2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game: Who's playing, live updates, more as Panthers and Cardinals face off in preseason opener
The Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame preseason game. Rookie quarterbacks Carson Beck and Haynes King stood out during the contest, which featured mostly backup players.
Why it matters
This game marks the official start of the 2026 NFL preseason, providing a first look at rookie talent and team depth.
The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals kicked off the 2026 preseason with the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio and provided a surprising thriller.Rookie quarterback Haynes King ran 5 yards for a touchdown with no time remaining in the fourth quarter to lead the Panthers to a 33-30 win over the Cardinals. Cardinals QB Kedon Slovis connected with a sliding Bryson Green in the right corner of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:55 left. The play was initially ruled incomplete, but replay showed that Green got both feet in bounds and had control of the ball as he hit the ground. Bryson Green with an insane TD grab 🙌@ProFootballHOF Game on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/gi4N84qZkv— NFL (@NFL) August 7, 2026 As could be expected, both teams' usual starters did not play.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in