Early Cardinals blunders set up 2 touchdowns for Panthers’ Cam Newton

Sunday afternoon did not start out the way the Arizona Cardinals would have envisioned it as Arizona fell to the Carolina Panthers, 34-10.

Two early blunders by the Cardinals put Arizona down 14-0 inside the opening seven minutes of the first quarter

The Panthers’ first two touchdowns came on a Cam Newton two-yard rush and a two-yard passing score after he signed with the team on Thursday.

However, Carolina started each of their first two drives on Arizona’s side of the field after former Cardinal Haason Reddick caused a strip-sack fumble that was recovered by the Panthers inside the red zone on just the third snap of the game.

Five plays later, Newton scampered in for the two-yard rushing score and let the world know that he was back with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

CAM NEWTON IS BACK.

📺: #CARvsAZ on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/6gM8zX7UMX

— NFL (@NFL) November 14, 2021

And on the ensuing Cardinals possession, QB Colt McCoy was stuffed on 4th-and-1 to give the ball to the Panthers on the Arizona 41-yard line.

Carolina cashed in on its second short field of the game four plays later, as Newton hit Robby Anderson on a two-yard pass.

Former Arizona State Sun Devils and Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez made all seven of his kicks in his return to the Valley.

He hit three PATs and four field goals from 27, 44, 48 and 49 yards out to outscore his former team by himself, 15-10.

Related

Cardinals defense fails to contain Christian McCaffrey in loss to PanthersPanthers defense sets tone early, never looks back in win over CardinalsArizona Cardinals' lethargic loss to Panthers hopefully just a blipRapid Reactions: Cardinals blown out by Panthers in rough home lossWhat did we learn from Cardinals’ win vs. Raiders?Jeremiyah Love dealing with ankle injury from preseason debut vs. Raiders