How Panthers beat Cardinals on game-winning Haynes King TD rush in 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game
Rookie quarterback Haynes King capped an impressive night with a walk-off touchdown rush.
The Athletic Live Team
August 6, 2026 at 11:30 PM EDT
Panthers edge Cardinals in Hall of Fame Game
The Carolina Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in Canton, Ohio as the 2026 NFL preseason kicked off with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
Panthers rookie quarterback Haynes King scored the game-winning touchdown on a five-yard rush as time expired, his third overall TD of the night. Kenny Pickett started at quarterback for Carolina, going 8-for-11 for 62 yards across three drives
Rookie QB Carson Beck impressed starting for the Cardinals, going 15-for-19 for 188 yards and a touchdown as he played into the third quarter
Share your reaction with us in the game chat or by emailing us at live@theathletic.com
Your reactions to tonight’s game
M.C.G.:“That was a fun football game — rare to see a Hall of Fame Game as competitive and played as cleanly as that one. Great start to the preseason.”
Jordan L:“Haynes King played a great game. There’s no stashing him on the practice squad after that performance. Dude is a baller.”
Vegas K:“Cut Pickett and keep King.”
codyhaner419:“Haynes King is a baller. Him, Beck, and Virgil on offense as well as Culp on defense all had a great game today and should make the team.”
Haynes King on his walkoff TD. pic.twitter.com/OPjdxffHay
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 7, 2026
Panthers QB performances
With Bryce Young watching from the sideline, the Panthers’ backup quarterbacks combined for a 27-point showing against Arizona:
- Haynes King: 21/34, 154 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 39 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
- Kenny Pickett: 8/11, 62 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Cardinals QB performances
With veterans Gardner Minshew II and Jacoby Brissett resting during the Hall of Fame Game, the Cardinals had plenty to evaluate from their younger options:
- Carson Beck: 15/19, 188 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions
- Kedon Slovis: 9/10, 106 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions
Next up for Arizona
The Cardinals will return to action a week from today, this time closer to home with a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 13
Carson Beck’s follow-up to his impressive Hall of Fame Game performance will be a compelling storyline to track
Next up for Carolina
The Panthers will travel to Buffalo to play their second preseason game on Aug. 15. This will be the first preseason game held at Buffalo’s new stadium, Highmark Stadium
Final team stats
Here are the final team stats from the first game of the preseason, Panthers-Cardinals:
- Panthers: 378
- Cardinals: 425
First Downs
- Panthers: 25
- Cardinals: 23
Passing Yards
- Panthers: 237
- Cardinals: 282
Rushing Yards
- Panthers: 141
- Cardinals: 143
Third Downs
- Panthers: 9-14
- Cardinals: 7-12
Dave Canales waiting so he can greet all of his guys. pic.twitter.com/GVXGgEeFIm
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 7, 2026
Haynes King walk-off winner! King limited himself to a single rush before that last game-winning drive, but he rushes for a 26-yarder to move into the red zone and outmaneuvered the Cardinals’ defense for a 5-yard rushing score on the game’s final play
He threw for 180 passing yards as well
King rushes for game-winning score!
Final – Panthers 33, Cardinals 30
Another nice throw by Haynes King, findingJimmy Horn Jr. for 12 yards to Arizona’s 5-yard line. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, he cannot connect with Elijah Cooks on a fade setting up one play for all the marbles
King takes matters into his own hands, throwing a pump fake before taking off for the goal line. With zeroes on the clock, he stretches the ball across the plane for the game-winning touchdown as he is immediately swarmed in celebration by what seems to be the entire Panthers organization
HAYNES KING WINS IT FOR THE PANTHERS ‼️ pic.twitter.com/HESbUZGhBN
— NFL (@NFL) August 7, 2026
Q4 0:28 – Cardinals 30, Panthers 27
The Panthers now face third-and-14
Haynes King steps up in the pocket and takes off, picking up 26 yards before wisely getting out of bounds to stop the clock at Arizona’s 17-yard line
Haynes King showing off his speed!@ProFootballHOF Game on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/oqCTM8AkKu
— NFL (@NFL) August 7, 2026
Q4 0:44 – Cardinals 30, Panthers 27
Carolina is now across midfield after a reception and a rush by Miles Davis
Momentum is quickly slowed though as a screen to Davis is blown up
Q4 1:25 – Cardinals 30, Panthers 27
Haynes Kingsails two passes, leading to third-and-10
This time he converts, finding Casey Washington for a gain of 10 yards
Arizona takes the lead!
Q4 1:55 – Cardinals 30, Panthers 27
After review, it is indeed a touchdown pass from Kedon Slovis to Bryson Green as Arizona takes a late lead
Bryson Green with an insane TD grab 🙌@ProFootballHOF Game on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/gi4N84qZkv
— NFL (@NFL) August 7, 2026
Q4 2:00 – Panthers 27, Cardinals 23
Kedon Slovisrips a laser to a sliding Bryson Green, who is ruled out of bounds despite making the grab
To my eye, he seemed to have control of the football and get his body down in bounds before his momentum carried him out of play
The play is under review
Mike Tomlin on if he has the itch to return to coaching after leaving coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 seasons:
💬 “I haven’t thought a whole lot about it yet because I don’t feel like I’m missing anything yet. You know, when those regular season balls start snapping, that’s when I start.”
Two-minute warning
Q4 2:00 – Panthers 27, Cardinals 23
Arizona now has first-and-goal from Carolina’s 3-yard line after a timeout to save a delay of game
Corey Kiner rushed for two yards, setting up second-and-goal from the 1-yard line after the break
Looking outside of this game, Mike Tomlin spoke on the New England Patriots new offense with AJ Brown:
💬 “That is their new toy, and they’re not going to take a long time to unrwap their new toy … They’re going to need it.”
New England traded for the three-time All-Pro in the offseason
Panthers linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons has plenty of familiarity with both franchises. The Cardinals made Simmons the No. 8 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Clemson, but Simmons did not live up to expectations and lasted just three seasons in Arizona
Simmons spent his next two seasons with the Giants, then joined Carolina for 2025 and played in five of 17 possible games
This preseason will be a major opportunity for Simmons to show he deserves to be a part of the Panthers’ defense in 2026
Q4 4:33 – Panthers 27, Cardinals 23
There’sReggie Virgil again, making a man miss for a gain of 16 yards into the red zone as Arizona’s drive continues
The ruling on the field of a catch by Reggie Virgilstands
