CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers fell short to the Dallas Cowboys but one electrifying play in the second quarter will forever be etched in team history.
Quarterback Bryce Young hit rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker wide open just short of midfield. Coker sprinted the remaining 50 yards and outpaced his way to a touchdown. The 83-yard score came one play after the Panthers' defense recovered a fumble deep in their own territory.
Coker's touchdown trimmed the Dallas lead to 10-7 and gave the Panthers major momentum heading into halftime. The Panthers would ultimately lose 30-16.
It's the longest offensive play for the Panthers since an 84-yard rushing score from Christian McCaffrey in Week 5 of 2019 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the longest pass since Cam Newton hit Ted Ginn for an 88-yard touchdown in Week 12 of 2016 against the Oakland Raiders.
Young's touchdown pass is the seventh-longest offensive regular season play in franchise history. It's the ninth-longest offensive play in franchise history including playoff games.
"Jalen did a great job of finding himself open, breaking off his route a little bit," Young said after Sunday's game. "When you get those opportunities you gotta be able to take advantage."
Coker finished Sunday's game with four receptions for 110 yards receiving and one touchdown. It's the first 100-yard game for the undrafted rookie. Coker has shown promise when given the opportunity and is now locked in the Panthers record books with one of the franchise's longest plays.
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Record setters
The longest offensive play in Panthers history was a 91-yard touchdown pass from Newton to Brandon LaFell against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 of 2011.
Newton was also on the passing end of the two longest non-touchdown plays for a Panthers offense. He completed an 82-yard pass to Armanti Edwards in Week 9 of 2012 against Washington. Newton matched that mark six years later with an 82-yard pass to D.J. Moore against the Lions.
Damiere Byrd scored the longest touchdown in Panthers history with a 103-yard kickoff return against the Buccaneers in Week 16 of 2017. The longest defensive score was a 99-yard interception return by Sam Franklin against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 of 2023.
Carolina is responsible for the longest offensive play in Super Bowl history. An 85-yard touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme to Muhsin Muhammad in Super Bowl 38 set the mark.
The longest non-touchdown plays from the Panthers offense came
Historical stats compiled using Stathead.
