The Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars were both 2-2 heading into today’s game and both wanted to pick up a win to get over .500 for the first time this season. Carolina came out firing on all cylinders and took a 7-0 lead after their first drive through superstar running back Christian McCaffrey.
The two teams traded touchdowns back and forth for the rest of the first quarter, and then the Panthers defense forced Gardner Minshew to fumble and Brian Burns returned it for a 56-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a 21-7 lead. The defense let the Jaguars back into the game and held a 21-17 lead at halftime, but never surrendered the lead and did just enough at the end to hold off a valiant comeback effort from Jacksonville to send the hometown fans away happy with the team’s third straight win. Reggie Bonnafon came up huge off the bench with a 59-yard touchdown run that ended up being the difference as the Panthers leave Week 5 with a 34-27 win.
There’s a lot to unpack from this game, and we’ll definitely dive deeper into it over the next few days, but the most important thing right now is that the Panthers are 3-2 despite a long list of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, and this team has a chance to do something special if and when they can finally get everyone healthy at the same time.
It’s time to celebrate a win ahead of a big divisional matchup next week, however, so let’s talk about the 3-2 Panthers. Who stood out to you today, Panthers fans? Let us hear from you!
Live updates
Final score: Panthers 34 Jaguars 27
BALLGAME: Kuechly bats the ball down and the Panthers hang on in a thriller.
The pass is incomplete but Burns was offside. The Jags will get an untimed down.
This is it.
Or not... lmao there’s an illegal hands to the face penalty on Mario Addison. 1st down Jags with 0:02 left.
TURNOVER: Eric Reid picks it off!
10 seconds left.
Minshew finds a receiver in the end zone but he can’t come down with it in bounds. 2nd down.
19 seconds left.
And the Jags get another first down and get out of bounds. Jeez.
Minshew overthrows everyone and it’s 3rd down with 0:25 left.
Luke Kuechly makes a huge tackle in the middle of the field to keep the clock running.
Chark makes another first down catch and gets out of bounds. The defense is concerning right now.
Minshew’s pass on 1st down is incomplete.
Chark gets another first down but can’t get out of bounds. The Jags use their last timeout and there’s 1:01 left in the game.
And the Jags pick up 27 yards and a first down. This is too nerve-wracking for me.
James Bradberry almost seals the game with an interception but he dropped it.
Tre Boston almost seals the game with an interception.
Palardy’s punt rolls out of bounds at the four yard line, so that’s good.
And the pass is ruled incomplete. It’s 4th down for the Panthers.
Kyle Allen heaves one on 3rd down and it’s intercepted. The booth is reviewing it, though.
Two minute warning: Panthers 34 Jaguars 27
Reggie Bonnafon just picked up another huge gain. 17 yards and a first down.
The Jags have all three timeouts and the two minute warning so this one is not over.
Matt Paradis just cost the Panthers 15 yards for coming off the bench after the fumble recovery. That’s weird because he’s the center. But oh well, the turnover stands.
THERE’S THE PLAY THEY NEED! Brian Burns forces the fumble and Marquis Haynes recovers it! There’s a flag on the field, though.
The Panthers defense really needs to make a stop here.
I honestly don’t know why the Panthers didn’t go for two so they would have a nine point lead. That just doesn’t make sense to me.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Reggie Bonnafon just sprung open for a huge 59-yard touchdown. I don’t even know what to say. The extra point is no good. Joey Slye has the yips, y’all. Panthers 34 Jaguars 27
Allen finds Moore for a huge first down on 3rd and 1.
CMC limped off the field and that is decidedly not good. Please be okay.
Lambo’s kick is good. Panthers 28 Jaguars 27
Minshew is hurried and has to try a shovel pass that falls incomplete. It’s 4th and 10 and the Jags will try a field goal.
James Bradberry makes a huge play with the pass breakup to force a 3rd down.
The Jags are in the red zone and the defense really could use a stop here.
And on the first play, Fournette gains 48 yards and the Jags are in Carolina territory.
The 3rd down play was the problem. The QB sneak exists outside of Cam Newton, you guys. You can use it with Kyle Allen, it’s legal.
And now it’s 1st and 10 Jacksonville after the Jags shut CMC down at the line. That could have gone better.
Now it’s 4th and 1 after a running back pass doesn’t work.
It’s 3rd and 1 at the five.
The Panthers bring the reverse to Samuel back into the rotation and he’s down to the five yard line.
CMC is juking the hell out of the Jags defenders and there’s nothing they can do about it.
It ends up not mattering as CMC picks up the first down.
On 2nd and 3, Allen had an open field to pick up a first down but he elected to throw instead and it was incomplete so now it’s 3rd and 3.
End of 3rd quarter: Panthers 28 Jaguars 24
McCaffrey is so good in space. That’s 16 more yards.
CMC weaves his way through the defense again for an 18-yard gain and a first down.
Minshew scrambles and picks up 11 yards but that’s not enough for the first down so the defense did their job.
The defense has a 3rd and 17 to work with so hopefully they can get off the field right here.
And the kick is no good. Sheesh.
Allen scrambles and finds CMC on third down, but he can’t come down with it and Joey Slye is out for a 46-yard attempt.
There’s a flag on the play for roughing the passer on the Jags so the Panthers will get 15 yards tacked on to the end of that CMC gain on 1st down.
Allen finds CMC on 3rd down for a huge 17 yard gain.
It’s against the Panthers so the Jags will decline it. The touchdown stands. Panthers 28 Jaguars 24
Fournette dives into the end zone but there’s a flag on the play.
It’s ruled a catch and the Jags have it 1st and goal at the half yard line.
DJ Chark just made an incredible catch and stretch for the pylon, but it was ruled incomplete as it appeared to be knocked out of his hands by James Bradberry. The Jags are challenging the call because it looks like Chark crossed the plane first. Let’s see what happens.
Christian Miller is down on the field after the play.
And of course they don’t because the pass defense has been bad today.
A holding call makes it 1st and 20 so the Panthers will have a better chance to do something on defense here.
Natrell Jamerson will not return due to an ankle injury, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: CMC takes the handoff and bursts through the defense and takes it to the house for an 84-yard touchdown. That’s the longest touchdown run in team history. Slye’s extra point is good. Panthers 28 Jaguars 17
The Jags go three and out to start the 2nd half.
Halftime: Panthers 21 Jaguars 17
But they decide to take a knee instead. It’s halftime.
The Jags have 30 seconds and a timeout to try and add some points before the half is over.
And instead they go three and out and give the Jags the ball back with a timeout left with some time left on the clock.
The Panthers have 58 seconds and one timeout to try and get some points before halftime.
Lambo’s kick is good and the Panthers now have a four point lead. Panthers 21 Jaguars 17
Westbrook made a catch and tried to lateral it to Fournette but it didn’t get them a first down. It looked a lot like a forward lateral and the booth should probably review it. It’s still 4th down though and the Jags will try a field goal.
James Bradberry with a huge pass break up as Westbrook was open on the five yard line.
Two minute warning: Panthers 21 Jaguars 14
And now Brian Burns is down holding his hand. This is not good.
The Panthers tried a 56-yard field goal and it did not go well. The Jags blocked it and this has been a disaster.
And it’s 4th and 24 after Allen can’t connect with Greg Olsen.
It’s now 3rd and 24 after a swing pass to CMC goes nowhere.
The Jags declined the penalty and it’s 2nd and 22.
The Jags sack Kyle Allen and he fumbles again (he does that a lot), but fortunately Curtis Samuel picked it up and ran with it. There’s a flag for an illegal crackback block on Greg Van Roten though so I don’t know what the result of this play will be.
DJ MOORE WITH A HUGE CATCH ON 3RD DOWN FOR 53 YARDS!
It’s an ankle injury for Jamerson and he is questionable to return.
CMC gets half the yards back so at least 3rd down is manageable.
At least he didn’t fumble.
And Allen is sacked. 2nd and 24.
False start on Ian Thomas. 1st and 15.
Jamerson was carted off to the locker room and we’ll update his status when information is available.
Natrell Jamerson is shaken up on the kick return but appears to be walking off the field with assistance.
And it’s Brian Burns with another roughing the passer call. The touchdown will stand. Panthers 21 Jaguars 14
Minshew finds Chark open in the end zone but there’s a flag on the play.
And And now the Jags are in the red zone after Minshew finds Westbrook wide open deep down field.
Fournette does great work in pass protection and allows Minshew to find an open receiver down field.
The Jags will start at their own 15 so the Panthers defense has a chance to keep field position on their side with a good series.
The Panthers go three and out on the drive, so that could have been better.
It’s a face mask against the Jags so that adds 15 yards to the punt return.
McCloud gets taken down on the punt return and there’s a flag on the field. Let’s see what happens.
Minshew finds Chark for what would have been a first down, but he comes down out of bounds and it’s incomplete. Great work by Cockrell to work him out of bounds there.
It’s 3rd and long for the defense.
Burns gets called for roughing the passer after going too low on Minshew.
Former Panthers guard Andrew Norwell got worked on that play, by the way.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Mario Addison forces Minshew to fumble it and Brian Burns scoops it up and takes it to the house! The extra point is good. Panthers 21 Jaguars 7
Fournette picked up the first down but the ball came out. The Panthers recovered it but it looks like he was down before losing control.
End of 1st quarter: Panthers 14 Jaguars 7
Big third down coming up when the second quarter begins.
The Jaguars have run two plays back to back for first downs. The defense should stop letting them do that.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: Allen finds CMC in the flat and he handles the rest as he scampers into the end zone. The extra point is good and the Panthers are back up by seven. Panthers 14 Jaguars 7
False start on Samuel makes it 1st and 15.
Allen finds Jarius Wright for a first down. The Panthers are now in the red zone.
TURNOVER: There’s an issue with the quarterback-running back exchange and Eric Reid is there to pick up the football. Huge play for the Panthers.
There’s a 10-yard block in the back penalty as well, so that works out well for the Panthers.
Colin Jones just blew up Dede Westbrook on that punt return, my word.
Allen finds Moore for a nine yard gain. The problem was that it was 3rd and 11 when it happened.
McCloud fair catches the punt at the 15 yard line after it was kicked over 60 yards. Just gotta tip your cap to the ol’ punter there. Well played, that was.
The Panthers are gonna catch a break after McCloud gets tackled behind his own 10 yard line after the Jags lined up illegally. They’ll have to punt again.
McCoy makes up for his earlier penalty by pressuring Minshew and forcing him to throw it away and force a 4th down.
Big 3rd down coming up for the Panthers defense here. It would be nice if they could get off the field.
It’s 1st and 5 for the Jags after Gerald McCoy jumps offside.
And it’s now 4th down. Michael Palardy out to punt.
Allen sees pressure and has to get rid of it quickly, forcing an overthrow and a 3rd down.
The Jaguars just tied the game after Minshew threw a gorgeous pass to Chark for a touchdown. Ross Cockrell tried to make a play but the throw was just too good. The extra point is good and we’re tied. Panthers 7 Jaguars 7
After a Leonard Fournette carry for two yards, Minshew finds Dede Westbrook wide open for another first down. That’s slightly concerning.
The Jags pick up 20 yards on their first play on offense after Gardner Minshew finds DJ Chark (do do do do doodoo) open.
TOUCHDOWN PANTHERS: CMC just punked Tre Herndon and leaped into the end zone to give the Panthers the lead! Joey Slye’s extra point is good. Panthers 7 Jaguars 0
Allen hits CMC in the flat and he shifts and breaks some poor dude’s ankles to pick up the first down. 1st and goal.
Allen hits Moore on the slant for another first down. Offense is moving well right now.
Reggie Bonnafon got a carry. I repeat... Reggie Bonnafon got a carry.
Kyle Allen fumbled again... sigh... but at least he recovered it this time. Also, there was an illegal hands to the face penalty on the Jags so it didn’t matter. Still... protect the ball, Kyle!
Samuel gets his second carry of the day and picks up a first down. I like the way they’re using him so far today.
Our first penalty flag of the day comes on the second play of the game. It’s a facemask against Myles Jack that gives the Panthers an extra 15 yards and a first down.
The first play is an end around to Curtis Samuel for 16 yards. That’s a good start.
Ray-Ray McCloud takes it out to the 21 so that’s where the Panthers will start on offense.
The Panthers lose the coin toss but the Jaguars defer to the 2nd half. The Panthers offense will start the game.
Pregame
The Carolina Panthers return home after a 16-10 win over the Houston Texans for a Week 5 matchup with Gardner Minshew and the Jacksonville Jaguars where they will hope to go over .500 for the first time in 2019. Below you will find all the information you need to catch the action as it happens live.
Game day information
What: Carolina Panthers vs Jacksonville Jaguars
When: Sunday, October 6 at 1 p.m. ET
Where: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)
TV: CBS; Andrew Catalon, James Lofton (Coverage map)
Streaming: FuboTV, CBS All Access (subscription required), Yahoo! Sports, Panthers mobile app
Radio: Panthers radio (local); Mick Mixon, Jake Delhomme
Spanish Radio: Panthers radio (local); Jaime Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr
Weather: 81° / Mostly Cloudy / 5 mph ESE wind / 10% rain (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 N.C./S.C. 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
FuboTV: You can stream and record live NFL games on FuboTV if you purchase a monthly subscription to their service. (Note: You cannot watch games that are broadcast on ESPN.)
CBS All Access: You can stream live NFL games broadcast on CBS with CBS All Access. (Note: A subscription is required for this service.)
Yahoo! Sports: You can stream live NFL games on Yahoo! Sports’ mobile app.
Panthers.com: You can stream all Panthers games on their website. (Note: This option is only available for in-market fans.)
NFL GamePass: You can stream all NFL 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.
To find more ways to watch the Panthers, click 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 blue jerseys 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!
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