CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Arizona Cardinals will look to bounce back from last week’s loss as they take on the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday.
The Cardinals (2-1) are heading into the game with some injury questions. The team’s Friday injury report contained key players including DeAndre Hopkins, Budda Baker, Christian Kirk, Devon Kennard, Dre Kirkpatrick, Chris Banjo and Dennis Gardeck.
Baker, Banjo and Kennard are inactive. Hopkins and Kirk are active.
The Panthers (1-2) are with their own injury problems. The team is missing workhorse back Christian McCaffrey who went down in the second week. Mike Davis has stepped into that role and played well last week.
It’s a different Panthers team that defeated the Cardinals in Arizona last year in September 38-20. Teddy Bridgewater is the quarterback now, Luke Kuechly retired and the team has a new coach in Matt Rhule.
The Cardinals are looking to snap a 4-game losing streak against Carolina that dates back to 2016.
GAME INFO
MATCHUP: Arizona Cardinals (2-1) at Carolina Panthers (1-2)
LOCATION: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
KICKOFF: 10:00 a.m. Arizona time
WATCH: FOX
SPREAD: Cardinals -3.5
PREDICTION
The Cardinals are favored by just over a field goal heading into this game. Considering the team’s history against Carolina and Arizona’s injury problems, I’m expecting a close game. Without Budda Baker, the Cardinals have a completely different defense. It looks like Hopkins should play, giving Arizona the edge on offense.
After a brutal loss to Detroit at home last week, the Cardinals need to get back on track quickly and they have the opportunity to do so against a team that has struggled to open the year. Flipping the script from last week, the Cardinals come back to win this one by a field goal.
Arizona Cardinals 30, Carolina Panthers 27
