The October 2, 2022, clash between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals resulted in a 26-16 victory for the Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. This game, a week four contest within the 2022 NFL season, was a defensive battle early on that, in the long run, changed into an offensive surge for Arizona within the 2nd half, highlighted by a stark difference in quarterback performance and a breakout defensive play by way of Carolina.
The statistical breakdown of this matchup tells a tale of the Cardinals dominating time of possession and capitalizing on the Panthers’ offensive struggles, in spite of a few heroic performances by Carolina’s stars.
I. Quarterback Performance: Efficiency vs. Struggles
The number one difference in the contest used to be the respective overall performance of the 2 starting quarterbacks, Kyler Murray for the Cardinals and Baker Mayfield for the Panthers.
- Kyler Murray (ARI): Murray was once relatively green and controlled the sport efficiently. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 207 yards, resulting in a strong 96.7 passer rating. Crucially, he accounted for three overall touchdowns—2 passing and one rushing. His passing touchdowns went to tight cease Zach Ertz and wide receiver Marquise Brown. Murray’s mobility used to be a major aspect, as he brought 26 yards and a rushing touchdown on 12 carries. He threw one interception, which resulted in a field goal for Carolina.
- Baker Mayfield (vehicle): Mayfield struggled with accuracy and turnovers at some point in the competition. He finished 22 of 36 passes for 197 yards and had a remote decrease of sixty-one. nine passer rating. His Achilles’ heel was once ball security, as he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, mainly leading to a few general turnovers that gave the Cardinals quick fields and momentum. He managed just one passing touchdown—a fourth-quarter rating to Christian McCaffrey.
II. Offensive Skill Position Standouts
Despite the Cardinals’ victory, the game featured a classic “three-and-out” overall performance by the Panthers’ star running back.
- Christian McCaffrey (car): McCaffrey used to be the undisputed workhorse for Carolina and the pinnacle fantasy performer in the game. He amassed 108 overall yards, leading the group in both speeding and receiving. He had a season-high nine receptions for 81 yards and the Panthers’ only offensive touchdown (a thirteen-yard pass from Mayfield). His eight carries for 27 yards underscored the general struggles of the Carolina run game, which was once bottled up all afternoon.
- Marquise Brown (ARI): Nicknamed “Hollywood,” Brown was once the maximum effective receiver for the Cardinals, finishing with 6 receptions on 11 goals for 88 yards and a fundamental 23-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that extended Arizona’s lead.
- Zach Ertz (ARI): The veteran tight quit used to be Kyler Murray’s security blanket, matching Brown’s seize overall with 6 receptions for 47 yards and scoring the Cardinals’ first touchdown on a two-yard ignore.
- D.J. Moore (automobile): The Panthers’ pinnacle wideout saw a high volume of goals (eleven), however used to he was held to 6 receptions for 50 yards, struggling for separation against the Arizona secondary.
III. Defensive and Key Team Statistics
The defensive and team stats highlight how turnovers and time of possession decisively favored the Cardinals.
- Turnover warfare: The Panthers misplaced the turnover margin 3-1 (Mayfield’s two INTs, 1 Fumble misplaced), significantly handicapping the offense.
- protective rating: Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu used to be the protecting hero for Carolina, intercepting Kyler Murray and returning it 33 yards for a touchdown inside the 2nd zone, which temporarily gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead. Luvu additionally led the team in tackles with 11 overall tackles, capping a stellar individual performance.
- Sack Leaders: The ignore rush used to be lively on both aspects. Zach Allen (ARI) recorded a sack, even as Brian Burns (CAR) additionally recorded a sack and used to be pressured with 2 tackles for loss and four solo tackles.
- Time of possession (top): The Cardinals controlled the clock, dominating the Panthers with a top of 38:35 in comparison to Carolina’s 21:25. This large disparity used to be instrumental, permitting Arizona’s defense to live rested and their offense to wear out Carolina over time in the game, which is evident within the Cardinals’ 16-point fourth quarter.
- Total Yards: The Cardinals outgained the Panthers in overall yards, 338 to 220, underscoring their superiority in transferring the ball effectively throughout the sector.
- In essence, the 2022 matchup was once a game defined by means of the Cardinals’ ability to sustain drives and force turnovers. The Panthers’ offensive fighting, led by Baker Mayfield’s tough day, negated the protective heroics of Frankie Luvu and the consistent excellence of Christian McCaffrey, permitting Kyler Murray and the Cardinals to pull away in the very last region.