Kyle Allen Makes Amazing Play Late, Brings Panthers to 2-2

Carolina Returns to .500

The Carolina Panthers defeated the Houston Texans Sunday 16-10 to move back to 2-2 on the season. The game was a defensive struggle throughout, Kyle Allen had the play of the game to continue his impressive job filling in for the injured Cam Newton.

Late in the game, Allen managed to avoid a sack from J.J. Watt and complete a deep pass for a first down conversion to essentially ice the game for Houston. Joey Slye was impressive in the game, hitting all three of his field goals in the game, which proved to be the difference.

Christian McCaffrey continued his offensive player of the year caliber season, as he amassed 179 yards of total offense for Carolina. The rest of the team had just over 100 yards combined.

Another Rocky Start for Carolina

The Panthers got things off to a rough start as Allen turned the ball over on the team’s opening drive following a strip-sack. The Panthers have had an issue turning the ball over at the beginning of the game. The Panthers have turned the ball over on opening drives in the last six games.

The Panthers did get on the board first, as their second drive of the game resulted in a 48-yard field goal to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead through the first quarter.

Following the Texans tied the game with a field goal of their own, Allen was sacked again and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Texans. The Panthers were fortunate in the first half, however, as both of their turnovers resulted in 0 points for the Texans.

On the ensuing drive for the Texans, a pass from DeAndre Hopkins was intercepted by Ross Cockrell was returned to near midfield, give the Panthers excellent starting field position. Allen would complete an amazing pass to Jarius Wright to get the Panthers deep into Texans territory, and McCaffrey punched it in from inside the five-yard line to give the Panthers a 10-3 going into halftime.

Second Half Mess for Carolina

Outside of the two fumbles, Allen was decent in the first half, completing 10 of 15 passes for 117 yards. McCaffrey was the focal point of the offense, adding 57 yards rushing to his touchdown and leading the Panthers in both receiving yards and receptions.

The Panther put the Texans in a hole early in the second half, as they got their fourth sack of the game on the Texans’ first drive of the second half. The drive resulted in a put to the Panthers’ four-yard line.

The Panthers would do next to nothing on their first drive of the second half. On second down and eight from beyond the 30-yard line, Allen was strip-sacked for the third time in the game.

The most apparent thing from the game is Allen seems to have a ball-security problem. Allen has now been strip-sacked five times through the last two games, with the Panthers losing each fumble.

Watson made the Panthers pay, rushing it in three plays later to tie the game at 10-10. Neither team made an impact for the rest of the quarter and both were tied going into the final 15 minutes of play.

Panthers Did Enough Late

Early in the fourth quarter, Slye continued his impressive job filling in for the injured Graham Gano, as he blasted his second field goal of the game for 55-yards, giving Carolina a 13-10 lead.

On the following possession for the Panthers, McCaffrey made the play of the game for Carolina, catching a bobbling catch for a first down on third and long. Unfortunately, Carolina couldn’t do anything with the drive and was forced to punt the ball yet again.

Carolina’s defense finally had a big play in the fourth quarter, with just over four minutes to go in the game, Eric Reid blitzed Watson, which forced a sack and a fumble that was recovered by the defense, giving Carolina the ball in Texans territory with four minutes left.

Carolina wouldn’t give the ball back until under a minute left in the game and came away with the win.

Carolina will now get ready for another road matchup this coming Sunday, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the NFL meme-lord Gardner Minshew.