Thanks largely to running back Christian McCaffrey, the Carolina Panthers offense got on the board early on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
McCaffrey rushed for 40 yards on five carries on the opening drive. His sixth touch was 20-yard reception for a touchdown.
.@CameronNewton tosses to @run__cmc for the Carolina TD!
60 total yards for McCaffrey on the @Panthers' opening drive. #KeepPounding #CARvsPIT
📺: @nflnetwork + @NFLonFOX
📱+💻: https://t.co/DJUityQHC9 https://t.co/bUZFqeK242— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2018
The touchdown was historic for the second-year running back.
With that touchdown Christian McCaffrey passes DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart for most receiving TD by a running back (8) in Panthers franchise history
— Kelsey Riggs (@kelseyriggs) November 9, 2018
Twitter took notice of McCaffrey’s dominance.
https://twitter.com/VeteranScout/status/1060706196380938242
McCaffrey looks like he's goin 100 miles an hour out there
— Joe Starkey (@JoeStarkey1) November 9, 2018
Christian McCaffrey just singlehandedly embarrassed the Steelers defense on the opening drive. Great start to the game guys….
— Rocco DiSangro (@RoccoDiSangro) November 9, 2018
Christian McCaffrey scores on a 20-yard touchdown catch. The Steelers don't have the ILBs to match up with McCaffrey. They need to play their dime defense more. Can't have Vince Williams trying to chase him around. Williams not effective against the run either that drive.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) November 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/MattJ_Sports/status/1060706248201367552
What a nightmare Christian McCaffrey has been for opposing defenses. It's like Norv took the training wheels off and now he's in the Tour de France.
— Phil Orban (@philorbanWSOC9) November 9, 2018
It was definitely the start that McCaffrey and Carolina were looking for in this one.