The Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, secured by a dramatic walk-off touchdown run from undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King.
The annual NFL preseason curtain-raiser delivered a frantic finish at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, where the Panthers and Cardinals traded blows across four frantic quarters. With no overtime allowed in the preseason, Carolina head coach Dave Canales faced a definitive choice when his offense stalled at the Arizona 5-yard line with just two seconds remaining and a 30-27 deficit staring them down. Rather than settle for a tie, Canales kept his offense on the field for a game-winning snap.
“Not, not a chance, not for a second, no ties, no overtime in the preseason, Four downs the whole way. Brad knew it, and that kind of is why the nature of some of the calls came out at the end there because we knew we had an extra down to play with.”
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers head coach
King dropped back, scanned a collapsing pocket, pump-faked a throw, and scrambled through the middle of the field to dive into the end zone, sealing the 33-30 victory on the final play of the game.
Rookie Quarterbacks Highlight Preseason Debuts
The exhibition showcased contrasting debuts for two rookies tasked with steering their respective offenses. For Arizona, Carson Beck earned the start. Beck delivered a sharp performance, completing 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Kedon Slovis, earning a stellar 125.4 quarterback rating.
The dual-threat playmaker admitted the chaotic celebration left him momentarily breathless amid a mob of teammates.
“I’ll tell you what, I couldn’t breathe, But it was amazing, just going out there and being able to celebrate with the guys that you’ve been OTAs, all training camp with, and busting your butt, and to finally go out there and celebrate with them and just showcase your talent is very fun.”
Haynes King, Carolina Panthers quarterback
Roster Battles Take Center Stage in Canton
While the game’s closing seconds provided the theater, the exhibition served its primary purpose as an intense laboratory for roster bubble players and backfield depth. Carolina running back A.J. Dillon made a productive early cameo, catching an 18-yard pass before punching in a 1-year touchdown run in the second quarter.
The wide receiver room also provided fierce competition.
Preseason Context and Regular Season Outlook
The matchup offered both franchises a chance to reset following vastly different 2025 campaigns. The Cardinals enter the new year looking to rebound from a difficult 3-14 season , while the Panthers return to the field after capturing the NFC South title with an 8-9 record .
With a crowd of 18,116 watching in Ohio and national broadcasts handled by NBC and Peacock, the exhibition offered early clues about how each team plans to manage its depth.
