Cardinals vs. Panthers Week 16 preview
Dec 22, 2024
CHARLOTTE (BLACK & BLUE KICKOFF LIVE) -- For the final time this season, the Panthers will play in Bank of America Stadium.
After five straight games decided by one-score, the Panthers got humbled at home in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys 30-14. For an offense that was coming alive as of late, it was the least amount of points they scored in nearly two months when they lost 28-14 against the Broncos on Oct. 27.
In that five-game stretch, Bryce Young threw only two interceptions, but last week matched that with two more against the Cowboys. Chuba Hubbard has been outstanding this season, but the offense starts with Young and he has to limit the turnovers if he wants a shot at winning.
Unfortunately, he'll be without rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette who's dealing with a groin injury.
READ MORE: Panthers WR Xavier Legette out of Cardinals game with groin injury
The Cardinals, 7-7, are one game behind the Rams and Seahawks who are tied at the top of the NFC West. Arizona has its own stellar rookie wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. who was selected 28 picks ahead of Legette in the 2023 draft. The son of the Hall of Famer, Harrison has the fourth-most receiving yards and second-most receiving touchdowns among rookie wide receivers.
Running back James Conner has been great for Arizona all year. The eight-year veteran is on pace to have his second-straight 1,000-yard season. The Panthers' run defense has allowed a league-most 173 rushing yards per game. If Conner gets anywhere close to that he'll set a career-high in rushing yards for a season (1,040 in 2023; he's currently at 973 yards).
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The Panthers are 14-6 all-time against the Cardinals, but lost the most recent meeting in 2022 26-16. However, before that, Carolina defeated Arizona six-straight times including the NFC Championship game in 2016 49-15.
Sunday's game between the Panthers and Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium starts at 1 p.m. on FOX Charlotte.