The Carolina Panthers are set to take on the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
The latter holds the all-time series lead at 10-4, including wins in each of the last two meetings.
Carolina’s defense will have to outlast Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins if they hope to capture the win at home.
How are these teams shaping up ahead of their Week 4 matchup?
Arizona Cardinals
Offense
The Cardinals enter Week 4 with a 2-1 record after losing to the Detroit Lions last week. Murray passed for 270 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. He is only the third quarterback since 1970 to score at least one rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first three games of the season.
Hopkins led the team with 10 catches and 137 receiving yards in Week 3 and is the only player who has posted 10 or more receptions in a game this season. Hopkins also has recorded 100-plus receiving yards in his last two of three road games.
Larry Fitzgerald is going for his fifth game in a row against Carolina with seven or more receptions and 70-plus receiving yards and has recorded 33 receptions for 406 yards and a receiving touchdown in his history against the Panthers. Kenyan Drake rushed for 73 yards last week and Andy Isabella had his first career two-touchdown game.
Defense
Budda Baker leads the Cardinals with 28 tackles and is fresh off of leading the team last week with eight. De’Vondre Campbell is right behind Baker with 23 tackles for the season.
Chandler Jones should have his fingerprints all over this one, as he posted two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in last year’s meeting against Carolina.
Devon Kennard and Jordan Phillips are aiming for their third consecutive game posting at least one sack each.
Carolina Panthers
Offense
The Carolina Panthers come into this game 1-2 on the season, securing their first victory last week against the Los Angeles Chargers. Teddy Bridgewater passed for 235 yards with one touchdown to record a 113.5 passer rating.
Mike Davis posted 91 total scrimmage yards and a touchdown catch last week. Davis is going for his third game with eight or more receptions and at least 75 scrimmage yards. He is also one of two running backs (Alvin Kamara) posting eight or more receptions in at least two games this season.
Robby Anderson recorded five receptions for 55 yards last week and is one of four NFC wide receivers with 20-plus receptions and more than 275 yards on the season.
D.J. Moore led the team with 65 receiving yards last week and is going for his ninth game in a row with 50-plus yards. Curtis Samuel also posted four receptions for 45 yards last week and recorded five catches for 53 yards and a receiving touchdown in the last meeting with Arizona.
Defense
Brian Burns posted a sack and a forced fumble last week and also added a sack in the last meeting between the teams.
Derrick Brown posted a career-high three tackles for loss in Week 3 while Shaq Thompson led the team with 13 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Donte Jackson posted an interception last week and recorded two interceptions in the last meeting. Rookie Jeremy Chinn posted a career-high with 12 tackles in Week 3 and has 26 on the season, leading rookies across the league.
Game Info
Date: Oct. 4, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
TV: FOX
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Point Spread: ARZ -3, CAR +3
Moneyline: ARZ -180, CAR +145
Over/Under: 51.5, -110
This game has the potential to be exciting to the final whistle. It could go either way and will ultimately come down to which defense can get a stop when it needs to the most.
There is also the potential for this to be a high-scoring game, though I have reservations about each team’s ability to finish a drive with six.
The under is where to put your money on this game.
Prediction
Arizona has a potent combination with Murray and Hopkins. However, Carolina’s defense can stop this duo if they play to their full potential.
The Panthers’ offense is feeling the blow of Christian McCaffrey being placed on injured reserve, but Davis and Anderson have the skill and talent to put the team in scoring position.
The Panthers will have home-field advantage and, for the first time this season, there will be fans in the stands. This added boost should be enough to give Carolina the extra push to cement the victory.
Final Score: Panthers 28, Cardinals 21
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
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