In what was undoubtedly their most lopsided performance of the season, the Arizona Cardinals were unceremoniously shellacked by the visiting Panthers by the final score of 33-10.

“That team outcoached and outplayed us,” said head coach Kliff Kingsbury when asked how and why the game went sideways so quickly. “They played and coached with more of a sense of urgency. They got after us.”

Once again missing QB Kyler Murray as well as star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals seemingly went through the motions for the better part of four quarters in a losing effort against Carolina. A Cardinal defense that was previously allowing an NFC best 17.2 points per game promptly wet the bed against newly signed QB Cam Newton . The once Panther great scored touchdowns on each of his first two touches with his former team, as the Cardinal defense allowed 341 total yards on the afternoon.

When Newton wasn’t racking up touchdowns with ease, former XFL MVP P.J. Walker was carving up Arizona’s secondary while doing his best Drew Brees impersonation. The former Temple product helped orchestrate a Carolina offense that converted nearly 50% of their third-down attempts (7/15). While semi-flawed, Walker still managed to complete 22-of-29 throws, distributing the ball to six different Panther receivers in the process.

Fresh off their dominant play against the 49ers a week go, the Arizona Cardinal pass rush was shocking nowhere to be found on Sunday against Carolina. The much maligned Panther offensive line shutout a Cardinal front-seven that generated a mere three quarterback hits on the afternoon. All-Pro Chandler Jones was routinely seen out in coverage against the likes of receivers and running backs alike. The game plan by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was not effective against a Carolina offense that had scored a total of 28 points in their last three games combined.

On the flip side, Carolina’s top rated defense was routinely on display against an undermined, yet uninspiring Arizona passing attack. Starting QB Col McCoy finished a pedestrian 11-for-20 while turning the ball over twice in the process. The ball placement and pocket awareness from McCoy that was apparent against the 49ers was missing in action Sunday at home. McCoy’s erratic play was not aided by an Arizona offensive line that allowed three sacks and numerous other pressures on the 35-year-old signal caller. After a banner bookend year in 2020, both D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum have shown significant signs of regression this season.

Arizona’s loss to the Panthers marks the Cardinals lowest offensive output since last year’s Week 17 loss at LA (18-7). Their total in points, yardage and first downs all add up as season worsts for the 2021 campaign.

“I thought they played harder and they played faster in all three phases,” said Kingsbury. “They had a great plan in all three phases and just really beat us up.”

Kingsbury followed up perhaps his best coaching performance of the season with undoubtedly his worst. The Cardinals opened the game completely unprepared against a Panther team in complete disarray and thus proceeded to lay an egg in front of their home crowd. For whatever reason, this Arizona team has shown they operate better on the road as opposed to at State Farm Stadium. Perhaps that should be taken into account when breaking down potential January matchups in the NFC playoffs.

Then again, any aspirations pertaining to postseason success are strictly fantasy based until the Cardinals show they can remedy their quarterback situation.

Following a vicious sack at the hands of Shaq Thompson, Colt McCoy was forced to leave Sunday’s game late in the third quarter with a pec injury. Third-stringer Chris Streveler would finish off the outing, as neither quarterback impressed in the absence of Murray.

The Cardinals and Kingsbury are unsure as to whether or not Murray and/or Hopkins will be cleared in time to play next Sunday at Seattle. As opposed to last week, following today’s performance, one would think there would be a greater sense of urgency to ramp up their preparation and get them on the field. With the Cardinals suddenly losing two of their last three games, the margin for error becomes incredibly slim atop the NFC hierarchy. Murray’s presence, in particular, is the ultimate differentiator between a free fall and a return to form for the Cardinals.

“They are both progressing but neither we’re ready to go today,” said Kingsbury when asked about the status for Murray and Hopkins entering next week.

The Arizona Cardinals open as a 2-point road favorite against the Seahawks.

Quick Hits

• Revenge games from both Haason Reddick and Zane Gonzalez were in full effect on Sunday, with the former Cardinals each playing key roles in Carolina’s victory. Reddick set the tone early with a key strip-sack on Colt McCoy, while Gonzalez finished the afternoon a sparkling four-for-four from field goal range.
• The Cardinals were outgained by the Panthers 166 to 65 on the ground, as Christian McCaffrey appeared fully healthy following a midseason trip to the injured reserve. On the other end, Arizona struggled to find consistency on the ground, especially without the elusiveness of Chase Edmonds. His replacement in Eno Benjamin rushed for 22 years on six carries.
• Like he’s done for much of the reason, Christian Kirk was the most consistent receiver for the Cardinals on Sunday. With the absence of Hopkins, Kirk has proven capable of hauling in key catches to keep drives alive. The free agent to be finished the afternoon with seven catches for 58 yards.
• First round linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins each had forgettable afternoons against Carolina’s effective rushing attack. Simmons, in particular, was too often see out of position when attempting to cover McCafrrey out of the backfield. As for Collins, he played sparingly as a reserve behind journeymen Tanner Vallejo. Any sudden regression from either player would be incredibly damaging for a Cardinal defense in desperate need their presence.
• Amongst the poor performances Sunday, third-year defensive tackle Zach Allen shined on numerous occasions when attempting to slow Carolina’s offense. Since the injury to J.J. Watt, Allen has raised his level of play to help offset the loss of his All-Pro teammate. He finished the day with five total tackles, including a TFL and a QB hit.
• Speaking of Watt, the veteran was seen Sunday wearing a large sling on his left shoulder. That would lead most to believe he opted to have surgery during his stint on injured reserve. There is still no timetable for Watt’s return this season.
• After playing turnover free football in last week’s win at San Francisco, the Arizona Cardinals gave the ball away twice against the Panthers. In addition, after entering the game amongst the best in football when going for it on fourth-down, Arizona was a putrid 0-for-3 on the afternoon.
• Following his fourth-quarter score, James Conner now has 12 touchdowns through ten games on the season. That puts the former Steeler on pace for just under 20 total touchdowns by seasons end.
• This was the Cardinals sixth straight defeat at the hands of the Panthers, with now four of those losses coming in the regular season.
• Since leaving Baylor for the NFL, Panther head coach Matt Rhule is now 2-0 against Kliff Kingsbury. In those two matchups, the Arizona Cardinals have been outscored 64-31.
• A.J. Green was quiet in his return from the COVID list as the veteran receiver hauled in a single pass for four yards despite having five targets.