Former Panthers kicker Graham Gano’s four field goals lead Giants to win over Carolina
Once again the Panthers were on the wrong side of a kicking clinic, losing 19-16 to the New York Giants Sunday.
Former Panthers kicker Graham Gano hit a 56-yard, go-ahead field goal with fewer than four minutes to play, which put New York up 19-16. The Panthers had a chance to take the lead, but punted after Baker Mayfield was sacked near midfield with 2:08 to play.
“My heart hurts for the guys in that locker room. I know how badly they wanted to win the ball game,” coach Matt Rhule said. “That’s two games in a row where it came down to the end to win the game and we came up short both times. I take full responsibility for that. That is my job and it falls on me. I have to help these guys find a way to just make one more play to win the game.”
Rookie tackle Ikem Ekwonu was beat inside by a blitzing Julian Love, who rolled down from the free safety position to overload the Panthers’ offensive line.
“That (last sack) is on me,” Ekwonu said after the game. “We saw that throughout the week in preparation and I just did not adjust to my man. I had a read. Once I saw my defensive end drop back (into coverage) my job is to go back inside and I just got beat.”
Entering the game Carolina knew the Giants and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale were going to blitz Mayfield at a near 50% clip. Mayfield was sacked twice and hit four times.
Once again, it took a while for the Panthers to get going, which is not what coach Matt Rhule neither anticipated or wanted after he condemned the team’s slow start in Week 1. Carolina traded field goals with the Giants all afternoon. New kicker Eddy Pineiro made kicks of 31, 32 and 38 yards. He also made his lone extra point.
Gano banged in kicks of 56, 51, 36 and 33 yards.
The Panthers defense could not have played much better, except that it failed to cause a turnover for the second straight game. The Giants gained only 60 yards in the first half and finished with 263.
The Panthers defense held the Giants to two first-half field goals before DJ Moore scored the game’s first touchdown. Carolina scored on its opening drive of the second half on a three-play series that only took a minute off the clock. Quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with Moore twice, totaling 45 of the drive’s 67 yards.
Mayfield completed 14 of 29 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. Moore led all Panthers receivers with three catches for 43 yards.
“There are 15 more games. We haven’t played a division game yet,” Mayfield said. “We have that coming up next week. We have to settle in and believe in what we’re capable of, and just go execute.”
Neither team played well on third down. The Panthers converted just two of their 12 tries.
“We are very close,” Mayfield said. “We put in the work and deserve to have fun on Sundays.”
It was a feast or famine outing from star running back Christian McCaffrey. He gained 128 yards on 19 total touches. He eclipsed 100 yards for the first time since 2019. After only touching the ball 14 times in Week 1, CMC earned a heavier workload, but offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo failed to deploy him creatively.
Eventually, McCaffrey did bust loose. Trailing 16-13 with 12:31 to play, McCaffrey took an inside run for 49 yards — the longest play of the game — and set up a 38-yard field goal by Pineiro.
Containing Giants running back Saquon Barkley was key for Carolina. He touched the ball 21 times for 72 yards, but linebacker Frankie Luvu tackled Barkley well. He had two tackles for losses and blew up several key plays.
The Panthers’ pass rush effectively bothered Giants quarterback Daniel Jones. Defensive end Brian Burns had two sacks and multiple quarterback hits.
Carolina overcame two first-quarter fumbles (one from Chuba Hubbard on the opening kickoff and the second via Robbie Anderson) to manage a 6-6 halftime tie.
Multiple times in the first half the Panthers defense had to defend a short field.
The Giants’ two field goals came on drives that totaled just 4 and 25 yards, respectively.
The Panthers have lost nine consecutive games dating back to last season.
Carolina has lost on late-game kicks on consecutive weeks. When asked if being “close” matters if they are not winning, Burns responded, “Hell no.”
“It’s aggravating. Almost doesn’t matter, but it’s better than not being in the game at all,” Burns said. But it’s time. I’m tired of being close. I want to win those extra reps on those plays and really win these games.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2022 at 4:28 PM.
