Week 2 - Panthers @ Cardinals (practice tweets, news articles, videos, etc)

[Icege]

We're all aware of the frustrating Week 1 for Carolina, but there's reasons to see Arizona as a possible get-right game. While this will be Zona's home opener (requiring the team to travel out west), they were barely able to hold on to a lead against the hapless Saints who got a chance to tie the game up with 2min left that ended at the ARI 18.

Kyler Murray was 21/29 with 2 passing TDs but for only 163yds (5.6yd AVG) and a QBR of 50.9 (RTG 108.8). He was also sacked five times for 33yds. Meanwhile, Spencer Rattler went 27/46 and was sacked just once for 6yds. Kyler also carried the ball seven times for 38yds. James Conner struggled to get going (12 carries, 39yds) but Trey Benson had a good day thanks to a 52yd scamper (8 carries, 69yds).

Arizona has weapons in MHJ and McBride, but the CBs have been playing well enough for McBride to be the true focus of the defense. MHJ had a good game though against the Saints, so hopefully Jaycee + Mike Jackson can disrupt that connection. The Cardinals also aren't a disciplined team... with an opportunity to put the Saints away they gave up a TFL and a holding penalty before having the field goal attempt blocked.

Their OL suuuuucks at run blocking and got better pass blocking from their TEs in week 1 than they did from any OL except for Paris Johnson Jr. Isaiah Adams and Hjalte Froholdt especially had issues as did Jonah Williams. If the Panthers' revamped DL can't get pressure against them it might be worth giving the alarm a pull.

Edited 3 hours ago by Icege

[Bear Hands]

For the Cards:

• Will Johnson was excellent week 1.  He looked like that high R1 level talent people thought he was (outside his injury concerns).  Still can have issues vs. man
• They almost entirely retooled their defense from last year, even more than the Jags but have the same coaches.  Their new front-7 is a really interesting bunch, but either new or inexperienced.  They should absolutely be attackable.
• Their running game is a good one.  Which if established early could open things up for MHJ and McBride.  But the receivers after Harrison are not good, so I feel our defense matches up well.  
• That being said, if our LBs play like week 1, it could be a very long day.  Could see long sustained drives by AZ, not giving us much time to respond or have dud drives.   

[Panthera onca]

Cards 28

Kitty Kats 10

 

BY is sent to the bench never to be heard from again.

[jfra78]

Did they get Monday off?

[DeeJay]

Cards 56

Panthers 3

Hooker starts week 3 

[therealmjl]

Connor breaks single game rushing record en route to a 38-6 victory.

[amcoolio]

I predict the Panthers surprise the Cardinals and win, like last year and the year Cam just signed. Then the huddle will be unsufferable with threads from both sides about how Bryce still sucks despite his performance or the Panthers are finally back, and then they lose next week to the Falcons in embarrassing fashion