In what can only be described as a lackluster display of preseason football, the Carolina Panthers opted to rest most of their starters, leading to a rather uneventful game against the New England Patriots. The backups, who were given the chance to shine, struggled to find any sort of production on the field.
The game kicked off with a whimper as both teams failed to make much of an impact on their opening drives. The Panthers, taking to the air on their second drive, were plagued by drops from Terrace Marshall and Jonathan Mingo, resulting in a quick three and out. The Patriots didn’t fare much better, leading to a series of punts exchanged between the two teams.
It wasn’t until late in the first quarter that the Panthers managed to secure their first first down with a solid run by Mike Boone. The second and third quarters saw more of the same, with both teams struggling to move the ball and relying heavily on their defenses to hold things together.
A bright spot for the Panthers came in the form of Eku Leota, who made some impactful plays in the backfield, and Lamar Jackson, who had some key pass breakups. However, the offense only seemed to click when Jack Plummer targeted Jordan Matthews, with undrafted rookie quarterback showing some inexperience and the offensive line racking up penalties.
As the game progressed, both teams managed to put some points on the board, with the Patriots eventually securing a field goal and a touchdown drive led by Joe Milton. On the Panthers’ end, Jake Luton took over at quarterback and helped guide the team to a successful drive, though they ultimately had to settle for a field goal after a dropped pass on third down.
Despite the lackluster performance, there were some standout moments on both sides of the ball. The Panthers will now have over a week to analyze their performance and make any necessary corrections before they face off against the New York Jets at home next Saturday.