The Carolina Panthers will travel to Arizona this week to face the Cardinals, a team they have encountered often despite not sharing a division. The Panthers hold a 15-6 advantage in the all-time series, with their latest victory coming in overtime nine months ago on a touchdown by Chuba Hubbard.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales commented on the mutual familiarity between the two teams: “It goes both ways, you know, they have their schemes. Coach Gannon has done a great job going into the third season of developing their schemes, in all phases, and so there’s a lot of information there,” he said. “But again, we have to look at the most recent information that we have and try to use that, and they’re also looking at us and seeing our schemes and looking at last week’s game and saying, ‘Hey, some of these things are similar here, and here’s a couple of wrinkles.’ So it goes both ways, really, for both teams, and certainly in terms of preparation, you know, you can try to anticipate in different situations what they might do.”
A key focus for Carolina will be containing Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray is known for extending plays with his mobility; Panthers defenders referred to him as “a magician” during practice this week. Defensive end A’Shawn Robinson explained: “He does well to evade pressure, has a sense for getting out of that and escaping that, and still getting the ball down the field,” Robinson said. “So just got to be on our stuff and communicate everything we’re doing up front and have everything down.”
Statistics from last week show Murray completed eight of ten passes against blitzes for 71 yards with a passer rating of 135.8. The Cardinals’ offense allowed one of the league’s lowest pressure rates in 2024.
Carolina’s run defense will also be under scrutiny after giving up 200 rushing yards against Jacksonville in Week 1. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown addressed concerns about last week’s performance: “I watched the tape unlike most people…biggest thing—like I said earlier—to be able to come out here and have a chance this year to be able to go play a second game, you know, that’s where my faith lies,” Brown said.
“I mean, it was bad last week. I mean four plays we gave up big runs but I mean it’s just limit the mistakes hustle and cover when people make mistakes…for us to be able to go out here this week and execute the game plan…that’s all it takes.”
Arizona’s running backs James Conner and Trey Benson present another challenge; Conner ranked among league leaders in missed tackles forced over his past two seasons with Arizona.
Safety Lathan Ransom discussed tackling fundamentals as key: “I think just doing what we control what we control is making them tackles,” Ransom said.
Last season with Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig had one of the highest run stop rates among safeties when aligned close to the line; defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson helped limit opposing rushers’ yardage before contact when on-field compared with off-field stats.
On defense for Arizona safety Budda Baker remains an important factor. Canales began his weekly press conference emphasizing Baker’s impact: “It all starts with Budda Baker,” Canales said. “He stirs the drink, and he makes all those guys play to that standard and that level. So looking forward to that challenge and that opportunity.” Receiver Xavier Legette added: “We know the key stop on defense is gonna be number 3.”
Baker led NFL safeties in run tackle percentage last season; he made all eleven tackles within ten yards of scrimmage against New Orleans Saints in Week 1.
Quarterback Bryce Young spoke about preparing for Baker’s presence: “That’s obviously a big factor of…what they do defensively,” Young said. “…Budda is a great player does a great job in run and pass game…so we’re excited for that challenge.” Young improved his throw timing compared with previous years completing nearly three-quarters of quick throws versus Jacksonville.
Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan had five catches for sixty-eight yards in his debut accounting for nearly half Carolina’s air yards last week—an effort praised by teammates Jaycee Horn (“Even towards end camp it grew so much from first day or even from OTAs”)—and quarterback Young (“He did a great job great job being precise…he was playing at same pace he’s always played at”).
Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith noted conditions may favor rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald indoors at State Farm Stadium: “Domes are different they’re mostly different in preparation,” Smith explained.
“But an indoor game you can kind of go with your best ball … totally different preparation indoors because conditions are already set for us.”
