What keys will determine who comes out on top between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in Week 4 at Bank of America Stadium?
The losing streak of nine games dating back to last season is finally over. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints and will now look to build on their triumph this weekend.
Another first of 2022 for Carolina was getting in the defensive takeaway column, not just once but forcing the Saints to turn the ball over three times. The turnover differential was a huge factor in the Panthers securing a much-needed victory at home.
The Panthers improved slightly on third down from 2-for-12 in Week 2 to 4-for-14 versus the Saints. It’s not much, but look for the ratio to keep increasing as the season progresses and more chemistry is built.
The Panthers didn’t turn the ball over, which is a plus. However, Ben McAdoo’s offense still struggled to find the end zone despite the long touchdown from newcomer Laviska Shenault Jr. on his Carolina debut.
The offense needs to find more ways to ensure that D.J. Moore gets the ball as three total touches in Week 3 was not enough. McAdoo must come up with the right plan to keep Christian McCaffrey, Moore, and Shenault all involved, which should also ease the ongoing pressure on quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Next up is the Arizona Cardinals, who come to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte with a record of 1-2 after suffering a 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers are slightly favored according to FanDuel Sportsbook, which could build a tremendous amount of confidence moving forward.
With that being said, here are three essential components to a potential Panthers victory in Week 4 against the Cardinals.