- CARDINALS vs. PANTHERS
- 1:05 p.m. Sunday
- State Farm Stadium
- Line: Cardinals -6.5 (For more NFL odds, visit the BetMGM online sportsbook)
To learn more about sports betting and how to create safe gambling habits visit responsibleplay.org. If you or anyone you know is experiencing problems related to sports betting help is available 24 hours a day/365 days a year by calling or texting 800-522-4700 or by going to ncpgrambling.org/chat.
NAME: Bryce Young
Let's talk about the 5-foot-10 Heisman-winning QB drafted No. 1 overall who starts for ... the Carolina Panthers. TBH, does Bryce Young even exist in his current form if not for Cardinals franchise QB Kyler Murray?
Actually, next question -- who/what/where is Bryce Young? Because it's confusing. Over the final three games of 2024, his play was hotter than a Carolina Reaper (10 TD and 0 turnovers) including an OT win vs Arizona.
Thing is, with a 6-23 career record, Young has left fans feeling Carolina blue. In a season-opening road loss, his overall shaky play was punctuated by three turnovers. It's almost as if Young stepped into the Cold Tub Time Machine and reverted back to when he was benched two games into 2024.
Yet, the BirdGang doesn't need sharp long-term memory to recall how Young hurt the Cardinals last December. A pair of TD passes plus a pair of explosive runs, including a 23-yd TD scamper, results in game plans that echo Kyler as well.
Bottom line – the Arizona D needs to force Young to pick up where he left off last week in Jacksonville: Posting the lowest passer rating (49) of any starting QB in Week 1.
-- Paul Calvisi
NUMBER: 2
The Cardinals enter their home opener coming off a win for the first time in three years. Last season, the Cards won six home games for the first time since 2015, demonstrating the power of home-field advantage. Arizona's offense needs to start the game faster than they did in New Orleans and set the tone and rhythm early in the run game. Feeding off the energy of the Red Sea certainly helps fire up the juices and takes the level of competition to the next level. A win Sunday would mark a 2-0 start to the season for the first time in four years.
-- Dani Sureck
NUANCE: Keeping Key Players On The Field
Last season's heartbreaking loss to the Panthers is still fresh. So, let's play the hypothetical game, shall we? What if the Cardinals remained healthy during that game? Running back James Conner was unstoppable against the Panthers, rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown. However, an injury in the third quarter ended his season. Right tackle Jonah Williams also was injured against the Panthers. The Panthers defense struggled until those two exited the game. Plus, the Cardinals were without left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and running back Trey Benson. The difference between last year and this year's game is the health of this team. This offense goes as the run game goes. It was clear in the first three quarters of Week 16. It'll need to be clear this weekend for the Cardinals to improve to 2-0.
-- Zach Gershman
