I... I don’t know what just happened.
The Panthers were losing 17-0 late in the second half and somehow woke up to score 21 points and hold off a late comeback by the Eagles in the 4th quarter to win one of the weirdest games I’ve seen in quite some time.
Cam Newton put this team on his back in the second half and carried them to a come-from-behind victory that no one saw coming. The defense clamped down at the right time to prevent the Eagles from coming back with a back-breaking score with less than two minutes to go in the game. Eric Reid was cheated out of a game-sealing interception, but then Kyle Love (or Wes Horton, or Julius Peppers not 100% sure here) forced Carson Wentz to fumble on 4th down and the Panthers recovered, sealing an exciting win that probably shouldn’t have happened.
We don’t know with 100% accuracy who forced the fumble, but we do know that it was a member of the Panthers defense... we think.
The Panthers played terribly in the first half and found themselves down 17-0 at halftime, but came storming back in the second half and took control of the game en route to the best comeback in franchise history.
The Panthers are now 4-2 instead of 3-3, and hopefully they can look at this game as a turning point on the young season that will lead them to a second straight playoff appearance.
We’ll have more on this crazy game soon, but for now let’s just enjoy this win.
What are your thoughts on today’s game, Panthers fans? Share them with us!
Live updates
4th quarter
FINAL SCORE: Panthers 21 - Eagles 17
THE PANTHERS FORCE A FUMBLE AND RECOVER IT!
Mike Adams drops a game sealing interception, but it’s 4th down.
LOL THEY OVERTURNED IT. No wonder the Eagles are so good with Clete Blakeman as the referee.
ERIC REID WITH A HUGE PLAY TO MAKE THE INTERCEPTION. THE PLAY IS UNDER REVIEW.
The Eagles pick up a huge chunk of yards because James Bradberry got torched and had to commit pass interference to make up for it. Saved a touchdown to be honest.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Cam finds Olsen wide open in the end zone and he makes the huge catch! The XP is good. Panthers 21 - Eagles 17
Cam runs the keeper and gets to the 1 yard line. 3rd and goal.
Cam runs play action and finds Funchess in the end zone, but it’s knocked out of his hands. 2nd and goal.
Cam finds CMC who takes it down to the 5 yard line. 1st and goal for the Panthers!
2nd down pass is batted down by Jenkins.
Newton finds CMC for 8 yards.
Two minute warning.
TORREY SMITH PICKS UP A FIRST DOWN AND A 35 YARD GAIN! IS THIS HAPPENING FOR REAL?!
4th and 10.
Cam’s 3rd down pass is incomplete.
Cam’s 2nd down pass to Moore is incomplete.
Cam’s 1st down pass to Olsen is incomplete.
4TH DOWN! The Panthers will have a chance!
Biggest 3rd down of the game here.
Huge series for the defense here
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Cam goes deep to Funchess and he catches it in the end zone for the touchdown. The Panthers go for two and get it. Panthers 14 - Eagles 17
Funchess catches the pass and makes it to the 18 yard line.
This is great, but why did we wait to be down 17-0 to play like this?
Newton goes deep over the middle for Jarius Wright, who gets to the Eagles 25 yard line.
Damiere Byrd picks up the first down.
Cam can’t find anyone open so he takes it himself and picks up eight-ish yards.
The Eagles commit a holding penalty but the Panthers picked up the first down so they declined it.
The defense forces a punt and will somehow have a chance to make this a real football game.
Another big 3rd down for the defense. This time it’s 3rd and 18 after Kuechly sacked Wentz.
And like clockwork, Ertz gets in the middle of the zone and picks up an easy first down.
Huge 3rd down here for the defense.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: The Panthers run a reverse to Curtis Samuel, who takes it in for the score. Graham Gano does a Graham Gano thing and misses the XP though. Why the Panthers didn’t go for two I’ll never understand. Panthers 6 - Eagles 17
Cam finds DJ Moore underneath for another first down to the Eagles 14 yard line.
Cam finds CMC for a gain of six yards. 2nd and 4 coming up.
Cam now has five straight completions as he finds Funchess for a first down.
Cam tosses to Wright for an eight yard gain.
Cam finds Smith for another first down. Of course they’re going to make this interesting now.
Cam bulldozes his way to the first down.
The Panthers face a 3rd and 1 situation that they should probably pick up.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: Panthers 0 - Eagles 17
3rd quarter
Almost had the patented tip drill crippling interception, but it falls incomplete.
LOL DJ Moore fumbled the kickoff but picked it up and at least brought it to the 20 yard line.
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES: To no one’s surprise, the Eagles score. The XP is good. Panthers 0 - Eagles 17
And the Eagles go for it on 4th down like you should always do when it’s 4th and short, and surprise— they pick up the first down.
Davis is okay... caught a finger poke in the eye.
Thomas Davis is slow to get up and is being looked at by trainers.
The Panthers force a 4th and 1 decision, but I would be surprised if Pederson doesn’t step on our throats and go for it.
Mike Adams makes a play in the end zone to stop the touchdown. Delaying the inevitable to be honest.
Zach Ertz has 104 receiving yards right now. This is embarrassing.
The Eagles are basically playing with their food at this point.
And Smallwood follows that up with a 10 yard carry for another first down.
The Panthers appear to be in prevent defense with over 20 minutes left in the game, and Wentz carves them up to find Ertz for another big gain.
The defense lets the Eagles get a first down again. They’re being thoroughly beaten on both sides of the ball today.
At least Palardy is doing a good job punting. That’s about all the optimism I have right now.
LOL and Cam gets called for intentional grounding and it’s 4th and 20 instead. Palardy out to punt again.
And 3rd and 10 becomes 4th and 10 just like that.
And 2nd and 3 becomes 3rd and 10 just like that.
CMC picks up seven yards on the first down carry.
Cam finds Samuel for 16 yards and a first down. Run more plays like that, Panthers.
Cam tosses a screen to CMC and gets five yards back. It’s now 2nd and 15.
CMC picks up three yards but Moore gets called for holding and it’s now 1st and 20.
Cam hits Funchess on a slant route and picks up another first down.
Cam picks up the first down on a 14-yard scramble.
The Panthers quickly find themselves in 3rd and six after an incomplete pass and a four yard gain by DJ Moore.
The Panthers receive the kickoff to open the 2nd half.
HALFTIME: Panthers 0 Eagles 10
2nd quarter
The only good thing about this half is that it’s only a 10 point deficit for the Panthers. They’ve been thoroughly outplayed and outcoached. An ass whipping, you could call it.
The Eagles get a huge gain on a screen to Smallwood but it’s taken back on a holding penalty. The Panthers got lucky there.
And the Panthers are unable to force a three-and-out as the Eagles pick up a first down with Smallwood.
The Panthers just turned a 39-yard field goal into a punt.
LOL it’s another false start. and another five yard penalty.
And there’s another flag on the field. (Gano missed, by the way.)
The Panthers false start on the field goal attempt. So now it’s a 44-yard attempt. Gano will probably miss now.
Cam runs it to the 21 yard line. He picks up 12 but doesn’t get the first down. Graham Gano is out to attempt a field goal in the swirling winds.
Cam finds CMC for four yards so it’s now 3rd and long. The Panthers should stop being in that situation, to be honest.
On 2nd and 21, the Panthers have to use a time out because of the play clock. Time is a flat circle.
And then Cam literally runs into a sack for a loss. LOL I can’t even with this team, y’all.
TRICK PLAY ALERT: The Panthers run a reverse to Jarius Wright and pick up a huge chunk of yards. 34 to be exact.
Funchess makes a diving catch to pick up a first down.
Cam finds Olsen for a four yard gain on 1st and 10.
The Panthers will start from their 25 yard line after the kickoff is downed for a touchback.
FIELD GOAL EAGLES: Elliott’s attempt is good. Panthers 0 - Eagles 10
Mario Addison returns to sack Wentz and force a 4th down field goal attempt.
In case you’re tuning in late, the Panthers are being out-played and out-coached right now, to hardly anyone’s surprise.
And then Ertz makes Mike Adams look silly on another big gain.
I shouldn’t have to keep typing this... but Alshon just abused Bradberry again for a huge gain.
Cam makes a superhuman effort on 3rd and 15 but unfortunately only picks up 14 yards...so Palardy is back out to punt again.
Brandon Graham makes a beeline for Cam and forces him to desperately heave a pass out of bounds. Sigh...
Cam hands off to Samuel on an end around and the Eagles sniff it out for a five yard loss.
Curtis Samuel takes the kickoff to the 35 yard line so the Panthers have nice field position, at least.
Here’s your friendly reminder that the Panthers could have drafted Alshon Jeffery but drafted Amini Silatolu instead.
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES: On 2nd and goal, Wentz finds Alshon for the easiest touchdown he’ll ever score. The XP is good. Panthers 0 - Eagles 7
1st and goal for the Eagles.
LOL y’all remember when we could have drafted Alshon? He would have just made the Panthers defense look stupid if we did. Another Eagles first down.
Wentz finds a wide open Ertz for a big gain and a first down to the Panthers’ 29.
The Eagles have had the ball for over 10 minutes and the Panthers have run 10 plays. That’s not good for the Panthers.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: Panthers 0 - Eagles 0
1st quarter
Palardy’s 54 yard punt is returned to the 27 yard line by Carter.
#AsExpected, the Panthers don’t pick up the first down. 4th and 19. Palardy out to punt.
And Cam gets sacked on 2nd and 10 for a loss of 9 yards.
CMC picks up 15 yards on 2nd and long and the Panthers now have 1st and 10.
Malcolm Jenkins bats away a good throw to Torrey Smith and it’s 2nd and 10.
Jake Elliott’s kick is no good after a long drive by the Eagles. The Panthers are lucky this one is still tied.
Captain Munnerlyn is held while trying to pick off a pass, but that doesn’t matter because the Eagles did it. 4th down. Jake Elliott out to try a 36-yard field goal.
But then, LOL, the Eagles run a screen to Dallas Goedert and pick up 21 yards.
Panthers are bailed out on a chop block penalty that wipes out a 15 yard gain by Smallwood.
The Eagles are playing the wind and decide to embarrass the Panthers by picking up 4th and 5 instead of kicking the field goal. Alshon Jeffery—who could have been a Panther—picks up the first down.
Eric Reid and Zach Ertz get into a scuffle after the Eagles’ first down play and pick up offsetting penalties.
And guess what? They pick up the first down on a QB sneak... funny how that works.
The Eagles are looking at 4th and 1 after Clement is stopped short. The Eagles are going for it, though because they aren’t playing scared.
Back-to-back plays to Ertz and Clement give the Eagles a nice chunk of yards and put them at midfield.
Mario Addison is probable to return to the game.
Palardy’s punt sails into the end zone and the Eagles will take over on their own 20.
Newton’s pass to Olsen is incomplete and it’s now 4th down.
Cam finds CMC on a swing pass for five yards. 3rd and 5.
Cam Newton’s first pass hits off the hands of Devin Funchess. 2nd and 10.
McCaffrey picks up the first down, but not much else.
Christian McCaffrey picks up nine yards on a first down carry. Panthers have the ball at midfield for this 2nd and 1 play.
DJ Moore returns the punt for four yards and the Panthers will start with good field position.
Addison is walking off the field with his hand on his back. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious.
Mario Addison is down on the field and is being looked at by trainers.
The Panthers force an incompletion on 3rd and long and the defense gets a key three-and-out.
The Eagles lose 10 yards on 2nd down after Wentz fumbles the snap.
The Panthers win the coin toss and defer.
The Panthers take on the Eagles today. Stay tuned for live updates!
Pregame
The Carolina Panthers are 3-2 after an embarrassing performance in Washington and are looking to find their winning ways again to avoid sinking to .500 on the year. Standing in their way will be the Philadelphia Eagles, who also happen to be the defending Super Bowl champions. The Eagles are 3-3 on the season but are currently the favorites to win Sunday’s game by 5.5 points. Hopefully the Panthers can prove their doubters wrong.
Here’s all the information you need to follow the action as it happens live.
Game day information
What: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles
When: Sunday, October 21 at 1 p.m. ET
Where: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)
TV: FOX; Kenny Albert, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver (Coverage map)
Radio: Panthers radio (local); Mick Mixon, Jim Szoke, Eugene Robinson, Kevin Donnalley
Spanish Radio: Panthers radio (local); Jaime Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr
Weather: 50°/37° / Partly Cloudy / 15 mph NW wind / 0% precip. (Complete forecast)
Miscellaneous information
Mobile app
You can download the official Panthers app to get live score updates during the game straight to your phone. Also, if you live in the NC/SC market you can listen to the live radio broadcast of every game with the app. You can find the Panthers app in your phone’s app store or you can download the app here.
Online Streaming
If you don’t live in the Panthers television market, you can stream all NFL preseason and regular season games on demand if you purchase NFL Game Pass. It’s a little pricey at $99, but it also includes access to All-22 film. If you’re just desperate to watch the Panthers game there is a 7-day free trial, but sign up at your own risk if you’re one of those people who forgets to cancel before the free trial is over.
*Note: You cannot watch regular season games live with this option. You have to wait until after the games are over before you can stream them. You can find more information here.
TV Replays
NFL Network will air condensed replays of a selected group of regular season games throughout the week. To see if/when the Panthers’ game will be replayed, you can check NFL Network’s television schedule for more information.
Roaring Riot Watch Parties
If you’re unable to watch the game via live tv or streaming, or if you prefer to watch in the company of fellow Panthers fans, check out the Roaring Riot to see if there is a watch party in your area. Membership is not required to get in the door, but if you’re interested in purchasing a membership you can find all the information you need here.
Uniforms
The Panthers will wear white jerseys and black pants for this game.
Odds
If you’re into that sort of thing, you can find info on NFL game odds by clicking here.
Stay tuned for a live update thread when the game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday!
Panthers next four opponents
Week 8: vs Baltimore Ravens; Sun, Oct 28, 1 p.m. ET
Week 9: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Sun, Nov 4, 1 p.m. ET
Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers; Thu, Nov 8, 8:20 p.m. ET
Week 11: at Detroit Lions; Sun, Nov 18, 1 p.m. ET