EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A week ago, the Panthers were able to play a solid second half of offense and then some.
Sunday, it wasn't much more than one good series.
Other than a touchdown drive that lasted exactly one minute, the Panthers struggled to find a rhythm when they had the ball, and lost 19-16 to the Giants at MetLife Stadium to fall to 0-2 on the season.
The Panthers had brief moments of momentum but couldn't stitch them together consistently enough.
They were 2-of-12 on third downs for the day,Christian McCaffrey had 15 carries for 102 yards (including a 49-yarder), but they weren't able to do enough with the ball in the air.
Baker Mayfield was 14-of-29 for 145 yards and a touchdown (a quick, 16-yard strike to DJ Moore on the Panthers' opening possession of the third quarter). But the lack of cohesion was evident, as they didn't convert a third down on five attempts in the second half.
That unraveled a solid defensive day, as the Panthers kept Saquon Barkley from running away with things like he did against the Titans last week.
— Former Panthers kicker Graham Gano was the difference, hitting four field goals, including a 51-yarder and a 56-yarder in the fourth quarter.
The Giants didn't hesitate letting him try the longest one late, secure in his big leg and experience.
— The Panthers started off poorly again, and it was nearly disastrous.
After Chuba Hubbard fumbled the game's opening kickoff, they followed with another turnover on their next drive, with Robbie Anderson coughing it up.
Being able to hold the Giants to a pair of field goals after those gifts of field position was an accomplishment.
Hubbard put the ball on the ground again in the third quarter but was ruled down by contact after an otherwise-good 37-yard return.
— Defensive tackle Bravvion Roy was carted to the locker room in the third quarter, leaving the Panthers thin at the position.
With Phil Hoskins inactive, that left rookie Marquan McCall as the only backup to starters Derrick Brown and Matt Ioannidis.
Cornerback Donte Jackson wasn't able to finish the game with a hamstring injury of his own.
View best in-game photos from Carolina's game against New York.
DT - 99 - Matt Ioannidis
WR - 2 - DJ Moore
WR - 2 - DJ Moore
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, left, looks to throw during the first half an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Giants' Tanner Hudson, right, runs with the ball during the first half an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
LB - 55 - Cory Littleton
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
CB - 26 - Donte Jackson
QB - 6 - Baker Mayfield
WR - 3 - Robbie Anderson
CB - 26 - Donte Jackson
DE - 94 - Henry Anderson
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
QB - 6 - Baker Mayfield
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
CB - 26 - Donte Jackson
CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
T - 72 - Taylor Moton
CB - 23 - Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
DT - 93 - Bravvion Roy
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
RB - 22 - Christian McCaffrey
RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
T - 79 - Ikem Ekwonu
QB - 6 - Baker Mayfield
S - 25 - Xavier Woods
New York Giants' David Sills V, right, fends off Carolina Panthers' Xavier Woods during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Giants' Kadarius Toney, right, runs with the ball during the first half an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Giants' Kadarius Toney smiles during the first half an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carolina Panthers' Robbie Anderson reacts during the first half an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Carolina Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos, right, tackles New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
DT - 95 - Derrick Brown
RB - 22 - Christian McCaffrey
T - 72 - Taylor Moton
TE - 45 - Giovanni Ricci
WR - 3 - Robbie Anderson
G - 63 - Austin Corbett
T - 79 - Ikem Ekwonu
T - 72 - Taylor Moton
T - 70 - Brady Christensen
QB - 6 - Baker Mayfield
G - 63 - Austin Corbett
QB - 6 - Baker Mayfield
WR - 2 - D.J. Moore
G - 63 - Austin Corbett
T - 79 - Ikem Ekwonu
T - 70 - Brady Christensen
WR - 3 - Robbie Anderson
RB - 22 - Christian McCaffrey
T - 70 - Brady Christensen
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu
RB - 33 - D'Onta Foreman
CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
QB - 6 - Baker Mayfield
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson
CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn
S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn
RB - 22 - Christian McCaffrey
DE - 53 - Brian Burns
WR - 12 - Shi Smith
DT - 99 - Matt Iaonnidis
