The
Carolina Panthers hosted the
New York Giants for both teams opening pre-season game. The Giants have had off-season problems with losing former number one receiver
Steve Smith and troubles with defensive end
Osi Umenyiora wanting out. The Panthers just have been trying to find out who is going to lead their team with new
Coach Ron Rivera bringing in
Cam Newton at number one pick this year over last year’s number one pick last year
Jimmy Clausen.
Jimmy Clausen (4/7, 69 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int) started the game this week and looked like usual by opening the game with a pick-six on his second pass of the game.
Michael Boley who returned it 56-yards for a touchdown had the ball thrown right to him by Clausen before running down the sideline to score the game’s first touchdown.
With the Giants taking a quick 7-0 lead the Panthers were right back on the field for another go at it. Clausen struggled again, but this time leading the team to a quick three and out after getting sacked for a nine-yard loss by
Jason Pierre-Paul. Eli Manning (4/9, 36 yards) started for the Giants after the punt and looked almost as bad with him only being able to move the ball 37 yards to get into field-goal range. Lawrence Tynes had a chance to add more points on the board, but missed a 56-yard field-goal attempt that just fell short.
Clausen came back with a shorten field and led the Panthers down the field to tie the game up at 7-points apiece. The Panthers moved 54-yards that was capped off with a Clausen 18-yard touchdown pass to newly acquired tight end Greg Olsen (3 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD). The Giants got the ball back and the Giants could not do anything as they went three and out and was forced to punt the ball.
The Panthers struggled also to move the ball and was also forced to punt the ball away. The teams traded punts until the end of the second quarter. The Panthers opened the second quarter with Cam Newton (8/19, 134 yards) leading the offense. His first play the Panthers moved the pocket and Newton rolled out to hit Olsen for a 10 yard gain. Newton moved the team into field-goal range and Olindo Mare came in to knock down a 26-yard field-goal to give them a 10-7 lead.
Manning stayed in the game to open the second quarter, but the Giants still had no luck with moving the ball. The Giants punted the ball away, but the Panthers gave it right back when Mike Goodson (8 carries, 30 yards, 2 fumbles) fumbled the ball and Alex Hall recovered it for the Giants. The Giants still could not move the ball and settled for another field-goal, but Tynes missed the 37-yard opportunity that went wide left.
Newton got the ball back for the Panthers but did nothing with it as they went three and out, and had to punt. The Giants sat Eli down and Sage Rosenfels came in to take over. He did not do much only going three and out, but they were in position for a field-goal and Tynes finally made a 38-yarder to tie the game up at 10-points apiece.
The Panthers had Newton back out to close out the quarter. Newton moved the ball down the field a 36-yard pass to Armanti Edwards (1 reception, 36 yards). Newton then missed on his next three passes, and the Panthers had to settle for another Mare to take a 13-10 lead going into halftime.
The third quarter was trouble as neither team was able to put points on the board, and that went well into the fourth quarter until Derek Anderson made a 35-yard Kealoha Pilares for a touchdown to give them a 20-10 lead and that sealed the game in the Panthers favor.
