Panthers: A week that turned the volume up, then snapped the knob
The reset that came with a 30–0 win over Atlanta did not travel. New England beat Carolina 42–13 on September 28 in Foxborough. Reuters’ recap lays out the damage, including Marcus Jones’ 87-yard punt return and a 28–6 halftime hole that swallowed any plan for balance. See the game detail here: Patriots pummel Panthers 42–13.
Postgame, head coach Dave Canales summed it without varnish: “Certainly not the execution we’re looking for. This is in all phases… giving the credit to the Patriots.” That quote has been widely circulated in local recaps and postgame notes.
The fan mood swung hard. Cat Scratch Reader polled after the loss and found 60% of respondents had lost confidence and 85% wanted a change at quarterback. The site’s write-up is blunt and useful context for Sunday lower-thirds: Fans agree some change is needed.
The immediate news is personnel. Chuba Hubbard is out with a calf injury for Week 5 vs Miami. Expect Rico Dowdle to get the first crack at carries. That is the reporting heading into Sunday: Dowdle in line for bigger role. A Dolphins beat outlet echoed the same update off NFL Network: Hubbard to miss Week Five.
Hornets: Media Day said leadership and health. Now the ball has to move.
LaMelo Ball’s conditioning and voice headlined Media Day. The Observer framed it around leadership gains and Brandon Miller’s health questions. Read the overview here: Hornets Media Day: leadership and health. Independent coverage noted Ball’s own claim that he is “stronger all around” after a summer of work: CLTure’s Media Day takeaways. For raw quotes, the team’s availability is posted here: LaMelo Ball media availability. Preseason opens this week at Spectrum Center.
Charlotte FC: Three points from a match that demanded patience
Charlotte left Audi Field with a 1–0 win after D.C. United saw two red cards in the first half. The facts are straightforward: United went down to nine men and Charlotte managed the game from there. See national and local confirmations: Yahoo Sports summary, Washington Post game context, and the official highlight cut: MLS match highlights. The table math will matter over the next two weeks; for now the banked result is the point.
NASCAR at the ROVAL: The calendar’s tightrope in Concord
The playoff weekend sits in our backyard. The Bank of America ROVAL 400 is set for Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3:00 p.m. Full event page here: ROVAL 400 event hub. The track has a minute-by-minute slate for both days, including Cup practice and qualifying, the Blue Cross NC 250 in Xfinity, and Fan Zone appearances and a pre-race concert. See the full schedule card: ROVAL weekend schedule. The 2025 season calendar sets it as the October anchor: Speedway 2025 events.
Knights: Season closed with a split and a clean send-off
The Charlotte Knights split their season-ending doubleheader with Durham, taking the nightcap 3–2 to close 2025. The club’s wrap has inning detail and names: Knights end the season with a win. There is no more local baseball until prospect news or winter moves.
Checkers: Camp opened, and the head coach gave the line that explains October hockey
Geordie Kinnear’s note on fatigue and pride fits any room that skated through June. “To be quite honest I needed a couple of weeks… Anytime you play to June, it’s a good thing that you’re tired.” The team’s feature is here: Checkers turn the page with training camp. Another camp piece sets the tone on the ice: Training camp kicks off.
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About the Author
Jack Beckett covers the city’s sports the way he drinks coffee: strong, slightly bitter, and best before sunrise. On a good day he files before the espresso cools. On a better day he remembers to eat. You can find all the reporting, explainers, and election-year circus tents at The Charlotte Mercury, plus the latest civic coverage on News and Politics. Our 2025 election hub is open for business and mischief: Poll Dance 2025. Send tips or heckling on Twix at x.com/queencityexp.
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This article, “Charlotte Sports Week: Panthers reset vs Miami, Hornets leadership test, Charlotte FC’s nine-man win, ROVAL Sunday at 3,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Charlotte Sports Week: Panthers reset vs Miami, Hornets leadership test, Charlotte FC’s nine-man win, ROVAL Sunday at 3”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)