eddy Pineiro for the game winner. He drilled it right down the middle.
Overview
It was the second straight week we got to watch a bad team play a bad team, and for the second straight week, the Panthers came out on top. Bryce Young was good enough, particularly in the first half. Chuba Hubbard had his best game as a pro fresh off his big payday and appears to be okay after he got dinged up in the fourth quarter. The defense was decent for most of the game, aided by Daniel Jones being himself at times.
The Panthers have now won two games in a row. They’ll be feeling good as they head into their bye week. Enjoy your week break from Panthers football.