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) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 17: Ian Thomas #80 of the Carolina Panthers scores a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter during the game at Bank of America Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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.

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