The Arizona Cardinals traveled to Charlotte, NC to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season. This was the 15th meeting between the two teams, with the Panthers leading the all-time series,10-4. The Panthers came into Week 4 with a 1-2 on the season and hungry for the home win. Arizona entered the game 2-1, reeling from last week’s defeat against the Detroit Lions.
First Half
The Cardinals had the first shot at putting points on the board but were unable to convert the opening drive into any points. The Panthers’ opening drive resulted in a one-yard rushing touchdown by Mike Davis after running nearly six minutes off of the clock.
📺: FOX
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 4, 2020
Carolina also put the next points up on the board in their next drive when Teddy Bridgewater rushed the ball 18 yards for the touchdown score. That was Bridgewater’s first rushing touchdown since 2015 before he sustained a horrific knee injury that threatened his career. Joey Slye successfully kicked the extra point and the Panthers were up 14-0 with a minute and a half left in the first quarter.
The Cardinals had one more opportunity to put a score up before the end of the first quarter, but the Carolina defensive line held them and Arizona was unable to convert the opening drive of the second quarter into any points.
📺 #AZvsCAR on FOX
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 4, 2020
In the Panthers’ first drive of the quarter, Bridgewater threw an interception to Patrick Peterson, giving the ball back to the Cardinals. Arizona capitalized on the turnover and put their first points up when Kyler Murray and Jordan Thomas finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass. The score, 14-7 with five and a half minutes left to play in the first half.
📺 #AZvsCAR on FOX
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 4, 2020
The Panthers answered in the next drive when Reggie Bonnafon caught a 3-yard pass from Bridgewater. The Panthers took a 14 point lead, 21-7 with less than two minutes in the first half, and the score would remain unchanged going into halftime.
Second Half
The Panthers started the second half with possession of the ball and they were unable to convert the drive into any points on the board. Arizona also didn’t convert their opening drive into any points after Murray was sacked and Tre Boston recovered the ball, forcing a turnover.
Carolina capitalized on the turnover with another touchdown score. This time Ian Thomas caught the 2-yard pass for six points and Slye put the extra point through the posts, expanding the lead 28-7.
The Cardinals put their first points of the second half on the board in the next drive. Murray connected with Christian Kirk for the three-yard touchdown pass and closed the gap in the score, 28-14 with a little over one minute left in the third quarter.
The Panthers had possession of the ball when the third quarter ended. They started the final quarter of the game with control of the ball at their own 20-yard line on a third and seven. After 15 plays and eight and a half minutes off the clock, Slye finished the possession with a 27-yard field goal, 31-14.
.@teddyb_h2o finds @greatness_16 and the @Panthers extend their lead! #KeepPounding
📺: #AZvsCAR on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/wvEEn0SFTV pic.twitter.com/ekeXfx8mjj— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2020
The Cardinals’ defensive line didn’t get much of a break as the offense went three and out, putting them right back on the field less than a minute later.  The Panthers ended this drive with a missed 42-yard field goal attempt.
Arizona rallied in the next drive with a two-yard touchdown pass between Murray and Chase Edmonds. The score was 31-21 with just over two minutes left in the game.
The game ended in the next drive and the Panthers bettered their record to 2-2, winning their first home game and in front of the 5,000 plus fans that were allowed to attend the game.
Highlights
The Cardinals travel to Metlife Stadium to face the winless New York Jets next week. The Panthers will face division rival, Atlanta Falcons, on the road.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
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