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Panthers: 3 burning questions heading into Week 3 matchup vs. Cardinals

By Josh Altorfer

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Allen #7 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Allen #7 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Vernon Hargreaves III #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forces Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers out-of-bounds short of the first down marker on fourth down late in the fourth quarter of their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Buccaneers won 20-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Question 2: Can Christian McCaffrey bounce back?

Do-it-all running back Christian McCaffrey had an extremely rare dud game against the Buccaneers last week. He was ineffective running the ball and only caught two passes from Cam.

It seems silly to ask if McCaffrey is going to bounce back in this game considering last week was the first time in over a year that he has been completely shut down. But the Cardinals have actually played well against opposing running backs early on this year.

In Week 1 they faced running back Kerryon Johnson and gave up only 49-yards on the ground to him. In Week 2 they played the run-heavy Ravens and only let Mark Ingram rush for 47-yards.

Neither of these backs possesses the talent that McCaffrey does, nor do their teams rely on them as much as the Panthers do with CMC. McCaffrey is definitely set up to bounce back and run wild against the Arizona defense. Nonetheless, the early success they have had stopping the run puts that possibility in question.

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