4 key observations from Christian McCaffrey’s performance vs. Cardinals
By Dean Jones
Christian McCaffrey provided a spark in the passing game
Despite the offense not being at the races for the fourth-straight week, it didn’t stop Christian McCaffrey from making a difference. This came primarily in the passing game, providing Baker Mayfield with a nice security blanket and giving the Carolina Panthers a significant lift when it was needed more than ever.
McCaffrey brought in all nine of his targets for 81 receiving yards. This also included an exceptional adjustment that resulted in a touchdown to give Carolina a glimmer of hope before it eventually fizzled out.
After McCaffrey has been seldom seen in the passing scheme in 2022 so far, this was encouraging. Something the Panthers would be wise to depend on heavily as Matt Rhule looks to pick this team out of their current slump.
The former first-round selection is the one constant Carolina has offensively right now. Although one could make a strong case for the coaching staff not having the first clue on how best to utilize the All-Pro depending on the situation.
We all know what McCaffrey is capable of when healthy. But the Panthers also need others to stand up and make their presence felt for continuity to progress.
The Panthers find themselves in a precarious situation after just three games. However, this shouldn’t reflect badly on McCaffrey given how well he’s performed so far.