The Carolina Panthers looked destined for another early-season flop on Sunday, but instead delivered a dramatic second-half rally that nearly shocked the Arizona Cardinals. After falling behind 27-3 midway through the third quarter, Carolina clawed back to make it 27-22 late in the fourth — only to run out of steam.
Top two takeaways from Panthers' 27-22 loss to the Cardinals:
1. Slow starts are sinking the Panthers
Carolina’s offense once again dug itself a hole early, and this time it was too deep to climb out of. Bryce Young fumbled on the third play from scrimmage, setting up a Cardinals defensive touchdown, then threw an interception on the very next drive that turned into three more points. Despite Young’s impressive rebound — finishing with a career-high 328 passing yards and three touchdowns — the early mistakes forced Carolina into a one-dimensional, pass-heavy approach. If the Panthers want to stop 0-2 from becoming 0-3, they need cleaner execution from the opening whistle.
2. Tetairoa McMillan looks like the real deal
If there was a bright spot in the loss, it was rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan. The 6-foot-4 playmaker notched the first 100-yard game of his career on six catches, showcasing his speed, toughness, and reliability. He’s now been Carolina’s leading receiver in both games this season, giving Bryce Young a true go-to target. If McMillan keeps this up, he could be the centerpiece of this passing attack — especially if Xavier Legette’s struggles continue and Jalen Coker returns soon to push for more snaps.
Up next for Carolina: Sunday, September 21 vs. Atlanta Falcons (1:00 p.m. ET on FOX)
