Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King (16) catches a ball during Fanfest at Bank of America Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Football is finally back, and while it was just a Thursday preseason game, the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals delivered just enough to get fans hyped.
What made the game even more memorable was the way it ended, with Panthers quarterback Haynes King making a name for himself and turning heads by leading Carolina to a come-from-behind 330-30 victory.
On third down, trailing Arizona by three points from the Cardinals' 5-yard line with two seconds left in regulation, King took matters into his own hands, rushing five yards for the game-winning touchdown to give Carolina a thrilling victory.
You can watch it unfold here:
King's big night gives his stock a nice boost. Although he's not going to take over the QB1 role in Carolina after just one good preseason game, he surely got people's attention, perhaps including the NFL teams who passed on him. Despite being the ACC Player of the Year in the last college football season, King went undrafted.
The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets star quarterback was later signed by the Panthers.
Kenny Pickett started the Hall of Fame game under center for the Panthers, completing 8 of his 11 throws for 62 yards with zero touchdowns and no picks. But it was King, who energized Carolina's attack, going 21-for-34 for 180 passing yards and two touchdowns against zero interceptions. In addition, he picked up 39 rushing yards and that game-winning touchdown on three carries.
The Panthers now take a long rest before their preseason Week 2 showdown against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Aug. 15.