THE STORY: The Cardinals had control of the game Sunday against the Panthers because of a great start.
They had to work hard for a second straight week for their finish.
After the Cardinals built a 27-3 lead, the Panthers recovered an onside kick to have a chance to win with just under two minutes left. But in a penalty-filled-from-both-teams final possession, veteran Calais Campbell notched his second sack of the game on fourth down to seal a heart-stopping ending.
The Cardinals (2-0) were playing without two starting cornerbacks, Garrett Williams and Max Melton, who both had to be helped to the locker room with injuries during the game.
The Cardinals’ defense had stormed out early. Josh Sweat’s first sack as a Cardinals dislodged the ball from Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and fellow linebacker Zaven Collins eventually grabbed the loose pigskin and rolled three yards into the end zone before everyone had even gotten to their seats. Linebacker Baron Browning got an interception soon after when linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. belted Young and the ball fluttered into the air.
More to come on azcardinals.com.