Eddy Pineiro kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime, leading the Carolina Panthers to a 20-17 victory over the New York Giants in Germany on Sunday. This win marked the Panthers’ second straight victory, their first back-to-back wins of the season.
The Giants (2-8) won the overtime coin toss, but rookie running back Tyrone Tracy fumbled on the first play, and Panthers linebacker Josey Jewell recovered the ball at the 23-yard line.
“I just didn’t hold the ball correctly,” Tracy said. “I was trying to make a move, so I got in a hole. Got to get the ball up. That’s on me. I’ve got to live with it. I hold myself to a high standard, so whenever that happens, all of my emotions kind of came out of me at that moment.”
The fumble was forced by veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, who had played for the Giants last season. Robinson, a big soccer fan, said he was excited to play in one of Europe’s most famous stadiums.
“It was a thrill, excitement, everything I wanted,” Robinson said. “I was riding a high since we got on the plane.” He had told his teammates before the play that he wanted to “end the game if I get a chance,” and he did just that.
Despite the setback, the Giants managed to tie the game late. Trailing 17-7 in the fourth quarter, Daniel Jones led a 13-play, 96-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run, to bring the score to 17-14. Jones then orchestrated a 12-play drive that set up Graham Gano’s 42-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining, forcing overtime.
Gano, who had missed a 43-yard attempt earlier in the game, was playing his first game since September due to a hamstring injury.
Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard, who received a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension earlier in the week, rushed for 153 yards on 28 carries and scored a touchdown.
Bryce Young, the Panthers’ rookie quarterback, completed 15 of 25 passes for 126 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Ja’Tavion Sanders in the first quarter. Young has now won back-to-back games for the first time in his career, and the Panthers’ win streak is their first since late in the 2022 season.
Coach Dave Canales was proud of the team’s ability to finish strong. “I’m really proud of this group and the finish that we continue to play with and find a way to come away with these games again,” Canales said.
The Panthers will have a bye week before facing the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Canales praised Young’s progress, saying, “I thought he had a great day. I thought it could have been a fantastic day. I thought a few balls got away from us…but Bryce certainly is making a statement to all of us. I just can’t tell you how proud I am of just weekly progress.”
For the Giants, Daniel Jones completed 22 of 37 passes for 190 yards and two interceptions. Tracy added 103 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The Giants have now lost five straight games.
The Panthers took an early 10-0 lead with a 53-yard field goal by Pineiro and a touchdown pass from Young. Tracy’s 32-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put the Giants on the board, and Hubbard’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth gave the Panthers a 17-7 lead heading into the final quarter.
