Cardinals Avoid Yet Another Scare, Take Down Panthers at Home to Remain Unbeaten

As if last Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints wasn’t close enough, the Arizona Cardinals survived another late scare against an NFC South opponent this Sunday, as they narrowly took down the Carolina Panthers 27-22 to remain undefeated. The Week Two matchup looked to be all but wrapped up heading into halftime, but a second-half surge by Carolina kept things interesting all the way to the end. However, the Panthers' mistakes in the first half ultimately led to their defeat, as Arizona took home its first home win of the season. Let’s see how the Cardinals secured another close win here.

Early Turnovers Set Tone for Arizona in First Half

With Carolina receiving the ball to begin the game, Arizona looked to set the tone early by making a stand on the first drive of the game. Needless to say, the Cardinals were able to do just that, as linebacker Josh Sweat strip-sacked Panthers quarterback Bryce Young on the third play of the game, which resulted in a score after linebacker Zaven Collins was able to collect it and score from three yards away. Sweat’s sack would be the first in his time with Arizona, as the former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher contributed massively to get the Cardinals out in front early. On top of that, Collins’ scoop and score would be the second time he would find the endzone in his fifth season as a Cardinal, as his first came from a 30-yard interception return in 2022.

This sequence would only be the first to come for Arizona, as the very next drive would also end in a takeaway for the Cardinals. With Carolina looking to make up for its initial slip-up by steadily driving down the field, its hopes would suddenly end at the 50-yard line, as Young was intercepted by Arizona linebacker Baron Browning. This interception would be the second of Browning’s career, as his first came in 2022 when he was with the Denver Broncos. Despite Browning only being able to return the interception for four yards, this takeaway would then spark the Cardinals' offense through nearly three full quarters. 

While Arizona’s offense wouldn’t be able to turn the takeaway into a touchdown, quarterback Kyler Murray still found a way to get the Cardinals into scoring range, as kicker Chad Ryland would convert a 29-yard field goal to go up by 10 early. Despite Arizona’s next offensive drive ending in a punt, the Cardinals were able to get an additional three points added on right after the two-minute warning with Ryland converting another kick, this time from 47 yards out. With Arizona’s defense forcing an immediate three-and-out, Murray and the Cardinals' offense got one final opportunity to add on before halftime. Safe to say it did just that, as Murray was able to orchestrate a six-play, 45-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard passing touchdown to wide receiver Michael Wilson to increase Arizona’s lead by 17 heading into halftime. This score would be Wilson’s first of the year, eighth of his now-three-year career with the Cardinals.

Calais Campbell Saves Cardinals Amidst Fourth Quarter Collapse

Coming out of halftime, Arizona took advantage of another opportunity to increase its lead over the Panthers, as Murray and running back James Conner helped lead a nine-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Conner scoring from two yards out to hold a 27-3 lead. This score would be Conner’s second of the season, his first rushing, as he scored his first as a receiver in Week One. However, despite seeming to have all the momentum, even heading out of halftime, the Cardinals' stranglehold began loosening as the second half went on. After opening the half with this score, Arizona’s offense would be shut down the rest of the game, leaving an opening for Carolina to potentially come back and putting strain on the Cardinals' defense.

The Panthers were able to answer following the Arizona score, as Young led Carolina on a 14-play, 76-yard drive to score its first touchdown of the game on a four-yard pass from Young to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, to bring the game within 18 points. Then, the Panthers' defense came up big by forcing Murray to throw an interception, giving the Carolina offense another opportunity to bring the game within reach. Young was able to help do just that, as he led another long 14-play, 88-yard scoring drive that ended with a five-yard score from running back Chuba Hubbard to bring the game within 12. The final score of the game for the Panthers would come after the defense held the Cardinals to their first three-and-out of the game, as Young found Renfrow for the second time, as they converted on a one-yard score following a 12-play, 76-yard drive. This score would then bring the game within single digits for the first time since the end of the first quarter, when Carolina added a field goal to bring the game back within seven. 

This sudden surge from the Panthers put Arizona at a major disadvantage, as Carolina kept putting on the pressure to keep the Cardinals on their heels late. With less than two minutes remaining, the Panthers had to attempt an onside kick as a last chance opportunity because they had wasted two of their three second-half timeouts before this attempt. At this moment, luck was on the side of Carolina, as it recovered the onside kick and looked to end the game with one last scoring drive. However, this would end up being the moment of one Arizona defensive lineman, as veteran Calais Campbell would be the one to save the day in his first game back as a Cardinal since he left the desert in 2016. Following a slew of penalties on both sides, Young and the Panthers were faced with a fourth and 15 from the Arizona 38-yard line, as they had to convert to keep the hope alive. Enter Campbell, who would sack Young for the second time on Sunday, as the original Cardinal came back and saved Arizona from another potential collapse. 

Cornerback Room Takes Another Huge Hit with Multiple Injuries 

While the Cardinals might’ve escaped with another close win, it did not come without some key injuries, as their cornerback room was left barren by the end of the game. All three starting cornerbacks, Max Melton, Garrett Williams, and Will Johnson, left at some point with injuries. Melton left late in the first quarter on a cart with a knee injury, Williams had a similar fate with a knee injury after colliding with safety Budda Baker during Carolina’s last scoring drive, and Johnson left at some point with a groin injury. In a room that’s already been decimated with season-ending injuries, with 2024 starting corners Sean Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas V going down in the offseason, the cornerback room looked to show out with a lot of young, inexperienced talent. Now, the room hopes to receive some good news on the recent injuries heading into the rest of the season.