The Arizona Cardinals‘ next game in Sunday at State Farm Stadium against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are coming off a terrible 26-10 loss in Week 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They turned the ball over three times and allowed 200 rushing yards.

The Panthers, though, have beaten the Cardinals in seven of their last eight meetings.

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To get ready for this game, Panthers Wire managing editor Anthony Rizzuti take Cardinals fans “behind enemy lines” to give them an insiders look at the Cardinals’ Week 2 opponent.

Carolina’s Week 1 performance

Q: What happened in Week 1? Was it as bad as the box score looked?

A: Their coaching staff has since suggested otherwise—but, for the second straight year, the Panthers appeared to be underprepared for their regular-season opener. The offense had persistent troubles with calling plays in and getting snaps out while the defense, as they did in 2024, allowed the opposition to run all over them.

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As a whole, the box score actually might’ve been generous to Carolina. Even though they did convert on over half of their third-down tries (eight of 15) and ended up losing by just two scores, it never truly felt—outside of the first quarter—like the Panthers were a threat to swipe the win.

The final numbers, however, weren’t the best representation of the performance from quarterback Bryce Young, who finished having completed 18 of his 35 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Young, per Jacob Gibbs of CBS Sports, threw for 230 catchable air yards—the league’s sixth-highest mark out of Week 1.

His line was affected by some questionable play-calling and design, timing issues with center Austin Corbett and some rough fundamentals from his pass catchers.

Free agent newcomers

Q: How impactful should newcomers Christian Rozeboom and Tre’Von Moehrig be?

A: Moehrig, from the time he agreed to his three-year, $51 million deal, was immediately ticketed to play a major role in Carolina. On top of that rich investment, the Panthers expressed great belief in the fifth-year veteran’s scheme versatility and effectiveness against the run.

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Those attributes showed up in Week 1, where Moehrig was credited with a team-best 76.4 run defense grade by Pro Football Focus. He also notched a team-high 11 tackles.

Rozeboom’s key standing on the unit, meanwhile, was not always in the plan. He stepped up as the green dot of the defense following the surprising release of fellow linebacker Josey Jewell, who is taking time away from the game to heal up from a concussion.

He too factored in from the start, with eight tackles against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rookie expectations

Q: What are the Panthers expecting from their rookies?

This sounds a little too obvious, but the team’s first-round pick is currently carrying the heaviest onus of the draft class. And that pick, of course, is wideout Tetairoa McMillan—who already seems to be the new No. 1 target in town.

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McMillan’s chemistry with Young was, perhaps, the only positive for the Panthers last Sunday. The 6-foot-4, 219-pounder—who looked as smooth, comfortable and natural as a rookie can be—reeled in five catches for a game-high 68 yards in Jacksonville.

Carolina’s Day 2 selections, outside linebackers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, might also undertake some more responsibilities moving forward. Their deployment (18 and eight defensive snaps in Week 1, respectively) has been brought into question and will likely see an uptick behind the initiative of head coach Dave Canales.

Bryce Young

Q: What does Bryce Young need to prove this year?

A: Young, at the very least, has to prove he was the quarterback the Panthers had over the final 10 games of 2024. That run, sparked by his early-season benching, saw the former No. 1 overall pick total 2,327 yards, 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions while leading his team to a relatively respectable 4-6 record.

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Ideally, he takes a step up from that version of himself in 2025. That means exhibiting confidence more consistently, taking control of the offense, showing he can attack the middle of the field and elevating the play of his young receivers.

Although the results in Week 1 weren’t indicative of any progress, Young didn’t get off to the absolute worst start—so all hope should not be lost just yet.

Game pick!

Q: What is your prediction for the game?

A: Well, the Panthers have “owned” the Cardinals—no matter how good or bad they’ve been. Over their last eight meetings, including two playoff contests, Carolina has gone 7-1.

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But it’s tough, particularly after watching their sloppy Week 1 offering, to trust the Panthers right now. The Cardinals, behind some savory matchups for running back James Conner and tight end Trey McBride, take it: Cardinals 31, Panthers 14

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cardinals-Panthers preview: ‘Behind enemy line’ with Panthers Wire