Young throws two pick-6's as Panthers fall to Colts

By Clark Gerber, WRAL Sports contributor

Indianapolis Colts	27
Carolina Panthers	13
Final

Bryce Young threw three touchdown passes on Sunday. The problem was, two of them went to the wrong team.

Veteran defensive back Kenny Moore terrorized the Panthers' rookie QB, taking back two pick-sixes for the Indianapolis Colts, who won the game 27-13 in Charlotte.

"It was a struggle all day. Penalties and executing," said Panthers head coach Frank Reich. "No one's going to feel sorry for us so we've got to get back to work."

Moore's first big play came in the final minute of the second quarter, as Carolina tried to drive for a late field goal before halftime.

Young threw it late and off target to the right side, as Moore jumped the route and raced 49 yards the other way for a critical touchdown.

Carolina went into the locker room trailing 20-3, their largest halftime deficit of the season, but showed a little life to start the 3rd quarter.

Young engineered a 15 play, 77-yard scoring drive to put the Carolina Panthers back within shouting distance.

Bryce Young found DJ Chark for a 5-yard touchdown pass on a 3rd & Goal, giving the Panthers a brief glimmer of hope.

But on the next drive, as the Panthers looked poised to cut it to a one-score deficit, Young made another massive error..

This time, the rookie’s pass attempt was too high as he targeted Miles Sanders on a 2nd & 8. The ball went right to Moore, who took it back 66 yards this time, essentially sealing the game for the road team.

Bryce Young threw only one pick-six in his entire college career.

His two pick-sixes on Sunday, plus a third interception late in the 4th quarter, compounded what was already a lackluster showing statistically.

Young finished the day with 173 yards on 24/39 passing.

"I've seen the best quarterbacks in the game have way worse games than this," said Reich. "In some ways it's good for him to go through this. It's good to have to bounce back from something like this."

Earlier in the game, penalties loomed large for the Panthers as the Colts built their lead.

In the 1st quarter, the Colts had punted the ball away, when a Carolina offside penalty gave them a shot in the arm. The 5-yard infraction resulted in an Indianapolis first down, and put their offense back on the field.

A few plays later, the Panthers defense had another chance to get a stop on a 3rd & 7, but a 7-yard Gardner Minshew scramble, plus a 15-yard late hit penalty, helped the coach into scoring range.

A 15 play, 75-yard drive resulted in a short Colts field goal.

On the next Indy drive, Carolina was flagged again on a 3rd down play for a huge 15-yard penalty. Unnecessary roughness was called against Xavier Woods, as he hit Michael Pittman Jr. to force an incompletion.

The controversial call drew boos from the Panthers home crowd, and set the stage for the game's first touchdown.

Jonathan Taylor took a screen pass 10 yards through the defense and corkscrewed across the goal line.

The Panthers have a short week ahead of them as they look for their second win of the season. They will visit the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football next week.

Scoring summary

13:52 2nd - Matt Gay Made 26 Yd Field Goal. 3-0 Colts.

7:43 2nd - Jonathan Taylor Pass From Gardner Minshew for 10 Yds. Matt Gay Made XP. 10-0 Colts.

3:34 2nd - Eddy Pineiro Made 35 Yd Field Goal. 10-3 Colts.

0:53 2nd - Matt Gay Made 57 Yd Field Goal. 13-3 Colts.

0:20 2nd - Kenny Moore II 49 Yd Interception Return, Matt Gay Made XP. 20-3 Colts.

4:34 3rd - DJ Chark Jr. Pass From Bryce Young for 5 Yds. Eddy Pineiro Made XP. 20-10 Colts.

13:40 4th - Kenny Moore II 66 Yd Interception Return, Matt Gay Made XP. 27-10 Colts.

8:08 4th - Eddy Pineiro Made 49 Yd Field Goal. 27-13 Colts.