Carolina Panthers vs New York Giants Box Score on Oct 24, 2021

Daniel Jones threw a touchdown pass and the New York Giants let their defense do the heavy lifting in a 25-3 victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon at East Rutherford, N.J.

Former Panthers kicker Graham Gano made field goals from 49, 53 and 44 yards for the Giants (2-5), who won at home for the first time in four tries this season.

The Panthers (3-4), who've lost four games in a row, were held to 173 yards of total offense.

Jones threw for 203 yards on 23-for-33 passing.

Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold was 16 of 25 for 111 yards and an interception. Darnold, who was playing in the stadium where he started 19 games for the New York Jets before an offseason trade to Carolina, was pulled after three quarters in favor of PJ Walker, who was 3-of-14 passing for 33 yards.

The Panthers turned the ball over on downs at their own 19-yard line with less than five minutes left and trailing 18-3. On the next play, Devontae Booker ran 19 yards for a New York touchdown.

The first touchdown in the game occurred with 59 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Jones, who was competing against his hometown team for the first time, connected with Dante Pettis for a 5-yard touchdown play to give the Giants a 12-3 edge. That 11-play, 75-yard drive included Jones making a nifty catch for a 16-yard gain on a trick play, with Pettis, a receiver, throwing the pass.

After reaching the New York 15 in the second quarter, a holding penalty was followed by ex-Carolina defensive back James Bradberry picking off Darnold. The Giants didn't convert, leaving them ahead 5-3 at halftime.

The teams combined for 17 first downs and 278 yards of total offense in the first half.

The Panthers scored first when Zane Gonzalez's kick banked in off the left upright for a 45-yard field goal to cap the game's opening possession.

The big moment in the first quarter for Carolina's defense came as the Panthers stopped the Giants short of the goal line on four consecutive plays from the 2-yard line or closer.

Yet it wasn't a lost cause for the Giants because three plays later Darnold was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone. That resulted in a safety for New York.

The Giants went ahead on former Gano's 49-yard field goal on the ensuing possession.

--Field Level Media