Cardinals narrowly escape another Carolina catastrophe

GLENDALE — The Arizona Cardinals’ defense set out to accomplish two things in a 27-22 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2:

– Stop the run
– Force turnovers

Done and done.

That Panthers run game that chewed up 243 yards and three touchdowns a year ago against the Cardinals was nonexistent on Sunday.

Totaling just 12 rushing yards on 11 carries in the first half, the Panthers were going nowhere fast. By the end of Sunday’s tilt, they had just 49 yards on 19 carries.

Cardinals DL Dalvin Tomlinson and pass rushers Baron Browning and Josh Sweat were menaces from the jump, each recording a tackle for loss across the first two quarters.

And with a one-dimensional Panthers offense, the Cardinals pass rush got to work on disrupting Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

Right out of the gates, Cardinals pass rusher Josh Sweat put his mark on the afternoon behind a strip sack on the first third down of the game.

Zaven Collins did the rest on the scoop and score.

well, name a better start than a defensive touchdown

📺 CBS | @ZavenCollins pic.twitter.com/7ArzZnMB88

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 14, 2025

After recording just one sack and zero takeaways (that counted) across last week’s win, Arizona had one of each within the first two minutes of action.

Carolina’s second drive ended up a lot like the first, with Young again coughing up the ball due to the Arizona pass rush.

This time, though, Mack Wilson Sr. shot out of a cannon to tip Young’s pass before Baron Browning reeled it in for the interception.

Pair that with just three points allowed in the first half and it was exactly the type of start the Cardinals defense needed, especially with how the offense operated early on.

Despite good field position coming off Browning’s interception, quarterback Kyler Murray and the offense spun their wheels on the opening drive across six plays for nine yards. Even some Carolina penalties thrown in, Arizona settled for a 29-yard field goal courtesy of Chad Ryland.

The next two drives ended in similar fashions, too, with Arizona mustering five yards behind six plays before punting away on the ensuing possession.

And while the offense chewed up plenty of yards (86) and time off the clock (5:24) on its third drive, Arizona couldn’t punch it home and instead watched Ryland put another one through the uprights.

One of the biggest issues for the offense early on was limiting the impact of Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown. Penalties and a struggling offensive line didn’t help matters.

He didn’t get to Murray for a sack, but logged key passes defensed and a QB hit throughout.

The Cardinals wouldn’t be denied pay dirt much longer, however, with the offense stringing together an impressive six-play, 45-yard scoring drive capped off by a Michael Wilson touchdown grab just before halftime.

Efficiency was key here, with Arizona needing just 47 seconds to score to essentially end the half.

The success poured into the beginning of the second half, with the Cardinals needing nine plays to drive 69 yards before running back James Conner’s two-yard touchdown run. Arizona led 27-3.

Then things took a turn…

Cardinals’ win not without its moments

That Carolina curse that’s plagued Arizona for years clearly wasn’t going down without a fight.

Just as it looked like the Cardinals were well on their way to really slamming the door on the Panthers, Arizona’s offensive inconsistency showed back up.

Despite Murray’s impressive fourth-quarter scamper that put multiple Panthers on skates, the signal caller couldn’t fully put the dagger into Carolina’s chances.

Looking at third-and-three from Carolina’s 12-yard line, Murray tried to make something out of nothing, scrambling out of the pocket before letting the ball fly as he was hit.

Wonnum laying out for the INT

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/TFwNKMFMNw

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 14, 2025

The wobbling pass fell right into the hands of outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum for the interception.

Carolina responded with a touchdown on the ensuing drive to make it a two-score game with 5:05 to play before adding another with 1:58 to play.

Then came the failed onside kick recovery for Arizona, yet again giving the Panthers another opportunity.

Throw in a defensive holding call on fourth-and-five — which negated a strip sack and recovery — and a late hit by Sweat and you could feel the uneasiness bursting from the seams of State Farm Stadium.

But just as it looked like the Panthers were going to spoil the Cardinals’ home opener — with the help of Arizona’s own penalties — Carolina’s comeback bid fell six short.

Fittingly, it was veteran Calais Campbell ending the Panthers’ day with a sack.

Had the Cardinals defense not started fast, this one could have been a very different outcome.

There’s going to be plenty to learn from the tape on this one.

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