A big lead, a late scare, and a 2-0 start in Glendale
An 18-point cushion melted in a hurry, but a last-minute stand saved the night. The Arizona Cardinals edged the Carolina Panthers 27-22 at State Farm Stadium, opening 2-0 for the first time since 2021 — the last season they reached the playoffs. For a team trying to prove last season’s growth was real, that matters.
Arizona built the game on clean possessions and field position, then nearly let it slip. Kyler Murray ran the huddle with command, hit Michael Wilson for a touchdown, and kept drives alive with sharp throws on the move. Tight end Trey McBride was his safety valve, popping open over the middle and dragging tacklers past the sticks. When the field tightened, James Conner did what he’s done for three straight seasons: hammer inside the tackles and finish at the goal line.
The defense set the tone early. Two takeaways in the first half flipped momentum and handed Murray short fields. Those swings matter as much as highlight throws; they change playcalling, pace, and confidence. Arizona’s front swarmed, and the coverage held up behind it long enough for the rush to arrive.
By the time the fourth quarter ticked under 13 minutes, the Cardinals led 27-9 and looked in control. Then came the mistake they will stew on all week. Murray forced a throw that turned into a costly interception, breathing life into a Carolina offense that had been stuck in second gear.
From there, Bryce Young went to work. He sped up the operation, got the ball out quick, and leaned on crossers and option routes to move chains. Protection wasn’t perfect, but his rhythm throws kept the defense guessing. Carolina chopped the lead and set up the kind of chaotic finish that flips seasons.
With seconds left, Young hit Renfro in the end zone to make it 27-22. The two-point try that followed could have changed everything — one snap to turn a two-score washout into a one-possession nail-biter. The attempt failed, and Arizona finally exhaled after a fourth quarter that got way too interesting.
How it swung, who delivered, and what it says about both teams
This was not a clinic. It was a layered win with real warning signs. Arizona found balance and early turnovers, then slipped into conservative mode after the pick. That’s a habit they can’t carry into tougher weeks. But the other side of the coin is real too: they built a lead with complementary football, and when the final snap mattered most, they got the stop.
On offense, Murray’s best work came on timing throws to the intermediate windows. McBride’s knack for finding space between linebackers turned second-and-long into manageable downs. Wilson’s touchdown showed why coaches keep dialing him up in the red zone — strong at the catch point and on time with his quarterback. The offensive line did its job in spots, especially on Conner’s short-yardage score when the interior washed down the front and gave him a clear lane.
Defensively, the plan was simple early: squeeze early downs, win the turnover battle, make Young drive the long field. The takeaways did two things — they stole possessions and kept Arizona’s defense fresh. Later, when Carolina cranked up tempo, the Cardinals looked late to align a few times and missed tackles in space. That’s the film-room fix this week: two-minute communication and pursuit angles.
For Carolina, there’s both promise and frustration. Young showed poise, command, and the ability to reset after a sluggish start. His late touchdown to Renfro came after he manipulated the middle of the field and trusted his read. The rally won’t show up in the standings, but it gives the coaching staff a clear blueprint: more quick game, more movement, and a tempo that plays to Young’s strengths. The frustration? Early giveaways and a slow start erased the margin for error.
Key sequences that flipped the game:
- Arizona’s early takeaways set up short fields and helped build a multi-score lead without needing explosives.
- Conner’s goal-line finish put Carolina in chase mode and forced a heavier pass script.
- Murray’s fourth-quarter interception unlocked Carolina’s late surge and swung momentum.
- The final two-point try came up empty, sealing the result after Arizona’s defense held firm for one last snap.
There was plenty to like about the Cardinals’ skill mix. McBride continues to look like a volume tight end who can live between the hashes and bounce off contact. Wilson offers outside size and timing in the red zone. Conner, still one of the league’s most reliable finishers, punishes light boxes and keeps the call sheet on schedule. That blend — tight end as chain mover, boundary target in the end zone, downhill runner — can travel in December.
The staff also leaned into manageable decisions. They avoided desperation fourth-downs, tilted to the run when up two scores, and asked the defense to close. The one outlier was the interception, which came on a down and distance that didn’t require risk. Expect that to be a coaching point: protect the ball and the clock when you’re up three scores.
Carolina’s defense had moments, especially late, when the rush got home and coverage tightened. The group forced the turnover it needed and gave Young a chance. The issue was the first three quarters — too many short fields and too many snaps defending play action after successful runs. When Arizona stays ahead of the chains, they can hide the tough downs with motions and quick hitters.
What it means going forward: Arizona’s 2-0 start buys time and confidence. The last time they opened this way, they played into January. They’re not that team yet, but they look structured — clear roles, clean situational football, and a quarterback in rhythm. The to-do list is clear: finish quarters, protect late leads, tidy up two-minute defense.
Carolina leaves with a painful loss and a useful roadmap. Young’s best rhythm came in hurry-up, with defined reads and receivers working in space. The staff can build around that while tightening early-down calls to avoid third-and-long. Clean the giveaways, shave a penalty or two, and that late surge becomes a full game.
One more note: Arizona’s crowd mattered. Noise forced a couple of delays in protection calls, and the energy built after takeaways. That home-field jolt pairs well with a defense that attacks and an offense comfortable living in the middle of the field. If they keep stacking clean first halves, they won’t need late heroics to close games like this.
Final word on style points: you don’t turn down a win when the fourth quarter gets messy. Arizona banked a result, stayed healthy in the key spots, and learned a lesson without paying for it in the standings. For September, that’s a pretty strong place to be.
