CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The week leading up to the preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots was heated, to say the least. During two joint practice sessions, fights broke out on the turf. During one such scrum, a fan who was watching was hurt when it spilled into an observation area.
Friday’s game didn’t see fists fly. But it also didn’t see touchdowns piling on for either team.
Carolina started the scoring in the first quarter with a field goal, netting the only three points at that time in the game. The Patriots, however, had an answer in the second quarter, finding the end zone and extra point once and a field goal of their own. Before breaking for halftime, New England had 10 on the board against the Panthers’ three points.
After the half, Carolina found the end zone for the first time in the third quarter, tying it up 10-10. Come the fourth quarter, however, New England went for the crossbar, inching ahead three more points. With just about 90 seconds of game time left, the Patriots again notched in a touchdown and extra point, securing a 10-point lead over the Panthers.
In the end, time ran out for the Panthers to effectively answer, falling to the Patriots 20-10 in their second preseason game.
Carolina had a new starting quarterback Friday at New England, but it wasn’t Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold.
Instead, PJ Walker started Friday’s exhibition against the Patriots. Rookie Matt Corral alternated quarters with Walker, meaning Mayfield and Darnold didn’t play at all after several joint practices with the Patriots.
Head coach Matt Rhule said the decision to play Walker and Corral was made so offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo could give both players a chance to see what the backup role is like in the regular season. It’s unclear if the Panthers plan to have four quarterbacks on the roster or if they’ll trim the room to three.
As for the starting job, it’s unclear when Rhule will decide who is QB1 come Week 1 against the Browns.
“It’s two things; we want to see them both with the same groups, as best we can, so they both have the same set of receivers, and there’s a consistency there,” Rhule told Panthers.com. “And then we see them with the third group, so there’s some consistency there.”
Rhule elaborated, saying McAdoo wants Walker and Corral to understand they must always be ready to go as the backup. Friday’s exhibition was meant to be used as a simulation for them coming in and out of the game.
Walker and Corral split duties in the second half of last week’s preseason opener, with Walker getting more action before Corral closed the game.
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