The Carolina Panthers wrap up a two-game road trip as they travel to Glendale to face the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Panthers come into the matchup following a 26-10 loss to the Jaguars in Jacksonville. The Panthers will return to Carolina in Week 3 for their home opener against the Falcons.
The Cardinals welcome the Panthers to Arizona for their home opener following a 20-13 win over the Saints. Head Coach Jonathan Gannon enters his third season at the helm. He has led the team to a 13-22 record during his tenure, including an 8-9 record in 2024.
This will be the 19th matchup between the two clubs, with the Panthers leading the series 13-5. The two teams last met in Week 16 of the 2024 season, an overtime thriller where the Panthers’ victory knocked the Cardinals out of playoff contention. The Panthers also have the edge in the playoffs, leading the Cardinals 2-1.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- Rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan led the Panthers receiving corps with 68 receiving yards, the third-most by a Panthers rookie in their debut, behind Muhsin Muhammad (96 yards) and Kelvin Benjamin (92). McMillan also led the Panthers with five receptions, tied for the third-most by a Carolina receiver in their debut. McMillan led all rookie wide receivers in Week 1 in receiving yards and was second in receptions.
- In the fourth quarter, RB Chuba Hubbard caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young, to cap off a 10-play, 80 yard drive (2:22). This marked Hubbard’s 23rd career touchdown. Hubbard led all Panthers rushers with 16 carries for 57 yards and also added three catches for 32 yards with the one score.
- In week one CB Jaycee Horn picked off Trevor Lawrence and returned it 9 yards. This marked Horn’s sixth interception of his career. Horn finished the game with two tackles (one solo), one interception and one pass defensed.
- Several Panthers defenders reached career milestones against Jacksonville. DE A’Shawn Robinson recorded the 30th quarterback hit of his career while S Tre’von Moehrig eclipsed 200 tackles. CB Mike Jackson reached 150 solo tackles for his career in the second quarter. Jackson also finished with four tackles, including one for loss, and a pass breakup against the Jags.
About Arizona
- Last week’s game at New Orleans (146 rushing yards) marked the 25th game the Cardinals have rushed for 120+ yards in the last three seasons (2023-25). Only Baltimore (30) has more such outing during that span.
- Arizona defeated New Orleans 20-13 in last week’s opener. The 13 points allowed by the defense, tied for the fewest allowed by the Cardinals in a season opener in the 38 seasons (1988-25) the team has been in Arizona.
- For the fifth time in his career – and for the third time in four seasons (10 in
’24; 13 in ’22) – S Budda Baker finished a season opener with double-digit tackles. The ninth-year pro totaled a game-high 10 stops against the Saints last week, adding a tackle for loss and a pass defensed.
- Second-year RB Trey Benson had a career-long run of 52 yards last week vs. the Saints. He became the fourth diff erent Arizona player to have a run of 50+ yards dating back to last season: QB Kyler Murray (1), RB James Conner (1) and RB Emari Demercado (1). No other NFL team has more than two players with a run of 50+ yards during that span.
Connections
Panthers S Lathan Ransom (Tucson) and LS JJ Jansen (Phoenix) are from Arizona. WR Tetairoa McMillan (2022-24) and LBs Peter Hansen (1997-2001) played collegiately at Arizona. aQB/PGC Mike Bercovici played at Arizona State (2011-15) and was a graduate assistant for the Sun Devils (2019). OLs Joe Gilbert coached at Arizona (2018, OLs/RGC).
Cardinals LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (Thomasville), RB Zonovan Knight (Bailey), CB Garrett Williams (Harrisburg) and aOL Chris Cook (Wingate) are from North Carolina. LB Jordan Burch and LB Xavier Thomas are both from Florence, S.C. QB Jacoby Brissett (2013-15) and Knight (2019-21) played at North Carolina State. Davis-Gaither played at Appalachian State (2015-19). WR Greg Dortch (2016-18) and DC Nick Rallis (2017, QC) spent time at Wake Forest. WR Zay Jones (2013-16) and Cook (2016, OQC/aOL) spent time at East Carolina. Cook also coached at Duke (2022, OA). DLs Winston DeLattiboudere III was a graduate assistant at Charlotte (2020). Thomas played at Clemson (2018-23). RBs Autry Denson was the head coach at Charleston Southern (2019-22). CBs Ryan Smith coached the secondary at Elon University (2017-18).
Panthers vs Cardinals
All-Time Series: 18 matchups | Carolina leads 13-5
Last Matchup: 12/22/24 | Arizona 30 at Carolina 36 (OT)
Series Record in Arizona: 8 matchups | Carolina leads 6-2
How to Watch
Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. ET CBS: Play by Play – Play by Play – Spero Dedes; Analyst – Adam Archuleta; Sideline – Aditi Kinkhabwala
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market –Play by Play – Anish Shroff; Analyst – Jake Delhomme; Analyst – Jordan Gross; Sideline – Sharon Thorsland
Per Release