The Carolina Panthers, reeling from two straight losses, came back to finish out their preseason play with a win at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Panthers opened and closed their preseason play with victories, winning against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, and then with their 25-19 win Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
For many players, the game Thursday night was the last chance for them to showcase their talent and stand out from others who are in the chase to be one of the final 53 players chosen to make it to the roster. While Kyle Allen started the game, backup quarterbacks Will Grier and Taylor Heinicke both saw playing time Thursday night, and both threw not only touchdown passes, but each also threw interceptions as well. Grier finished 11/18 for 189 yards, and one touchdown with a pick. Heinicke went 7/10 for 89 yards and two touchdowns with the aforementioned interceptions.
Pittsburgh put the first points on the board after a forced fumble led to an 88-yard touchdown with just over four minutes left to go in the first quarter. Carolina was down 0-7 at the end of the first quarter, but kicker Joey Slye put the Panthers on the board when he easily kicked a 59-yard field go with 12:45 left in the second quarter.
With 1:12 left in the half Grier completed a 34-yard pass to Aldrick Robinson for a touchdown, and the Steelers returned with a field goal in the next possession. In Carolina’s final possession of the half, Grier threw an intercepted pass, which in turn converted into a Pittsburgh touchdown with only nine seconds left to go. The first half ended with Pittsburgh on top, 16-10, and the score would remain unchanged until halfway through the fourth quarter.
With eight and change left in the game, Tyler Heinicke connected with Jordan Scarlett for the second Carolina touchdown of the night, and then four minutes later threw another completed pass to Temarrick Hemingway for 21 yards, which Hemingway converted into Heinicke’s second touchdown.
Heinicke was then able to keep the Pittsburgh defense at bay, using his quickness with his feet and finding Elijah Holyfield for a completed two-point conversion attempt. The Panthers took the lead, 25-16, and would keep the lead to win the last game of the 2019 preseason game. Pittsburgh closed out the game with less than a minute to go with a field goal, and Carolina won 25-19.
Carolina opens its regular season on Sept. 8 when the Los Angeles Rams come to Charlotte.
