Carolina Panthers: Performance Grades from Week 5 against NY Giants

4 of 4

CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 07: Kicker Graham Gano #9 celebrates with Michael Palardy #5 and J.J. Jansen #44 of the Carolina Panthers after his game-wining 63-yard field goal against the New York Giants during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 33-31. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Special Teams

Kicker

What more can you ask for from Graham Gano as he connected on a 63-yard field goal in the closing seconds to give the Panthers the win. If Gano was not able to hit this kick, the conversation would be much different around the performance of this team. However, that wasn’t the only field goal he made as he was perfect with three other field goal attempts and three extra point attempts.

Grade: A+

Punter

Michael Palardy finished the day with three punts, averaged 51 yards per punt and had two downed inside the 20. He also should get part of the credit for the fumble off Odell Beckham Jr. on his punt in the second quarter because if he was not able to angle it to the corner the way he did, the play likely would not have gone the way it did.

Grade: A

Final Grade

As mentioned previously, if Graham Gano does not make that field goal at the end of the game, the narrative around this game would be significantly different. The offense and the defense didn’t play exactly great football but they made the plays when they needed to and did enough to get the win.

Next. Key takeaways from Panthers win over the NY Giants. dark

The biggest positive for the offense is that is becoming very clear just how many playmakers this offense and Cam Newton has, which will make life difficult for opposing defenses if everything can come together.

Grade: B

Home/Carolina Panthers