Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young Fumbles on the opening drive Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 14: Josh Sweat #10 of the Arizona Cardinals strips the ball from Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. The fumble resulted in a touchdown. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
As tough as Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals proved to be, Monday’s losses could continue to mount for the Carolina Panthers.
An almost epic comeback, boosted by 19 unanswered second-half points and their first successful onside kick recovery in 89 NFL games, likely will lose some luster if starting offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett are lost to injury. Both Hunt and Corbett were injured on the Panthers’ failed final possession and were scheduled to undergo MRIs.
While Monday’s news could rattle the Panthers’ offensive line for the near future, the players on Sunday attempted to digest Sunday’s 27-22 loss at State Farm Stadium.
Two Bryce Young turnovers on the Panthers’ opening two possessions handed the Cardinals a quick 10-0 advantage. Thanks to shoddy play-calling in the final two minutes of the first half, the Cardinals extended their lead to 20-3. When the Panthers’ defense allowed a touchdown on the second-half’s opening drive, social media posts burned the Panthers.
“I can’t believe the Panthers got me up in this stadium embarrassing me,” Damion Felder@panthers_nation posted. “I should of stayed my @$$ home.”
The Panthers started changing their fans’ attitudes with a strong second half and Young finished 35 of 55 with a career-best 329 yards and three touchdown passes.
But the 0-2 Panthers couldn’t overcome the lackluster start.
“We’ve got to eliminate the mistakes,” coach Dave Canales said during his post-game press conference. “Two weeks in a row.”
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In a nutshell, here was the Panthers’ start: A Cardinals’ scoop and score on their opening possession, an interception on their second and next committed a delay-of-game penalty on third down. Zaven Collins started things off with a 2-yard rolling recovery …
On Young’s first-quarter interception, Cardinals’ Mack Wilson caused pressure and poor blitz recognition, forcing the QB to throw the ball up for Baron Browning to pick it off. It was Young’s fifth turnover in 65 minutes 59 seconds of action this season and not the start the team needed …
In a case of role reversal, the Cardinals trailed by 20-3 in the second quarter of the teams’ matchup last season at Bank of America Stadium. The Young-led Panthers won in overtime and hurt the Cardinals’ postseason chances. With Sunday’s win, the Cardinals improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2021 …
The Panthers’ defense allowed just 82 rushing yards, snapping their seven-game streak of yielding at least 200 rushing yards. James Conner paced the Cardinals with 34 yards on 11 carries, but he did score to cap their scoring with a 2-yard run at 9:23 of the third quarter …
Michael Wilson’s 11-yard touchdown reception from Kyler Murray with four seconds left in the first half provided the Cardinals with a 20-3 advantage. Panthers safety Nick Scott (21) was distracted by a potential route over the middle, making him react late to provide help to nickelback Chau Smith-Wade …
The Panthers’ much-maligned defense, which surrendered an all-time league-worst 534 points last season, put up a fight Sunday, blanking the Cardinals over the final 24:37, allowing Young to mount a comeback. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero regularly rotated in rookies Lathan Ransom, Nic Scourton, and Princely Umanmielen, who recorded his first sack …
Panthers’ Rally Denied
Panthers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow started the comeback with his first score for his new club …
Capping the Panthers’ second-straight 14-play scoring drive, Chuba Hubbard’s 5-yard TD reception with 5:05 remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the Panthers to within 27-15 after two failed 2-point running-play conversions …
Renfrow’s second TD with 1:58 left pulled the Panthers to within one score (27-22). Things were getting interesting …
Before Sunday, the Panthers’ previous successful onside kick occurred in December 2019. Things got a lot more interesting …
Despite the Cardinals playing without their top two cornerbacks and benefitting from three defensive penalties, Young could not lead the Panthers to the comeback win. On fourth-and-15, Calais Campbell, an 18-year veteran, collected his second sack, sealing the win …
Has Young finally figured things out? During his 31st NFL start Sunday, the 2023 first-round draft pick compiled his second 300-yard game. He fell to 1-14 on the road, but the Panthers’ attention Monday will turn to the health status of Hunt and Corbett …
@JustBlande suggested the near comeback could be a “turning point” for the Panthers. Is it? …