Panthers open preseason at Pro Football Hall of Fame, end exhibition with Haynes King winning TD run

The Carolina Panthers’ preseason opener came with late drama and a finish drawn up on the final play. In a Pro Football Hall of Fame Game exhibition, the Panthers overcame a tight, back-and-forth score to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 33-30, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Haynes King as time expired, according to Yahoo Sports.

The result matters less for standings and more for the evaluation window teams use the first week of the preseason. Starters are typically on strict snap limits, but the opening game still carries an outsized informational value, especially for play-call rhythm, quarterback decision-making, and how quickly newly assembled units can respond when the game swings.

Carolina’s late-game execution was the headline, but the broader story is how close the contest stayed for most of the night. With the score entering the final moments in a one-possession range, the Panthers’ ability to convert on the last sequence offered a clear indicator of offensive composure, even with the volatility that often comes from preseason rotations.

King’s game-ending run from 5 yards out also provided a reminder of why teams want multiple ways to finish drives during the preseason. A late touchdown on a short run can test both timing and field vision, and it puts additional pressure on defenses to avoid giving up easy yards in crunch time.

For the Panthers, that opener is now part of a short preseason chain. Per Yahoo Sports, the Panthers plan to use their starters again on Saturday night against the Buffalo Bills, continuing the early-round process of getting the primary groups enough live reps to separate plan from performance.

The Bills figure to be a different look than the Cardinals, and that is one reason preseason opponents matter beyond the name value. Facing another opponent with their own scheme and timing tendencies is how coaches refine their short-yardage and end-of-game packages, while also checking that the quarterback and skill groups can communicate and align fast when the personnel shifts.

What to watch next is whether Carolina’s starters can pick up where they left off after the Hall of Fame finish, particularly on third downs and in the red zone, where preseason games often reveal whether a team’s first unit can convert when the margin is thin.

With the preseason still in its early stage, results like a 33-30 exhibition win should be treated as evidence of timing and execution, not as a direct forecast of regular-season form. Still, for the Panthers, beginning the slate with a last-play touchdown sets a tone, and the next step is proving that the execution holds when the opponent is the Bills on Saturday night, as reported by Yahoo Sports.