MUNICH — In an exciting overtime finish, Eddy Pineiro successfully kicked a 36-yard field goal, leading the Carolina Panthers to a 20-17 victory against the New York Giants in Germany on Sunday. This triumph marked the Panthers’ first consecutive victories of the season, bringing their record to 3-7, while the Giants fell to 2-8.
The Giants won the coin toss to commence overtime; however, a fumble by rookie running back Tyrone Tracy on the very first play was recovered by Josey Jewell at the 23-yard line, giving the Panthers a huge opportunity.
Despite trailing 17-7 in the fourth quarter, the Giants managed to rally back, thanks to Graham Gano’s 42-yard field goal that tied the game with just five seconds left. Gano, who had missed a 43-yarder earlier in the game, made his return after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in September.
Chuba Hubbard, who secured a four-year contract extension valued at approximately $33.2 million earlier in the week, was a standout for the Panthers, running the ball 28 times for 153 yards and scoring one touchdown. Quarterback Bryce Young completed 15 of 25 passes for 126 yards, throwing a touchdown pass to Ja’Tavion Sanders in the first quarter. This victory marks Young’s first consecutive wins in his brief NFL career, reflecting a significant milestone for both him and the Panthers, who have not seen back-to-back wins since late in the previous season.
For the Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones struggled, completing 22 of 37 passes for 190 yards and throwing two interceptions. However, he led an impressive comeback drive, finishing a 13-play, 96-yard march with a 2-yard touchdown run that brought the score to 17-14. Later, he orchestrated a 12-play drive that allowed for Gano’s clutch field goal.
The Panthers took early control of the game, establishing a 10-0 lead in the first half with Pineiro’s 53-yard field goal and Young’s touchdown pass. In the third quarter, Tracy responded for the Giants with a notable 32-yard touchdown run, but Hubbard countered shortly after with a 1-yard touchdown, giving Carolina a 17-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In addition to the game action, there were several special moments off the field. World Cup-winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer participated by beating the Panthers’ drum before the game, while his Bayern Munich teammate Jamal Musiala was seen conversing with Giants running back Tyron Tracy Jr. on the sidelines. The Allianz Arena, host of the event, is also home to Bayern Munich. The referee, Shawn Hochuli, continued a tradition by making a false start call in German, which reminded fans of last year’s inaugural NFL game in Frankfurt. Fans passionately sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads” once again, echoing the sentiments from the league’s first regular-season outing in Germany the previous year.
Injury reports noted that Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers underwent evaluation for a possible concussion in the fourth quarter but was cleared to return. On the other hand, Panthers running back Miles Sanders left the field early in the second quarter and did not return due to a foot/ankle issue. Tight end Ian Thomas (calf) was also injured in the second quarter and exited the game; linebacker D.J. Johnson was evaluated for a concussion during the third quarter.
Looking ahead, the Giants will have a bye week before hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 24, while the Panthers will sit out the same week before facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 24.
