By Pat Welter

The Panthers didn’t want any moral victories after a 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but hard not to feel some hope after what we’ve seen from Carolina since Bryce Young’s return to the lineup.

Former Panthers QB Baker Mayfield experiencing his own renaissance. He entered the game with 24 touchdown passes, third in the NFL. After both teams traded punts the first several series, Tampa got something going midway through the first quarter. After a pass interference penalty got Tampa down to the one yard line, Mayfield hit Mike Evans for a score.  Evans playing his first game back since injuring his hamstring week 7.

Carolina responded with a seven play drive resulting in a 47 yard Eddie Pineiro field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 near the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter Young found his footing with a ten yard touchdown run to tie the game at 10.

Pineiro’s reign as the NFL’s most accurate kicker short lived. He missed his second field goal of the half with just under two minutes remaining in the second quarter, but the Panthers defense got it right back.  Chau Smith-Wade intercepted Mayfield along the sideline to set up Carolina at their own 40 yard line with :50 remaining in the half.  

Adam Thielen appeared to give Carolina the lead on what would have been an incredible catch in the back of the endzone. It was ruled incomplete on the field and upheld upon review.  Pineiro good from 27 yards out to make it 13-10 Panthers at the half. 

Source: wralsportsfan.com