Slow Start Once Again Costs Panthers in Loss to Cardinals
The Carolina Panthers have started the 2025 season with an 0-2 record, a disappointing beginning for a team that entered the season with high hopes. They fell to the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Week 2, but the final score doesn’t fully reflect the struggles they faced. 
As was the case in their Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Panthers found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 20-3 at halftime. Turnovers, particularly from quarterback Bryce Young, played a major role in their struggles. Young was strip-sacked by the Cardinals’ Josh Sweat, and the loose ball was returned for a touchdown by Zaven Collins. On the following drive, Young was intercepted while targeting Tetairoa McMillan, setting up a Cardinals field goal. Just like that, the Panthers were down 10-0.
Although they mounted a valiant comeback attempt from a 27-3 deficit, the Panthers’ early mistakes proved too much to overcome. The team knows that to win, they must stop sabotaging themselves with turnovers and self-inflicted wounds.
Starting Faster
The Panthers showed resilience in their fight back against the Cardinals, but their early errors ultimately cost them the game. Head coach Dave Canales is focused on addressing this issue, emphasizing the need for the team to start faster.
In a September 15 article for Panthers.com, Darin Gantt quoted Canales saying, “We’ve got to eliminate the mistakes. Two weeks in a row, early self-inflicted wounds and 10 points just like that. Going to the half (down) 20-3, and we’ve got to change our mode. We’re not able to play the complementary football we’re looking for, to mix the runs, the play actions, and turn it into a drop-back game.”
While Canales was encouraged by the team’s fight until the end, he took responsibility for not having the team better prepared. “But it’s the mistakes, and I have to take full responsibility for that first and foremost for preparing our guys, and we’ve got to get right back to work,” he said. “You can’t play that type of football. It’s the turnovers.”
Defensive Progress Despite the Loss
Though the Panthers’ offense continued to struggle, there were some positives to take away from the game, particularly on defense. After a poor performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, where the Panthers allowed over 200 rushing yards, they showed improvement in Week 2.
The defensive line, which the Panthers invested in during the offseason, started to show signs of progress. They registered one sack and four tackles for loss against the mobile Kyler Murray.
Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum had a standout game, recording four tackles, one for a loss, and an interception. In her September 15 article for Panthers.com, Kassidy Hill quoted Wonnum as saying, “We made up our mistakes that we had in the first game. A lot of different gap integrity issues that we had in the first game, we just went and watched the film and honed in on that and showed it today.”
The Panthers will look to build on their defensive improvements as they face Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.
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