Loss To Panthers Last Season Fuels Cardinals In Home Opener Preparation

Arizona facing Carolina for fifth time since 2019

Published: Sep 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM Updated: Sep 13, 2025 at 01:06 PM

Zach Gershman

azcardinals.com

Defensive lineman L.J. Collier signals a stop during the Cardinals' game against the Panthers in 2024.

Max Melton watched the tape of last year's game against the Panthers in preparation for this weekend.

The video reignited that same feeling of frustration and disappointment that he experienced in Charlotte. The overtime defeat knocked the Cardinals out of the playoff contention, just days before they were set to the play the Rams in a primetime game that would've impacted the division winner.

Coach Jonathan Gannon rarely will publicly talk about the past, but he admitted this week that the Panthers' game last season has been a topic.

"We've got nobody to blame but ourselves," the cornerback said. "I also think it was us looking too far forward and not being in the present, so I think that hurt us too on the field. But we got a little fire in our gut now. We know what happened last year and we know they're coming to our house and we're going to play like it."

That fire started to burn following the loss. When the schedule was released, and Melton saw the Cardinals hosted the Panthers in Week 2, the fire intensified.

"Hell yeah because it's still fresh," Melton said. "Especially with the fact that it's our home opener and all these other things are happening, it does build a little bit more."

It'll be up to Melton's side of the ball to contain quarterback Bryce Young and limit running back Chuba Hubbard. Last season, Hubbard rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Young escaped the pocket multiple times, rushing for 68 yards on five attempts while passing for a pair of touchdowns.

It was one of the better performances orchestrated by the Panthers offense.

"It starts with the quarterback. He can dice you up," Gannon said. "If you don't rush him the right way, he makes you pay with his legs. He's got really good escape mobility (and) can beat you with his arm and his legs. That's a big time challenge for us."

Despite some inconsistencies in the passing game, Young showcased his willingness to scramble in their season opener. He had five carries for 40 yards in the 26-10 loss to the Jaguars. Hubbard remained the focal point of the rushing attack with 16 carries.

Obviously the Cardinals watched that game. But it wasn't long ago that they experienced it themselves.

"Carolina played good, and they had a great game that day so you really can't knock those guys," defensive lineman L.J. Collier said. "We just had to play better, and I feel like we will cover everything that we did last time this time."

While the staffs haven't changed, there are some new players which could make an impact. The Panthers drafted University of Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first round to help Young. The Cardinals defense looks drastically different with the additions along the defensive line, Will Johnson at cornerback, and Josh Sweat off the edge.

Gannon shared that there is excitement for the home opener as the players get the play in front of the home crowd for the first time. But just when it seemed like there was already tons of energy, last year's result has the team even more amped.

"We are going to get our get-back," Collier said. "We owe those guys, and I think they know that. They lost last week, so they're going to come out juiced up and energized. It's going to be one hell of a game, but we're not going to back down. We're here for the competition because we know what type of year we can have this year."