The Carolina Panthers rolled into State Farm Stadium and dominated Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals from start to finish. They had a decisive victory, 34-10, after leading 23-0 at the half.
Quarterback Cam Newton made his second debut with the Panthers something to remember. He threw for one touchdown and ran for another.
Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, was signed by the quarterback-needy Panthers on Thursday. He made his presence known on his first snap of the game. He screamed, “I’m back!” entering on third down and running into the right corner of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown score.
The Cardinals, who came into the game with the best record in the NFL (8-1) looked disjointed from the start. Backup quarterback Colt McCoy, who was playing in his second straight game for the injured Kyler Murray, fumbled the ball after being sacked on the third play of the opening drive by former Cardinal Haason Reddick. Reddick has 9.5 sacks this year. It gave the Panthers outstanding field position and eventually set up Newton’s touchdown run and a 7-0 lead for the Panthers. It only got worse for the Cardinals after that.
The Cardinals, who were also playing without their No. 1 receiver DeAndre Hopkins, only could come up with 169 total yards and could never make a comeback after Carolina’s opening attack.
To make matters worse, McCoy sustained a chest injury in the third quarter and did not return. Chris Streveler took over. Streveler led the Cardinals on their one touchdown drive of the game in the fourth quarter. Running back James Conner completed the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run.
Carolina’s offense looked rejuvenated with Newton in the fold. Most of the snaps in the game belonged to P.J. Washington, who completed 22 of 29 passes for 167 yards. Newton was used for mostly short-yardage situations and special packages.
Christian McCaffrey had a huge day with 161 yards from scrimmage. He was too swift for Arizona’s linebackers, including Isaiah Simmons.
With just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter, running back Chuba Hubbard was able to put his talent on display at the Cardinal’s 5-yard line. The rookie finished an eight-play, 75-yard drive with his third career touchdown, giving the Panthers a 29-3 lead. Carolina then opted to go for two and they succeeded. P.J. Walker’s pass to a wide-open Terrace Marshall Jr., Hubbard’s fellow rookie, stretched the advantage to 31-3.
Carolina’s defense also provided a spark, coming up with an early fumble recovery, an interception and a stop on fourth-down that afforded the Panthers great field position.
Carolinas place kicker Zane Gonzalez had a good day against his former organization. He made field goals from 44, 48 and 49 yards in the first half. He added a 27-yard field goal in the second half.
Next Sunday, the Cardinals travel to Seattle to face Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. The 5-5 Panthers will head home to host head coach Ron Rivera and his 3-6 Washington Football Team at Bank of America Stadium for Week 11.
