A week after a surprise escape to upset Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, PJ Walker was on target that the Panthers quarterback again on Sunday. And none of his passes were prettier than his last regulation. Make a second consecutive start instead of Mayfield Baker, the former XFL signalman unloaded a perfect 62-yard bomb with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The only problem ? star receiver DJ Moorewho shot the highest score, also helped the opponent Falcons after the catch, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that preceded a missed extra run, which would have given Carolina a last-second lead. Instead, the Panthers suffered a heartbreaking 37-34 overtime loss.
NFL The rules prohibit a player from immediately removing their helmet in celebration after a play, but Moore did so after shaking off Walker’s message Hail Mary. So instead of trying for the ensuing extra point at 33 yards, the Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro was forced to attempt a 48 yard; when his kick went left, the settlement effectively ended in a 34-34 tie, sending the contest into overtime. Pineiro then missed a 33-yard field goal in overtime, where the Falcons stole the win.
Fair or not, the rules of unsportsmanlike conduct – and Moore’s violation of them, coupled with the failure of Pineiro – wasted this Chiefs QC Patrick Mahomes judged quickly”best pitch of the yearWalker’s TD pass, which led the Panthers to a 34-28 loss in a surprise battle for NFC South supremacy, also went 62 air yards – the most on a TD since 2006, by ESPN.
