The Panthers face an unusual challenge this week when they take on the Cardinals in Arizona. This team is radically different from the one they beat for the NFC championship four years ago.
One thing these Cards do differently than anyone else in the NFL is using an extremely fast-paced offense. According to Pat Thorman, they have run the no huddle at a rate three times higher than any other team through the first two weeks of the season.
Kliff Kingsbury’s offense ran into trouble in the red zone at Baltimore in Week 2, but they moved the chains consistently against an exceptional Ravens defense. Despite going 2 for 11 on third down, they had a chance to steal one on the road against a team that looks like a legitimate championship contender.
The challenge for coach Ron Rivera will be how to keep his players fresh when Arizona ramps the tempo up. The defensive backs in particular may be vulnerable since they rarely come off the field anyway.
As for the No. 1 overall pick, Kyler Murray’s first two games have been hit-or-miss. Murray has completed 57.4 percent of his passes but has thrown more than a few uncatchable targets. However, he’s also found a rhythm with Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk on deep balls.
Murray is also a threat to scramble. His style of running is reminiscent of Russell Wilson, but he’s also significantly faster. Containing him will be critical for the Panthers defense.
