Cardinals preparing for improving yet flawed Panthers team
Dec 19, 2024, 1:36 PM
TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for a last-place Carolina Panthers squad that has shown some life in the second half despite its many vulnerabilities.
As Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon pointed out Wednesday, the Panthers before last weekend lost three one-score games in a row to three division leaders: the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At the same time, Carolina’s defense has allowed the most points per game this year at 29.7 and the most rushing yards as the only team giving up five yards per carry. The Panthers (3-11) profile as an opponent the run-first Cardinals should move the ball on, but they’ve managed to take tough teams to the wire.
“I really think when you look at their last six games, they’ve played really good ball. I think they’ve turned the corner,” Gannon said. “I think coach (Dave Canales) is doing a really good job. He’s got good coordinators in there. They’re creative. … We’re gonna have to play our brand of ball to have a chance to win.”
That brand led to 163 rushing yards — 110 from James Conner — in a get-right win against the New England Patriots on Sunday to snap a three-game skid.
Meanwhile, the Panthers were blown out 30-14 against the Dallas Cowboys after turning the ball over four times and allowing six sacks. Their little room for error showed after playing three straight competitive games.
Gannon chalked that last game up to the turnovers and gave credit to Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who has had an adventurous first couple of seasons after going No. 1 overall in 2023. Young lost his starting job earlier this year, jumped back in for veteran Andy Dalton after he suffered a car accident injury and has held onto the position.
In his first two starts, Young completed 55% of his passes with no touchdowns and three interceptions. From Weeks 8-14, he completed 59.6% of his throws, and delivered seven touchdown passes to four interceptions.
Gannon said the Cardinals can learn from both versions of Young this season.
“I think Bryce Young is good player. He can throw it on time,” defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said. “He’s slippery in the pocket. When he extends, he can extend to run, extend to pass. And then the thing that that pops out to me is it’s a good offensive line with a good running back.”
Chuba Hubbard has established himself as a quality starting running back with 208 rushing yards over expected, third in the NFL behind Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. He is seventh in the NFL with 1,043 rushing yards, as Carolina’s run game is its best weapon.
Cardinals need win over Panthers for playoff odds
Despite the close games and moral victories, the Panthers have yet to beat a team this season with a better record than 5-9 (New Orleans Saints). The Cardinals have done well at putting away inferior opponents. All seven losses have come against teams above .500.
An upset would just about end Arizona’s playoff chances, according to projections from the New York Times.
The Cardinals have an 8% chance going into Week 16, according to the New York Times. A win paired with losses by the Los Angeles Rams at the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks at the Minnesota Vikings would vault Arizona into a three-way tie atop the division at 8-7.
Even if the Rams defeat the 4-10 Jets, Arizona would have a chance to catch them in Week 17 in primetime.
“Our backs are against the wall. We understand that,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “We understand what’s at stake. We understand it’s each week for us. So we got to go play our best on the road.”
