The Carolina Panthers rolled into MetLife Stadium riding a two-game win streak and at .500 for the first time since 2021. But make no mistake, although winless, the New York Jets were not a team the Panthers were taking lightly. Running back Rico Dowdle had put together the most dominant performances ever by a Carolina running back in the two weeks that he spelled Chuba Hubbard. However, the Jets defense is led by former Carolina defensive coordinator and interim head coach Steve Wilks and had been pretty stingy on the ground. The Panthers found themselves with a good problem – which running back to start.Â
Hubbard got the start and he and Dowdle traded series through the game. Carolina struck first, with kicker Ryan Fitzgerald connecting on a 30-yard field goal. Coming off an NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor, he later added another field goal in the second half. In the second quarter, safety Nick Scott was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a late hit on quarterback Justin Fields, putting the ball on the Carolina 22-yard line. The Jets took advantage, tying the game with a 34-yard field goal by Nick Folk. With 1:11 left in the first half, Young scrambled before connecting with Xavier Legette on a 3-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a 10-3 lead at the break.
After intermission a solid kickoff return by Trevor Etienne put the Panthers in business from the NYJ 49 yard line. The second of Fitzgerald’s field goals pushed Carolina’s lead to 10 with 10:40 to play in the third quarter. After going 6-of-12 for 46 yards, Fields was replaced by Tyrod Taylor when the Jets offense took the field in the second half. Taylor tested the Carolina secondary often, and cornerback Jaycee Horn made him pay with two interceptions. The Panthers also had a quarterback switch to start the fourth quarter when Young left the game with an ankle injury. He finished with 138 yards and one touchdown on 15-of-25 passing before Andy Dalton took over and finished out the game.Â
In the third quarter, Taylor and the Jets were driving and got to the Carolina 38-yard line before Horn came down with an interception in the end zone. With Young out, the Panthers were not able to capitalize and the drive stalled at the Jets 43-yard line. In the final period, New York was able to make it a one-possession game with another field goal from Folk with 6:26 to play, but once again Horn thwarted the comeback attempt with another interception. A clutch 33-yard reception by Legette on third down sealed the win as the Panthers moved to 4-3; above .500 for the first time since early in the 2021 season. A defense that ranked dead last in sacks came up with six on the day with rookie Nic Scouton recording his first solo sack of his NFL career. Dowdle led the way on the ground with 79 yards while Legette led all receivers with 92 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions. They’re back at home in the Bank for Week Eight as they host the Buffalo Bills.
