Carolina Panthers: Top Takeaways from win over Miami Dolphins
![CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 17: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter during the game at Bank of America Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 17: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter during the game at Bank of America Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/591a753740353c262a70c011c29ac8e83472836f6deb5a7d0ded9b3595a10b1e.jpg)
Big plays spring first-team offense
The performance of the first-team offense was certainly inconsistent however the stat sheet won’t look too bad due to a couple of big plays.
The Panthers’ got off to a quick start thanks in large part to Christian McCaffrey, who broke off a 71-yard run. This is the type of plays the team was expecting to see when they draft McCaffrey with the ninth overall pick last year. This should be a sign of great things to come for the second-year running back.
Then in the second quarter, it was rookie Ian Thomas that added the first-team’s second touchdown. The fourth-round pick ran a drag route that Newton was able to him in stride and he took 27-yards for the touchdown.