Carolina Panthers vs Arizona Cardinals

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Arizona Cardinals hosted the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium in a hard-fought Week 2 matchup. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead, capitalizing on turnovers and defensive pressure to take control of the game. Zaven Collins returned a fumble for a touchdown, giving Arizona a commanding advantage and setting the tone for the first half, while Carolina struggled to find rhythm offensively.

Quarterback Kyler Murray orchestrated the Cardinals’ offense with poise, throwing for 220 yards and a touchdown. Running back James Conner added a key rushing score, and the team’s balanced attack helped Arizona carry a 20–3 lead into halftime. Despite some early mistakes, the Cardinals’ defense kept the Panthers’ high-powered offense at bay, forcing several critical punts and limiting big plays.

The Panthers’ rookie quarterback Bryce Young had a rough start, committing two turnovers in the opening half. However, he rebounded in the second half with a career-high performance, throwing for 328 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow emerged as Young’s primary target, hauling in two scoring passes and helping Carolina chip away at the Cardinals’ lead, injecting hope into the comeback attempt.

Despite Young’s heroics, the Panthers were hampered by Arizona’s defensive resilience. A key interception by DJ Wonnum set up another Cardinals touchdown, while Arizona’s ability to convert crucial downs, including a successful 4th-and-16, kept Carolina from fully closing the gap. The Cardinals’ mix of opportunistic defense and timely offense proved decisive in maintaining their edge throughout the game.

Carolina’s late-game surge included recovering an onside kick and benefiting from multiple Arizona penalties, but it ultimately fell short. A critical sack by Calais Campbell with 26 seconds left ended the Panthers’ final drive, sealing a 27–22 victory for Arizona. The win improved the Cardinals to 2–0, while Carolina showed resilience despite their second consecutive loss, hinting at potential for growth as the season progresses.