JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Panthers had opportunities to make plays.
But after an offseason spent hoping to build on the offensive momentum gained in the second half of last season, it was their own mistakes on offense that undid them in a 26-10 loss to the Jaguars in the regular season opener.
Bryce Young threw an interception and fumbled in the first half, turnovers that led to 10 Jaguars points. And then a promising drive to start the second half unraveled in the red zone, with a fourth-and-1 pass attempt thrown out of bounds with no one open.
It was a frustrating moment for Young, who slammed his helmet on the bench afterward.
But it was a frustrating day for the Panthers in general.
Dropped passes. Penalties that negated first downs (including an ineligible man downfield on center Austin Corbett). Snaps that seemed to get onto Young before he was anticipating them. A fourth-quarter pick six was waved off because of a penalty on the Jaguars, followed by another pick that allowed the Jaguars to kneel it out.
But there were also missed tackles on defense, and moments of apparent communication breakdowns.
The only points for most of the day were on a 48-yard field goal by rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, until Young hit Chuba Hubbard for a touchdown pass inside the last five minutes of the game. But by that point, it was too late to matter.
It all led to a loss that created some difficult questions one week into the season, in a game that took far too long, after a lengthy weather delay in the first half.
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