Cat Scratch Reader
The Panthers had another preseason game, one where the starters once again didn’t play much and their depth showed it needs a lot of work. Let’s dive in!
Both QBs started with a 3 and out for this preseason game. Second drive the offense once again sputters with a Bryce Young sack. With the short field, the Texans pushed it into a goal line situation, but the Panthers defense held up for 4th down and goal. However, CJ Stroud had other plans as he hit Nico Collins on a flat route for a touchdown, giving the Texans the first score of the game. Andy Dalton ended up taking over for Bryce after those two drives. He ended up hitting Rico Dowdle on a 3rd and long to get the Panthers first 1st down of the game. It didn’t sustain as the Panthers ended up punting it away again. First quarter ended with the Texans in possession.
The Panthers defense managed to force a 4th down against Davis Mills (definitely not Shedeur Sanders) and got the ball back instead of allowing a field goal try. The teams traded punts twice after the fact, with the Panthers ending up with the ball at the 2 minute warning. Jack Plummer and the offense sputtered in scoring range, which gave way for Ryan Fitzgerald to nail a 52 yard field goal for the Panthers first points of the game! 7-3 Texans. The Texans went on their 2 minute drill, with a few completions to push it down the field. Corey Thornton made a nice tackle to force the Texans to burn their last timeout, but on the following play got called for defensive pass interference which put the Texans well within field goal range. Fairborn ended up hitting the field goal to close the half with a 10-3 lead.
The Texans opened the second half with a decent drive, but the Panthers defense stood once they hit the RedZone and forced a field goal. 13-3 Texans early in the quarter. In a drive filed with penalties that both bit the Panthers and kept the drive alive, Jack Plummer ended the fun by hitting Texans defender Jaylin Smith right in the numbers for an interception. The Texans scored on the following play. As the starters most of the second string backups started coming out, the Panthers strung together a drive that ended in a missed 55 yard attempt by Matthew Wright. The game ended not long after that.
Two preseason games down, one left to go before real football! Sound off below on your thoughts in the comments.
