The Panthers opened the 2021 Presidents against the Colts in a game where zero Panthers starters saw any action. PJ Walker started the game at quarterback and played the entire first half, and Will Grier ruled for the second half.
Overall, it was a story of two halves. The first half was great as the second and third units played well against the Colts and the Panthers took a 15-10 lead at halftime. The second half was less fun, as players at the bottom of the roster played half-filled assignments, costly penalties and badly executed offensive plays. The Colts were able to close the gap on the Panthers and eventually took a 21-18 lead with 0:07 in the game, the final score of the game.
Before you comment further on this game, keep in mind that this is the first pre-season game and is not necessarily an indication of what the team will look like during the regular season. Absolutely zero of our early players played today, and roulette was using this game as an assessment of what roster moves they would need to make in order to cut the roster on Tuesday. There were a lot of inane punishments - mostly false starts - but those things can be fixed. It's not the time to panic right now, but it does mean that the Panthers have a lot of work to do before they are ready to take the field against the Jets in the first week.
For those interested, below you can find a more detailed summary of the action, broken down by quarter.
First quarter
Panthers won the opening coin toss and postponed for the second half. The defense struggled a bit to keep the Colts from going down the field, but resolved itself and scored thanks to a punt on a blitz thanks to a crucial third down stop by Shaun Chandler.
The other team's offense did a good job of getting the ball down the field on its first drive, and a 60-yard catch and run by Terrace Marshall (on a broken play where Walker pulled it out of the pocket to find the receiver) ) , no less) Joy Sly's 29-yard field goal gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead with just six minutes left in the quarter to put the first point on the board.
The Colts also showed off the Panthers' back drive by taking advantage of a big game in the passing game to set up a game-tying field goal with 2:50 in the quarter to score 3–3. The Panthers made some good plays on defense but were unable to get off the ground when needed and set up a field goal effort to allow the Colts to take the ball down on a big game.
The Panthers went three-out on their next drive, thanks to a false start penalty by Trent Scott, which set the team back (it was their second false start of the day). Joseph Charlton bowls a quality 50-plus yard punt to set up the defense with good field position.
The defense fared better in its next campaign, thanks to a strip sack by Marquis Haynes to deliver the ball back into the offense deep inside the Colts area. The Panthers were able to run a play before time ran out in the quarter and the game was tied 3–3.
Second trimester
The Panthers opened the second quarter inside the red zone, but were unable to put the ball into the endzone and had to settle for another field goal from Joy Sly. The chip shot was good and the Panthers took a 6-3 lead in the quarter with a 14:47.
The defense struggled a bit at third down during the next drive, but once the Colts crossed midfield and completed a fourth and a try, Frankie Luvu earned the Panthers' defense a turnover on a hard-down.
The offense took a major advantage in his first game when Walker joined Marshall for a game of 18 yards. The offense couldn't hold anything together after that big advantage and had to settle for another field goal, this time from a 41-yard slay from Sly to extend Carolina's lead to 9-3 in quarter 8: 07 left.
Yetur Gros-Matos picked up a sack for a loss of 6 yards in the defense's first game after Sly's field goal, but the defense immediately gave up a big game at seconds down. The defense, however, fell down on the next set, forcing the Colts to punt from midfield. Punt was dropped at the Carolina 10-yard line with 5:07 remaining in the quarter.
Chuba Hubbard made his presence known on third and -1 when he bounced off the line and went 59 yards to try to set up the Panthers with solid field position and try to put more points on the board before the end of the half. Of. Walker took a massive 26-yard lead with Shea Smith, followed by a pass from Walker to Tremble for the first touchdown of the game. The Panthers went for two, but a holding penalty on Tremble forced the Panthers to choose a 43-yard extra point instead. Sly's effort did not go well and the Panthers took a 1:56 lead in the quarter to take a 15-3 lead.
The Colts made a quick start on their next possession with a quick 31-yard strike, and they continued to skilfully move down the field en route to a touchdown that put them less than a minute within five points of Carolina's lead. Brought to you in less time. Half. Kenny Robinson imposed an unnecessary roughness penalty that helped the Colts score 15-10 in their 7-play, 75-yard drive.
The Panthers attempted a 63-yard field goal with two seconds left in the half but the kick was not good. The Panthers took a 15-10 lead over the Colts at halftime.
Third quarter
Will Grier started the second half at quarterback for the Panthers, and the first drive was a quick and uneven three-and-out that took a total of five yards. Joseph Charlton bowls another punt, and Kenny Robinson hits a fine hit on the punt returner.
The defense got off to a weak start by allowing the Colts to take the ball with ease, but a well-timed Kenny Robinson interception gave the ball back into the Panthers' offense before the Colts could inflict too much damage.
The Panthers began to put together a good drive - and even converted a fourth down play - but were unable to put points on the board after failing to convert a second fourth down play on the drive. Were, and he swung the ball down to the Colts.
The defense stalled out and forced the Colts to punt the ball back to the Panthers, with Kendall Donnerson and Ladarius Ville making a big play in third to force the punt. The Panthers took over with five seconds remaining in the quarter and the Panthers still managed to run a play (with an additional illegal formation penalty) before time ran out with a 15–10 win.
Fourth quarter
The Panthers could not drive together and had to punt the ball back to the Colts, but the returner muffed the punt and the Panthers recovered, giving the offense a chance for more reps. Rookie long snapper Thomas Fletcher picked up a loose ball that was forced by Stanley Thomas-Oliver to give possession to the Panthers.
The Panthers benefited from a poor fumble when the Grier found Giovanni Ricci for a moderate advantage, and the Colts forced a fumble but failed to recover it, which was simply referred to as 'Precision Football Theater'. What can be described is where many players tried - and failed - to pick up the loose football. The Colts challenged Reigns on the out-of-bounds turf field and were defeated, so the Panthers retained possession. All of this led to a fourth and second position after a few plays which gave Sly a shot at another field goal. He was good from 32 yards and gave the Panthers an 18-10 lead with just over 10 minutes to go into the game.
Troy Pride Jr. missed two big plays and injured his knee – an injury that required a car to carry him off the field – with eight minutes left in the game. The Colts scored a touchdown in the first game after being taken off the field to pull within two points. He attempted a 2-point conversion to tie the game and was successful. The teams were tied 18-18 with 7:43 in the game.
The Panthers were unable to put points on the board with their next drive, thanks to three straight false-start penalties, which turned the third and -2 into a more difficult third and -17 position that the Panthers were unable to convert. Charlton bowled another punt - this time from 53-yards - to set the Colts back on offense.
The Colts were able to drive down the field and get inside the Panthers red zone with less than two minutes to go, and were able to take the first and goal with one minute remaining. He took a knee for the first three plays and set up a chip shot field goal, giving him a 21-18 lead with just 0:07 in the game.