Not every Carolina Panthers playmaker was wearing a jersey on Sunday, and the fastest one on the field at halftime had four legs.

During the Panthers’ Corgi Race hosted at halftime during Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, one of the dogs decided the finish line was only a suggestion.

Instead of leaving the field with trainers when the race ended, the corgi kept going, and it took at least four staffers working together to catch him as the team tried to clear the field for the second-half kickoff. By the time someone finally slowed him down, 41 seconds had passed.

RedZone host Scott Hanson called the chase as if it were a play from scrimmage, following the pup as the staffers closed in, only to fall short.

“They can’t get him at the 40. They can’t get him at the 45! He’s at midfield! The corgi is loose, he’s checking to his left, checking to his right! He’s looking at himself in the big video board!” Hanson said.

The dog eventually ran out of room and was corralled, with a few humans likely feeling the effort afterward.

The chase was a welcome break for Carolina fans, who had watched a close game that slipped away late. The Broncos held on for a 26-21 win.

Denver led 13-7 at halftime after Wil Lutz’s 48-yard field goal, but Bryce Young put Carolina ahead 14-13 in the third quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darren Waller.

On a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Young could not find Tommy Tremble in the end zone, and a play that was originally ruled incomplete was challenged and reversed to an interception by Broncos safety Devon Key.

Denver capitalized with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended on Jonah Coleman’s 9-yard touchdown run, and Bo Nix connected with Pat Bryant on a 26-yard score to make it 26-14 with 5:41 remaining.

Young answered by hitting Tetairoa McMillan for a 4-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 26-21 with 3:05 to play. On the Panthers’ final possession, Nik Bonitto strip-sacked Young, and the Broncos recovered at their own 44 with 1:18 left.

Young finished 28 of 39 for 276 yards and three touchdowns, while Waller had eight catches for 90 yards. Carolina outgained Denver 353 yards to 312 but turned the ball over twice to the Broncos’ one.

Nix completed 25 of 37 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns.