Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals rode a 24-point third-quarter result in a 27-22 win over the Carolina Panthers, whose miraculous comeback effort fell quick. Although Carolina scored 22 unanswered factors within the second half and recovered an onside kick, it wouldn’t be sufficient to earn a victory.
It was a disastrous begin for the Panthers. Quarterback Bryce Younger gave the ball away on a strip-sack fumble that was picked up and returned three yards for a landing to place the Panthers in a 7-0 gap with just one:33 gone within the recreation. On their subsequent possession, Younger threw an interception that was returned to the Carolina 48 yard line, which arrange a 29-yard subject aim try to make it 10-0.
The Panthers lastly settled in and put collectively a 55-yard drive that led to a subject aim after the sequence stalled out at Arizona’s 9 yard line. Bryce Younger attached with rookie wideout Tet McMillan for a 40-yard catch on that possession. He had six catches for 100 yards within the recreation.
The scoring died down till the second quarter, when the Playing cards hit on one other subject aim to increase their result in 13-3.
Arizona discovered the top zone once more simply earlier than halftime. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray hit vast receiver Michael Wilson on an 11-yard landing move to extend the result in 20-3 simply with 4 seconds left earlier than the break.
The Playing cards stored the pedal to the metallic popping out of halftime. Tight finish Elijah Higgins made two catches for 45 yards, which ultimately resulted in working again James Conner scoring from two yards out to extend the result in 27-3. Coming into this recreation, Higgins had one catch for 3 yards on the marketing campaign.
The Panthers responded to the problem with a livid comeback effort. Bryce Younger discovered vast receiver Hunter Renfrow for a two-yard TD move to chop the result in 27-9 after a failed two-point conversion. That was Hunter Renfrow’s first landing reception since January seventh, 2023, when he was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carolina continued to place the stress on Arizona. Bryce Younger threw his second landing move of the day, this one to working again Chuba Hubbard, to slender the hole and make it 27-15 after the failed two-point conversion. Bryce Younger had 328 passing yards, three TDs, an INT, and a misplaced fumble on this one.
The Playing cards have been as soon as once more sweating after the Carolina Panthers scored on a one-yard landing move to Hunter Renfrow, making it 27-22. He completed the sport with seven receptions for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Amazingly, the Panthers weren’t completed. They recovered their onside kick try, giving the offense yet another probability to take the lead. Nonetheless, on a 4th and 15, Calais Campbell sacked Bryce Younger to finish the sport.
With the win, the Playing cards are 2-0 for the primary time because the 2021-22 season, which additionally marks the final time they made the playoffs. That victory additionally improves the NFC West’s general file to 7-1 by means of the primary two weeks of the season, with the one loss being the San Francisco 49ers’ Week One victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Denver Broncos 29-28 because of a game-winning subject aim and a wild penalty name on the second-to-last play of the competition.
The Colts first tried a 60-yard subject aim that their kicker missed as time expired. Nonetheless, the Broncos have been penalized for a leverage private foul, which moved the ball ahead 15 yards and allowed the Colts to attempt the game-winning subject aim as soon as once more on an untimed down. Indy hit the second try, bettering its file to 2-0 for the primary time since 2009.
In a matchup that featured two of the most effective defenses we noticed in Week One, it was the offenses that have been the story of the sport. These squads mixed for 57 factors and 797 yards.
Second-year Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was in a position to simply transfer previous his poor efficiency from final week by tossing three landing passes within the first half of this recreation. His first TD, a 23-yarder to Marvin Mims, put Denver on high 7-3.
Following an Indianapolis subject aim to chop the result in 7-6, Colts working again Jonathan Taylor picked up 43 yards on a brief move to offer Indy possession of the ball on the Broncos’ 11 yard line. A couple of performs later, quarterback Daniel Jones plunged into the top zone for a one-yard landing and a 13-7 benefit.
Denver would cobble collectively two consecutive landing drives of 67 and 50 yards, respectively, which allowed the Broncos to retake the lead and go up 21-13. A type of TDs was caught by rookie wideout Troy Franklin, giving him his first profession landing on the NFL stage.
Indy wouldn’t keep down, although. The Colts moved the ball 81 yards in simply 1:32, which arrange a seven-yard landing move from Daniel Jones to Jonathan Taylor to make it 21-20 at halftime. That was JT’s first TD catch since Week 13 final season.
The offensive fireworks continued into the third quarter. Denver scored a landing on its first sequence of the second half on a five-yard rush by working again J.Okay. Dobbins. That was his second dashing TD in as many video games.
The Broncos’ protection, which had a league-high six sacks final week, didn’t tally its first quarterback takedown till greater than halfway by means of the third quarter. It could be a well-timed sack, although, as a result of it compelled the Colts to accept a subject aim and a 28-23 deficit, which is how issues would stand to start out the fourth quarter.
One of many largest defensive performs of the sport got here early within the fourth quarter, when Denver’s protection compelled a turnover on downs on a 4th and a pair of at midfield. The Colts have been 0/2 on fourth-down makes an attempt this afternoon.
Indy’s protection didn’t waver when the chips have been down. An overthrown Bo Nix move supposed for wideout Courtland Sutton was intercepted by security Cam Bynum, ending a drive that might’ve made it a two-score recreation.
Jonathan Taylor’s spectacular afternoon resumed when Indy’s offense took the sphere. He bounced a handoff outdoors and picked up 68 yards to get the ball into the pink zone. The Broncos’ protection stood sturdy, although, and compelled a subject aim to make it 28-26. Jonathan Taylor had 215 whole yards and two touchdowns on this recreation.
The Broncos had an opportunity to enhance on their lead, however Will Lutz missed a 42-yard subject aim try that will’ve given Denver a five-point benefit.
Daniel Jones, who had 316 passing yards, related with wideout Alec Pierce for a third-down conversion, which allowed the Colts to aim a 60-yard game-winning subject aim. Indianapolis missed the attempt, however the Broncos have been flagged for a private foul, which moved the ball 15 yards nearer and allowed the Colts to attempt once more from 45 yards, which Indy made.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The Philadelphia Eagles edged out the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 20-17 in a rematch of Tremendous Bowl LIX. With the loss, the Chiefs will begin a season 0-2 for the primary time in 11 years.
In contrast to the Tremendous Bowl, this recreation was a lot nearer. It helped that it took some time for both offense to get issues going. This contest began with three straight punts adopted by a missed subject aim.
With a bit of below 5 minutes left within the first quarter, the motion picked up. Philly orchestrated a 52-yard scoring drive that was capped off with a 13-yard landing run by Saquon Barkley, his second dashing TD of the season. He completed the day with 94 whole yards and a floor landing.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs clapped proper again on the Eagles. Patrick Mahomes scrambled for 22 yards to get to Philly’s 29 yard line. Nonetheless, he took an 11-yard sack on third down, forcing them to accept a subject aim and a 7-3 deficit.
Patrick Mahomes made it occur once more together with his legs on KC’s subsequent offensive sequence. He picked up 19 yards on back-to-back runs, together with a 13-yard landing to offer the Chiefs their first lead of the day, 10-7. At no level throughout Tremendous Bowl LIX did Kansas Metropolis have a lead over Philly.
The Eagles obtained the ball again with 2:24 left within the half, which might be sufficient time to place collectively a 38-yard drive that allow Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott hit a 58-yard subject aim as time expired to tie issues up at 10-10 going into halftime. Apparently, Patrick Mahomes led all gamers in first-half dashing yards with 60.
The Chiefs needed to maintain up the momentum within the third quarter, so that they elected to go for it on a 4th and 1 from their very own 35 yard line. Nonetheless, that call got here again to chunk them after they have been stuffed for a one-yard loss. Although the protection solely allowed two yards, it will be sufficient to arrange a profitable 51-yard subject aim to place Philly forward 13-10.
The Eagles’ protection once more made life troublesome for Patrick Mahomes. On a 2nd and aim at Philly’s six, Patrick Mahomes threw a move that bounced out of Travis Kelce’s palms and was intercepted by rookie security Andrew Mukuba. He returned the INT to the Eagles’ 41 yard line.
On the very subsequent play, the Chiefs have been flagged for a facemask penalty, which helped Philly’s offense make it to Kansas Metropolis’s facet of the sphere. Finally, the Eagles obtained the ball to the one yard line, the place they tried their well-known tush push play on a third and aim, however it was stopped by the Chiefs. Philly tried the play once more on fourth down, with a greater consequence this time as Jalen Hurts discovered the top zone to increase the result in 20-10 with 7:48 left within the fourth quarter.
KC would rating yet another time on a protracted bomb play. Patrick Mahomes hit vast receiver Tyquan Thornton for a 49-yard landing to chop the result in 20-17 with three minutes left within the recreation. Thornton has recorded performs of 35+ yards in back-to-back video games.
Sadly for Chiefs followers, the Eagles would get the ball and by no means give it again. They executed an ideal three-minute drive to shut out the sport and transfer to 2-0 on the season.
*Creator’s word: all data and statistics are tracked in actual time and are offered by the sport’s broadcaster, NFL.com, and ESPN.com*
