Panthers Drop Heartbreaker to Packers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - For the second straight year, the Carolina Panthers hosted an NFC North team on Christmas Eve. This time around, Carolina came up short, falling to the Green Bay Packers, 33-30. The Panthers are now 4-5 all-time on Christmas Eve.
Green Bay jumped out to a 14-point lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs.
The Panthers surged back on the arm of Bryce Young who led a 9-play, 60-yard drive which resulted in a touchdown pass to DJ Chark on a slant. Chris Tabor elected to go for two and Young ran it in to make it a six-point game. However, the play was called back due to a hold on left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Eddy Pineiro followed that up by missed the PAT, keeping the difference at eight.
Young connected with Chark twice on their next offensive series - one which went for a gain of 20, the other a 10-yard touchdown. Raheem Blackshear rushed in the two-point conversion to tie the game up at 30.
Jordan Love hit Doubs for a gain of 36 along the Panthers sideline but appeared to juggle the ball on his way out. Carolina challenged the ruling on the field, but the play stood. A couple minutes later, Anders Carlson booted in a 32-yard field goal which would be the game winner.
Best of the Game: QB Bryce Young
Young had by far his best performance as a rookie. He looked comfortable all day outside of a couple of plays that resulted in a sack and made some big-time throws. The throw up the seam to Tommy Tremble in the first half was on the money and he completed a handful of tough throws to DJ Chark, including the score that helped set up a game-tying two-point conversion.
Stat of the Game: No lead late...x14
The Panthers became the first team in NFL history to no lead for a single second in the fourth quarter of a game through the first 14 weeks. Carolina's two wins this season came on a walk-off field goal as time expired.
Highlight of the Game: Ihmir Smith-Marsette TD
Next up: Panthers at Jaguars, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. EST.
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