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          Panthers' first-half TD drought ends on 20-yard reverse to Ihmir Smith-Marsette

          • David Newton, ESPN Staff WriterDec 24, 2023, 02:16 PM ET
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              David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013. You can follow Newton on Twitter at @DNewtonespn.
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          CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The streak is over.

          The Carolina Panthers' offense scored its first first-half touchdown since Oct. 29 on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers with a beautifully executed 20-yard reverse to wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the second quarter.

          Smith-Marsette, used primarily as a return specialist most of the season, lined up in the slot on the left side. Quarterback Bryce Young took the handoff and faked to wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, going from his right to his left, then handed off to Smith-Marsette going right.

          Smith-Marsette was untouched until he reached the 3-yard line, where he barreled through a couple of defenders for the score that trimmed the lead to 13-10.

          It was Carolina's first offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of a Dec. 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a string of nine straight quarters without one.