Behind Enemy Lines brings you the key storylines and latest news for the Arizona Cardinals’ opponents each week this season.
Panthers aim to keep streak vs. Cardinals alive
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyler Murray has never beaten the Carolina Panthers.
Then again, not many Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks have.
The Panthers have owned the series matchup against the Cardinals, winning 14 of 19 games, including six straight victories. They’ve defeated Arizona in each of the last three seasons — twice with Murray as the starting QB — and six straight times overall dating to 2015 by a whopping average margin of 35-17.
Two of those wins came in the playoffs, including the 2015 NFC championship game in which the Panthers destroyed the Cardinals 49-15 to reach their second Super Bowl.
“It means something,” defensive end Brian Burns said. “I would say from the history we have always had their number and always had it out for them.”
You have to go back to 2013 when Carson Palmer was playing quarterback for the Cardinals’ last win against the Panthers.
Of course, right now both teams are simply thinking about getting back to .500 after starting the season 1-2 when they meet Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule knows getting a win against Murray won’t be easy. Rhule called Murray one of the great quarterbacks in the league, citing his “magical” ability to extend plays as he did earlier this season in an overtime victory over Las Vegas.
Rhule also remembers facing Murray in college when the QB threw six touchdowns and ran for another score in Oklahoma’s 63-33 win over Rhule’s Baylor Bears.
“I saw him do things in college that made me just want to walk off the field,” Rhule said. “We sacked him and knocked the ball out of his hands, it bounced on the ground three times; he picked it up and threw it for an 18-yard first down. He’s one of the most amazing players I’ve ever seen.”
Carolina RB Christian McCaffrey has quad injury – Wednesday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Just when it appeared Christian McCaffrey was looking healthy and rounding into form, the Carolina Panthers’ star running back is dealing with another injury.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said McCaffrey has a quadriceps injury.
McCaffrey doesn’t normally practice on Wednesdays because the team is taking measures to limit his workload given his history of injuries, but this week is a little different as his absence is considered injury-related.
Rhule said McCaffrey’s injury is something that “popped up” after the team’s 22-14 win against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Rhule will know about McCaffrey’s status for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday.
McCaffrey was hoping for an injury-free season after missing 23 of 33 games the previous two seasons with various injuries.
McCaffrey ran for 102 yards against the New York Giants and 108 yards against the Saints — his first two 100-yard rushing games since 2019 — the past two weeks, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He was limited to 33 yards rushing in the season opener against Cleveland.
He is currently tied for fifth in the league in rushing with 243 yards.
Panthers pass game still a concern – Monday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — While the Carolina Panthers finally got their first victory of the season with a 22-14 win over the New Orleans Saints, the passing game remains a major issue.
Baker Mayfield has struggled since his arrival in Carolina, completing just 51.9% of his passes for 550 yards with three touchdowns and one interception through three games. He has been sacked nine times and hasn’t played with same swagger he had during his four seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
So while the Panthers (1-2) were busy celebrating the end of a league-long nine-game losing streak on Sunday, the reality is there is an enormous amount of work that needs to be done for this team to take a step forward offensively.
“I am going to look back at the tape and not be real happy with how I played, considering the third down conversions and our passing game,” Mayfield said after his first win with the Panthers.
“We will take wins when we can get them, there’s no doubt about that. Just need to capitalize.”
Mayfield said he doesn’t think the issues are the result of the scheme.
The Panthers are converting just 27% of their third downs, which is 30th in the league.
Mayfield has a meager QB rating of 45.6 on third downs, completing just 11 of 20 passes for 145 yards with one interception and no touchdown passes.
The Panthers are 29th in the league in passing and Mayfield is ranked among the worst QBs in the league so far.
“We thought we would be more explosive in the intermediate areas. We weren’t,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said after the win against the Saints. “There is a lot of work to be done offensively to get this thing to the level that we want.”
WHAT’S WORKING
The running game. Christian McCaffrey ran for 108 yards against the Saints, his second straight 100-yard game after failing to reach that mark in any game in 2020 and 2021. McCaffrey appears to be back and in great shape after missing 23 of 33 games the previous two seasons with injuries. After being limited to 33 yards rushing in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, McCaffrey has now upped his yards per carry to 4.9 and again appears to be a force on offense.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Starting wide receivers. Panthers starting wide receivers D.J. Moore and Robbie Anderson combined for just two receptions against the Saints.
“To win a football game in the NFC South and have Robbie and D.J. each have one catch, I wouldn’t have thought that would happen,” Rhule said. “It has to get better next week.”
STOCK UP
WR Laviska Shenault. Acquired in a late preseason trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shenault was inactive the first two games but made an immediate impact after getting a jersey for the first time on Sunday. Shenault took a short reception from Mayfield in the flat and used his speed to race 67 yards for a touchdown, helping the Panthers build a 19-7 lead in the fourth quarter. Shenault was activated primarily to replace Chuba Hubbard as the team’s kick returner, but made an impact in the passing game with two catches for 90 yards despite limited reps. He said he feels like “it’s just the beginning” of what he can do.
STOCK DOWN
WR Terrace Marshall Jr. The Panthers’ second-round draft pick last year is beginning to look like a bust. His production was limited as a rookie because of injuries and Marshall has lacked the ability to get open in practices and fallen behind Shi Smith on the depth chart. Marshall didn’t catch a pass the first two games of the season and was a healthy scratch on Sunday as the Panthers went with Shenault instead.
Marshall’s days in Carolina appeared to be numbered unless the former LSU star is able to convince coaches he can play at this level.
INJURIES
The Panthers came out of Week 3 fairly healthy. Cornerbacks Donte Jackson and C.J. Henderson both sustained neck injuries during Sunday’s win, but were able to return and finish the game.
KEY NUMBER
3 — Number of takeaways for the Panthers defense on Sunday after not having any in the first two games of the season.
NEXT STEPS
Carolina will look to continue its dominance against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Panthers are 14-5 overall against the Cardinals, including an 8-3 mark at home. The Panthers have won six straight in the series, including wins in each of the past three seasons. During that six-game win streak, the Panthers have not scored fewer than 27 points.