CHARLOTTE (CHARLOTTE SPORTS LIVE) — The Panthers took on the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday afternoon, hoping to make this game their second win this season.
The first quarter was good but not great for the Panthers. Andy Dalton led the team down to the one-yard line but couldn’t punch it in and turned it over on downs. On the team’s next drive, Dalton threw an interception after his arm was hit on a 3rd down pass attempt to Diontae Johnson. The Bengals scored on that drive off of a three-yard touchdown run with Chase Brown and a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
That drive was the first of five straight that ended in a touchdown. Carolina drove 70 yards on 11 plays that finished with a three-yard run by Chuba Hubbard to tie the game. That was followed by a Ja’Marr Chase 63-yard catch and run which put the Bengals back on top. The Panthers responded with another 11-play 70-yard drive that ended with rookie Xavier Legette getting his first touchdown in the NFL off an eight-yard pass from Dalton. With less than 70 seconds in the half, the Bengals drove down the field and scored a one-yard touchdown run with one second left to take a 21-14 lead at the half.
Back from halftime, the Bengals gain 71 yards on 8 plays to the endzone where Chase Brown secures another touchdown with an extra point. The Panthers’ Johnny Hekker punts 47 yards to Cincinnati and then to the 15-yard line, where the Bengals return the punt for 3 yards before being tackled by Nick Scott. After a 63-yard punt from the Bengals, Legette misses a pass from Dalton. A brief timeout was called for Diontae Johnson who was hurt during the play, but he quickly returned to the game.
The Bengals make a 56-yard field goal, putting them ahead of the Panthers by 17 points. Hubbard comes back with a 38-yard before being pushed out of bounds. A pass to Johnson ends in a 21-yard touchdown, closing the gap between them and the Bengals, 31-21.
Into the final quarter, Bengals’ Joe Burrow throws a pass which gets intercepted by Xavier Woods. Woods goes for 34 yards. Eddy Pineriro makes a 48-year field goal, bringing the Panthers to 24 points. The Bengals end the game with a 46-yard field goal from Evan McPherson.
Game ends, Bengals 34 and Panthers 24.
The Panthers move on to the Chicago Bears, set for October 6 at 1 p.m.