Panthers vs Packers: TNF first half recap
· Yahoo Sports
First Quarter
A forced and recovered fumble on the opening kickoff earned the Panthers the ball to start the game and their first turnover in three games. Interior pressure buckled the opening drive before it got started and the Panthers had to settle for a field goal.
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The defenses traded three and outs from there until a big pass interference penalty opened things up for the Packers. A big pass against an unsuccessful big blitz followed that penalty and led to the Packers first TD. A missed extra point then kept the spirit of Panthers football alive.
The Panthers stretched the perimeter of the field to move away from the interior pressure and into the red zone after, getting to a 4th and 1 with 1:00 left in the first quarter. Chuba Hubbard ran for a hard one yard, showing success where the panthers have struggled in short yardsge. The next play he carried them to the 1 yard line and the end of the 1st quarter.
Second Quarter
Hubbard punched it in on second and goal to start the wuarter and regain a Panthers lead A second Green Bay fumble on ensuing drive gave the Panthers a big opportunity to expand their lead. Unfortunately, their offensive line did their best impression of tissue paper and the Panthers punted after three plays.
Packers game plan seems to be attempting therapy for their running game. So far so therapeutic for the Panthers run defense. Unfortunately, less could be said for the pass defense. A deep bomb surrendered to Christian Watson led to both him and Will Lee III leaving the game with injuries. Chau Smith-Wade and Marco Wilson were the corners left standing.
Somehow, the defense held the Packers until third and goal from the one, but Josh Jacobs found plenty of room for a score at the end of the drive to retake a Packers lead.
The Panthers started their second possession of the second quarter with 6:28 left on the clock. A Green Bay penalty on third and eight turned into a tipped pass for an interception on third and three. Green Bay ended up with the football at the 48 yard line with 5:18 left in the half.
Quick, short passes moved the Packers safely down the field. The occasional running play allowed the Panthers defense to flash competence, but the Packers leaned on the pass as needed to score a touchdown that felt inevitable. Inside of two minutes left in the half, it felt like the Panthers were out of answers in their secondary.
Edge pressure and bad offensive tackle play killed the two-minute drill and the Panthers went in to the half with what had been a one possession game feeling increasingly out of reach.
Half Time
The Panthers were firing on zero cylinders in the first half. Injuries have exposed paper thin depth along both fronts. Young had no time to throw, highlighted by Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker combining in the first half for one reception on five targets.
Meanwhile, the defense couldn’t cover, couldn’t pressure, and thus couldn’t get the Packers off the field when they needed to. Writing this at halftime, I expect the second half to be long and unsatisfying to watch as a Panthers fan.
Third Quarter