Yahoo Sports Panthers-Cardinals live updates: Arizona pulls away from Carolina in fourth quarter
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Christian McCaffrey finds the end zone
It’s been a hot minute, and it took all game, but the Carolina Panthers just showed up on offense. Baker Mayfield finds Christian McCaffrey over the middle for the TD. However, the two-point conversion fails, and the Panthers still trail by two scores, 26-16.
Another Arizona TD
The Panthers allow another Kyler Murray passing TD, this one to Marquise Brown on the right sideline. The Cards go for two — and fail to convert — with kicker Matt Prater nursing an injury. Arizone now leads, 26-20.
Baker Mayfield interception, Cardinals TD
Ouch.
Baker Mayfield has had a tough time with tipped balls at the line of scrimmage this season, and it happens again. This time, the ball gets tipped up high by J.J. Watt, and the Cardinals’ Dennis Gardeck snags it and returns it to the Carolina 5, setting up a 1st-and-goal for Arizona.
Two plays later, behind James Connor’s lead block, Kyler Murray drove the ball around the right side and swept into the end zone to push the visitors’ lead to 10 points, 20-10.
Cardinals take the lead
The most valuable players in this game have been the kickers and a punter. This time, it was a kicker — Cardinals kicker Matt Prater — who made a 32-yard kick after a promising Arizona drive stalled in the red zone. Prater’s kick was true and put the Cardinals in front by three with 11:22 to play in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers have only eight first downs so far this game, and will need to find a few now to get back in this thing.
Post-whistle shenanigans
After a tough run from James Conner, Frankie Luvu gave him an extra tug and threw the veteran running back to the ground, drawing a penalty flag for unsportsmanlike conduct on Luvu. Thankfully for the Panthers, the Cardinals also committed an infraction on the play when guard Will Hernandez ran into the back of an official during the ensuing melee.
The end result was the Cardinals backing up from inside the 10 to the Panthers’ 18 and into a first-and-goal from long situation.
Arizona scores to start third quarter
Murray marched the Cardinals 89 yards on nine plays to tie the game with 7:42 remaining in the third quarter.
The scoring drive was capped by a 2-yard Zach Ertz touchdown catch from Murray. The Panthers’ nearest defender to Ertz when he scored was safety Sean Chandler.
C.J. Henderson was flagged for pass interference three plays before the Cardinals scored. Receiver Marquise Brown got a step on Henderson, who tackled Brown late in the route, even though the pass likely would’ve been overthrown.
Panthers lead at half
Carolina kicker Eddy Pineiro blasted in a 54-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, extending the Panthers’ lead to 10-3 at halftime.
Pineiro’s field goal constituted the Panthers’ first offensive points, as the game’s only touchdown was scored on an interception return by Frankie Luvu. Pineiro has yet to miss a kick this season after being signed by Carolina to replace Zane Gonzalez, who injured himself on the sideline in the preseason.
The Panthers will receive the second-half kickoff. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray have remarkably similar stats after one half — each has thrown for 90 yards, with one interception and no touchdowns.
Prater scores for Arizona
Arizona kicker Matt Prater knocked in a 33-yard field goal with 3:34 to go in the second quarter, cutting Carolina’s lead to 7-3.
The points by Prater were the game’s first offensive points. The Panthers’ offense has mostly been unable to get out of its own way thus far and committed a turnover at the Arizona 35, which set up the field goal after a 50-yard drive from the Cardinals.
The Panthers then committed their second turnover of the quarter, as Baker Mayfield threw a deep corner route behind wide receiver DJ Moore. Moore got one hand on it, deflecting the ball to Arizona safety Jalen Thompson, who made a diving catch at the Cardinals 18. The Cardinals were unable to capitalize, though, going 3-and-out.
Luvu’s interception return gives game life
Frankie Luvu picked off a Kyler Murray pass early in the second quarter and ran it back 33 yards for a touchdown, electrifying the Bank of America Stadium crowd and giving Carolina a 7-0 lead with 12:13 left in the second quarter.
For the second week in a row, the Panther defense started the scoring. A week ago, Carolina’s Marquis Haynes returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown — in that case, the fumble, by New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara, was caused by Luvu. The Panthers’ defense, which didn’t cause a turnover the first two weeks of the season, has now scored TDs in back-to-back weeks.
The Cardinals then tried to regain the momentum by going for a 4th-and-1 on their own 42. But the shotgun snap from Rodney Hudson went way over Kyler Murray’s head, and he had to scramble back to get the ball and throw a hurried incompletion. Again, it was Luvu on the chase, forcing Murray to get rid of it in a hurry. That gave the Panthers the ball at the Arizona 42.
However, the Panthers gave the ball right back when Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Rashard Higgins botched a handoff exchange. Higgins had a chance to jump on it but missed, and Arizona recovered at its own 35.
Panthers-Cardinals scoreless following first quarter
The Panthers and Cardinals traded the ball back and forth during a listless first quarter. Tied at 0-0, both offenses struggled to move the effectively.
Kyler Murray completed 3 of 5 passes for 20 yards, while Baker Mayfield connect on 4 of 7 for 38 yards.
The Panthers went 0-3 on third down and produced just 45 total yards offense in the first quarter.
Jeremy Chinn sidelined with hamstring injury
Panthers starting safety Jeremy Chinn was slow to get up during the second series in the matchup against the Cardinals. Chinn suffered an apparent right leg injury and was walked to the sideline. He went under the blue tent and backup Sean Chandler was put into the lineup opposite Xavier Woods.
The Panthers announced Chinn was questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
Along with Woods and Chandler, the Panthers also have Myles Hartsfield, Sam Franklin Jr. and practice squad call-up Marquise Blair available at safety.
The Panthers were able to stop the Cardinals’ offense on 4th-and-1 within the red zone after defensive end Brian Burns took the Cardinals’ Rondale Moore Kyler down for a tackle for a loss. The Panthers’ offense regained possession at their own 14-yard line.
During the Panthers’ offensive series, Chinn jogged on the sideline.
Panthers-Cardinals inactive players
Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is active for Carolina. He entered the game with a questionable status dealing with a thigh injury.
Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. is also active. He missed practice during the week with a hamstring injury.
The Panthers’ inactive players include wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who is still struggling to make a dent in the wide receiver rotation. Cornerback Stanley Thomas-Oliver III, guard Cade Mays, defensive tackle Phil Hoskins, defensive end Amarew Barno and running back Raheem Blackshear are all inactive.
For the Cardinals, A.J Green, Ezekiel Tuner, Jessie Luketa, Keaontay Ingram, Myjai Sanders, Lecitus Smith and Rashard Lawrence are inactive.
“Keep Pounding” game
The Panthers made this the “Keep Pounding” game in honor of the late Sam Mills. Melanie Mills, Sam’s widow, banged the “Keep Pounding” drum before the game. The end zones are also retro, looking much like they did in the 1996 season when Mills led the Panthers to the NFC title game. At halftime, a ceremony honoring Mills was presented and included a speech from Dan Morgan, the Panthers’ assistant general manager and a former linebacker for the team who was coached by Mills.
Weather forecast says it’ll be dry for kickoff
It’s a bit overcast here in Charlotte a few hours before kickoff, hovering at just about 70 degrees, but it’s dry. Local forecasts indicate it’ll stay dry through the game.
How to watch the Panthers game on TV, listen on radio
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
When: Kickoff is set for just after 4:05 p.m.
TV: Fox
How to stream: You can catch the game on fuboTV. A valid subscription is required. Regional restrictions may apply.
Radio: Carolina Panthers Radio Network at WRFX 99.7 The Fox. That means the following radio frequencies: 99.7 FM (Charlotte), 99.9 FM Raleigh) and 94.3 FM (Columbia). Check the Panthers website for a full listing of channels in markets throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
