The Panthers won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff to try and jump out to an early lead with their offense. The offense did everything they could on a 15-play drive that took 8:53 off the clock and netted them seven points when Teddy Bridgewater found Christian McCaffrey open in the flat on a gutsy fourth-and-3 play from the Chiefs 9-yard line to take an early 7-0 lead with 6:07 left in the quarter.
The Panthers defense did their job and protected the lead by forcing the Chiefs to settle for a field goal attempt on their opening drive, and Harrison Butker was able to put points on the board and cut the Panthers’ lead to four points at 7-3 with 1:38 left in the quarter.