If the Carolina Panthers defense made particular adjustments in the second half, they must have disguised them masterfully.
A cross-section of Cincinnati Bengals offensive players said scoring just seven points after halftime wasn’t about being fooled. It was about playing foolishly: Committing turnovers, breaking off pass patterns and failing to convert third downs. That was their explanation for the Panthers prevailing 31-21 at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.
However, something sure changed. While the Panthers are 2-1, the defense has lacked any real consistency in busting up drives. That continued early Sunday: Two of the Bengals’ first three possessions resulted in touchdowns in remarkably similar fashion.