Connecting on field goals of 29, 42 and 55 yards Thursday night, kicker Joey Slye helped push the Carolina Panthers to a 23-13 victory over Chicago in the preseason opener. Filling in for Graham Gano, Slye was signed in order to allow the Panthers incumbent time to rest and prepare for the regular season.
His impressive debut was simply Slye taking advantage of the opportunity. Facing the Bears, who missed nearly a fourth of their field goal attempts last season including a heart breaker in the playoffs – Slye’s performance had to be especially intriguing.
Chicago carried two kickers of their own into the contest but after Eddy Pineiro missed his first opportunity, a 48-yard attempt, fans were quickly reminded about their recent struggles.