After a failed try with Teddy Bridgewater, the Carolina Panthers are currently on their second experiment under center in as many years. This one, fortunately, is off to a much better start.
Quarterback Sam Darnold now has his Panthers at 2-0 to begin the 2021 campaign and, off this latest outing, is our Peak Performer here in Week 2. He led Carolina to a surprising (and dominant) upset win over the visiting New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The afternoon hit a roaring start for Darnold and the offense, as the Panthers took just three minutes and five plays to travel 75 yards to the end zone. The opening-drive touchdown found the hands of wideout Brandon Zylstra on a 20-yard bullet over the middle.
He’d follow that up by then finding one of his favorites in DJ Moore. Moore, who finished with 79 yards on eight grabs, reeled in Darnold’s second touchdown toss a 2-yard strike to close out the first half.
While Darnold didn’t have as strong a second half, which included an ugly interception on a play where he should’ve taken a sack, he was steady enough to park the bus. This bus driver/quarterback finished with his first 300-yard passing game since Week 12 of 2019 to go along with his pair of scores.
